In the Shadow of a Gem

Most often, Western New York is associated with the beautiful natural gem of Letchworth State Park. Known for its captivating beauty and its stunning views, Letchworth was recently voted #1 state park by USA today. But, in the shadow of this natural wonder lies a hidden beauty, a tiny, undiscovered wonder. Travel 20 minutes or so west of Letchworth, and down a dirt road or two, and you will stumble upon the lesser known beauty of the area: Moss Lake. It may be considerably smaller than Letchworth, but the quiet serenity of the bog rivals the roaring beauty of Letchworth Falls in a subtle, and wonderful way. Any introvert will tell you, that while Letchworth is magnificent, Moss Lake is the place to be for a "good time". Good time meaning sitting on the boardwalk out in the middle of the bog, examining the rare pitcher plants (which are carnivorous!), and listening to the peaceful chatter of Rough-Winged Swallows flying around the center. On top of this easily examinable natural beauty, Moss Lake is a great place to go for a good jog, or to wander through the surrounding woods and get lost in natural beauty. The best part of it is that, unlike Letchworth, Moss Lake is mostly untouched, and left for the wandering spirit who finds it. The bog is occasionally maintained by a local professor, who takes great care to keep it as natural as possible. So if you join the hoards who venture to Letchworth State Park in your travels, don't forget the hidden natural beauty, which lies in the shadow of the gem.