The Watkins Glen Gorge Trail is an incredible place to go hiking at Watkins Glen State Park. You'll be continually amazed by every stunning scene around every turn. Towering cliffs covered in moss and greenery, picturesque rock bridges, and a seemingly endless river that's carved out the rocks over thousands of years. And I haven't even mentioned all of the waterfalls yet!
For nature lovers, Watkins Glen State Park is a must visit. Nestled within the Finger Lakes region of New York State, this is an awesome road trip to anyone living in New York, Toronto or Ontario, Pennsylvania, Michigan, or anywhere in the northeast USA.
Visiting Watkins Glen State Park
I've been fortunate enough to have visited Watkins Glen State Park on numerous occasions. I first visited back when I was very young. The only thing I remember from back then was the fact that the park used to put on a laser lights show at night. Images of dinosaurs were projected onto the rock walls of the gorge!
Even though the days of lights shows at night are long gone, Watkins Glen State Park is such a treat to explore by day. I've returned on numerous occasions, even though it's about a four hour drive from Toronto. What can I say - I love hiking the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail and visiting the Finger Lakes region so much.
Justin and I traveled to Watkins Glen back in 2014 when I originally wrote this blog post. I'm updating it with new photos and information since I've returned to Watkins Glen twice since then (once in 2016 and once in 2018).
Getting to the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail
The main street in the town of Watkins Glen, North Franklin St./South Franklin St., leads directly to the Watkins Glen State Park. The entrance is very easy to spot. While it is free to walk into the state park and free to hike there, it costs $10 to park your car.
Watkins Glen State Park opens on the Memorial Day weekend each year and closes for the season in the winter. However, it's always a good idea to stay up to date because the park can expectedly close from time to time due to flooding. Download the New York State Parks Explorer app to get updated details before you head out.
Hiking the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail
The dramatic landscape at Watkins Glen is very structurally unique, as you can see each layer of rock jetting out unevenly. This area was completely shaped by water and ice over the past 10,000 years. The most recent glacier in this region moved through shallow river valleys creating deep troughs. When the glacier receded north, water poured into these newly created troughs creating the 11 Finger Lakes (including Seneca Lake, by Watkins Glen).
The water of Glen Creek continues to flow down the steep cliffs at the gorge towards Seneca Lake, creating many spectacular waterfalls, and gradually carving the rocks in its path. This slow, on-going process of flowing water has formed the rugged terrain at Watkins Glen State Park.
There are a few different hiking trails at Watkins Glen State Park. The main one is called the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail. This path offers the best views of the 19 waterfalls, Glen Creek, and the gorge itself as it flows between the cliffs. On the way back, you can take the Gorge Trail again, or one of the neighboring routes, such as the Indian Trail or South Rim Trail.
There are over 800 steps from bottom to top of the gorge on a very gradual incline. This path is great for all fitness levels, as you'll be taking it slow while you take in all of the amazing views. There will be some staircases, and some sections can be slippery as you'll be walking behind waterfalls. Be sure to wear running shoes or hiking boots - not fancy sandals or heels as I actually saw some women wearing!
I'll describe some of the main features along the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail, including the Watkins Glen waterfalls that you'll see on the way. It's very easy to follow the trail - it's the main path that follows the edge of the gorge. You won't get lost!
The Entrance Tunnel
To access the gorge, you will walk through the Entrance Tunnel and up a flight of stairs. The tunnels in the gorge were actually hand-cut into the rock in the early 1900's. You'll be surrounded by rock as if inside a small, well-lit cave!
Sentry Bridge
The image above shows a view of the Sentry Bridge from down below. Once you emerge from the entrance tunnel, you'll find yourself right at the Sentry Bridge. From the Sentry Bridge, you'll witness your first images of the gorge itself.
These are outstanding, memorable views. The sculptured rocks are so smooth, as the flowing water has cut into the rocks for over thousands of years. You'll likely want to stand here for a little while to take in the gorgeous scenery. But, the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail offers amazing scenery the entire way, so let's go!
Hiking to the Cavern Cascade
We continued our walk along the trail, marveling at the breathtaking views of the water flowing through the carved rocks. There are a series of steps leading up. Then, you'll walk across some flatter sections on massive, flat rocks. There are lots of stairs for a workout, but you likely won't get out of breath from them. I love how there are lots of flatter sections between each staircase.
We approached the Cavern Cascade, one of two waterfalls along the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail that you walk behind. As I mentioned before, there are a whopping 19 waterfalls at Watkins Glen State Park.
As you can see, you might get a little bit wet when you walk behind the waterfall! If it's a hot day outside, take the opportunity to cool down a bit here. After walking underneath the waterfall, you'll climb up some more steps through another enclosed area called Spiral Tunnel.
Hiking to the Suspension Bridge
From here, we continued to on the Watkins Glen hiking trails up some more stairs, surrounded by tall rocky walls. Then, we walked beneath the Suspension Bridge. On the way back, if you take the Indian Trail or South Rim Trail, you can cross the suspension bridge and look down below. Or, if you'd like to go up to the bridge, just take the Lover's Lane path up to it.
I recommend coming back down and continuing along the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail for the rest of the hike. The suspension bridge is 85 feet above the creek. During a flood in 1935, the water from the creek rose to within five feet of it!
The Narrows
Through the next tunnel and staircase, we reached a section of the trail called the Narrows. In this area, the gorge seemed to have its own "micro-climate" as it is very shady, cool, and moist. There are many ferns and mosses growing here, reminiscent of a rainforest.
Glen Cathedral
Next, we approached the Glen Cathedral. Completely opposite to the Narrows, the Cathedral was a completely open space where sunlight can come through. The gorge walls were vast and wide open here, with wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs growing around.
From here, you can continue along the Gorge Trail (recommended), or venture off to Lover's Lane and up to the Indian Trail. You can also stand on some rippled stones in this area. These stones were once on the bottom of an ancient sea bed that is no longer submerged in water.
While we were walking the trail, we saw many informational plaques describing the natural phenomena with interesting details. It's difficult to grasp how tall these cliff walls are from my photos, but they stretch far up into the sky.
Central Cascade
As we continued to hike the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail, we gradually ascended higher and higher to the top of the canyon. We reached our next waterfall, the Central Cascade.
This is the highest waterfall in the gorge, plunging over 60 feet down below. We crossed a bridge over the Central Cascade towards the Glen of Pools area, where the creek forms deep and rounded "plunge pools" in the rock.
Watkins Glen Rainbow Falls
The next waterfall is called the Rainbow Falls. This is the second waterfall that you can walk underneath. Even on the sunniest of days, water can pool beneath this waterfall, so you'll likely have to splash through a few puddles to get across.
In 2018, I visited after a travel blogging conference (TBEX Finger Lakes). It was a rainy day at the park. The water at Rainbow Falls was pretty intense, and I had to run through quite a bit of water (both from the waterfall and puddles on the trail) to get to the other side! It's all part of the adventure.
Spiral Gorge
We crossed another bridge on our way toward Spiral Gorge. This area was darker than some other parts of the trail with water dripping down from the cliff edges above. Ferns and mosses grew all around. There were many sculpted pools here.
We continued walking along the Gorge Trail until we reached a staircase at the end of the trail. We hiked up the staircase and reached the Upper Entrance. I suppose you could start at the Upper Entrance and descend down towards the village of Watkins Glen, but I think it's best to hike the trail going up, and then you can make your descent on the way back when you're more tired out.
In the summer season, there is a shuttle bus at Watkins Glen State Park that runs between the Upper and Lower Entrance for those who wish to take a shorter walk just one way.
Hiking the Indian Trail
On the way back, we hiked the Indian Trail from the Upper Entrance, which was a very scenic hiking trail without the impressive views of the gorge. We walked beside a cemetery at one point, where I met a very friendly chipmunk who did not appear to be bothered at all by our presence.
From there, we walked across the Suspension Bridge across to the South Rim Trail, down the Couch's Staircase towards the main Entrance Tunnel.
Plan Your Visit to Watkins Glen State Park
We had such an amazing time exploring the gorge at the Watkins Glen State Park! Here are a few helpful tips for your hike. I also suggest you take a look at our blog post about what to pack for a day hike.
- Bring proper footwear. Some sections of the gorge can be wet and slippery, so please consider wearing running shoes or hiking boots.
- Bring a bottle of water with you as there are no fountains along the path. You will find water at the gift shops of the Lower Entrance and Upper Entrance if you need to buy any. Of course, please do not litter.
- There are no restrooms along the trails. You can find the restrooms at the Upper and Lower Entrances.
- No swimming in the water is permitted, and please do not pick any wildflowers. Leave no trace!
The Watkins Glen Gorge Trail is open from the end of May to the end of October, from dawn to dusk. When Justin and I visited in 2014, the Gorge Trail was closed due to flooding a week before our trip. We were very thankful that they opened the trail for the beginning of June.
There are also places to camp at the park that can be reserved online or by phone. There are 305 campsites at Watkins Glen State Park. I advise booking early because this is a really popular place to go camping in New York.
Want to see more photos of Watkins Glen?
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Where to Stay in Watkins Glen
Looking for where to stay in Watkins Glen? There are lots of awesome hotels in Watkins Glen and vacation rentals. I've gone glamping in Watkins Glen at Seneca Sol and highly recommend the experience. It's a beautiful property where you'll be able to immerse yourself in nature while maintaining many comforts of home.
Not so much into glamping? Don't worry, there are tons of places to stay in Watkins Glen, NY. Browse the map below to compare prices and locations to find an amazing accommodation.
Things to Do in Watkins Glen, NY
There are so many awesome things to do in Watkins Glen aside from hiking the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail. Here are some must visit spots and top things to see when you go to the Finger Lakes:
- Take a Finger Lakes wine tour around Seneca Lake from Watkins Glen
- Eat vegan ice cream at Great Escapes Ice Cream Parlor (perfect after your hike!)
- Visit the rescued farm animals at Farm Sanctuary (and even stay the night at their B&B!)
- Have lunch at Glen Mountain Market (we did this before our hike at Watkins Glen State Park)
- Have dinner at Rooster Fish Brewing (and try the beer, too!)
If you're visiting the Finger Lakes region, here are even more amazing things to add to your travel itinerary:
- Take a glider plane ride at Harris Hill
- Try all of the craft breweries on the Finger Lakes Beer Trail
- Wander around the Corning Museum of Glass
- Explore Robert H. Treman State Park in Ithaca, NY
- Marvel at the most beautiful waterfall at Taughannock Falls State Park
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Noreen r says
Omg ty so much for the excellent info
Beautifully done
Vicky says
Hi there
We are 3 fairly active pensioners coming to the USA next Spring to visit the east coast + niagara. Just happened upon Watkins Glen on the map when planning the route then found your page. Looks a brilliant place to stop off on route. We are thinking of getting the shuttle to the top entance and walking down. Do you think this is ok for three late sixties females and about how much time should we allow?
Many thanks for your help
Vicky
Tamara @ We3Travel says
Beautiful! I haven't been but I've now added it to my list. It reminds me a bit of Flume Gorge in New Hampshire. Your pictures are lovely and so large. How do you get them to load so quickly?
Annika -Live Laugh Explore says
Looks so pretty! Thanks for this, always nice to see travel tips for close to home too :)
darci says
im going to Ithaca this weekend and can not wait to see Watkins Glen. how long did your hike take? wondering how much time to alot. thaks
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
The hike took about 2-3 hours for us - you could spend longer or less time there depending! We were stopping a lot to take lots of photos, so we took a bit longer than others I think! Have a fantastic time! We're going to be blogging about our time in Ithaca soon, too - I would highly recommend checking out Taughannock Falls in Ithaca as well as Robert H Treman State Park.
Noreen r says
@Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren,
We are an older couple planning a visit in October
I know we Will only be able to do the gorge trail one way I am aware there was a shuttle but it looks like at first it runs on weekends
Can you advise of anything we can do if we take the trail down is there any other transportation we might be able to rely onto take us back to the other round
Ty so much
Lauren says
Hi Noreen,
If you are looking to hike from the main entrance to the end of the gorge, it is actually much easier to hike back to the beginning again. You'll be going on an uphill incline the entire way and then it will be slightly downhill on the way back.
If the shuttle isn't running, you'll likely need to walk back, but rest assured that the walk back isn't difficult or strenuous. I hope that info helps!
Adelina | Pack Me To says
Wow this park is stunning! I've never heard of it, but it sounds like there is a lot to look at and hike through. I'd definitely would like to check it out if I'm ever in the area. Those rock formations are so unique. I've always wanted to walk behind a waterfall for some strange reason. It seems just too cool!
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
It is such a beautiful and unique area! I hope you get to see it sometime! Great for a hike, plus there are many other areas to hike in the region as well (will be writing about them soon!)
Rachel says
Wow, it looks like its worthy of Lord of the Rings or something! Those pools and sculpted rocks are beautiful. Looks like a magical place. See any fairies? ;-)
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Oh, I wouldn't be surprised if I did - it did seem quite magical there! Very beautiful. I could just look around there all day, really.
Anna Tillmann says
How great it would be to take a dive into the pools :) Waterfalls are just great, and I totally love your pictures! And (btw) your sunnies, too ;)
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Thank you!! :) We loved the waterfalls there, and there were plenty of them!
Antonette Spaan says
wow - great piece of nature ... seems so pieceful. Love the matching sunglasses btw!
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Oh LOL yeah we didn't used to have matching sunglasses....but then I tried on these ones in a store, and Justin said he really liked them...and then I looked at him when we were in the car and said "Yes you liked them because they are matching to yours!" haha. So now we have very closely matching sunglasses!
Sabina says
This looks lovely! Totally reminds me of a different place very far away - Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli, near Rome. You'd porbably love it there :)
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Oooh I'm going to have to look that up! Thanks!
TravellingWeasels says
Looks like a great birthday!! Beautiful!
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
It was a fantastic day!!
Christina says
Gorges are great places. Last year on our trip to Southern France we had an awesome time at the Gorges of Verdon and de l´Ardeche but the Gorge Watkins seems to be like a great place too.
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
I am going to have to look up that place in France, it sounds amazing! :) I love hiking around gorges.
Bob R says
Thanks - Looks like an excellent spot for a day trip.
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
It was a great hiking spot and I highly recommend it!
Michael Huxley says
That looks like an awesome hike! I love waterfalls that you can walk under too! It's hard to believe that this is still New York! Thanks for highlighting the less than obvious places for outsiders like me!
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
I know, it doesn't seem like a place that would be in New York, but the whole area is quite amazing - lots of hills, lakes, rocky terrain, it is very unique and so pretty.
Bianca @ItsAllBee says
Stunning place! Reminds me of the falls in Hocking Hills of Logan County in the USA. I love the shot of the rock formations.
Floating in Israel's Dead Sea
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
I'll have to look up the falls in Hocking Hills! :) Thanks!!
Brianna @ The Casual Travelist says
I grew up in upstate New York and these pictures take me straight back to my childhood.
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Oh, that's wonderful! I'm glad you've been here before. I went here when I was a kid too and I was so happy to return! It's amazing how many people around here, north of the border, haven't heard of Watkins Glen! I'm always singing its praises for a road trip!
Amy says
Great post! I love Watkins Glen! I only live about an hour or so from there and (shockingly) had never visited until a couple years ago. It's such a gorgeous park! Only tip I'd add is to either go really early or later on in the day. It can get very crowded on nice days.
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
I'm glad that you made it out there! Lots of people around here (Southern Ontario) haven't even heard of Watkins Glen, and it's only a few hours away!
Rachel says
What a magical, beautiful place. Like something out of Lord of the Rings!
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
It really is! We loved it here!
Raphael Alexander Zoren says
Great photos Justin (plus Lauren) :D
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Thank you! :)
Karen Warren says
That hiking trail looks fabulous. Yet another for the bucket list...
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Oh, my bucket list keeps on growing...lol! But yes, add this one for sure!
The Crowded Planet says
Absolutely stunning place, and an amazing hike! Usually when you think 'New York' city images come to my mind, I forget that New York state has some stunning nature. I should visit one day!
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
You should definitely visit someday!
Dave says
They've done a great job ensuring that the steps and bridges match the surroundings - everything looks so natural. It looks like early summer is the perfect time to visit this park. Great shots, too!
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Oh yes, everything is incredibly natural here and I would highly recommend visiting in June as school hasn't let out yet and most families aren't on vacation. It does get more crowded in July and August.
Suryabhattacharya says
Superb pics!! I've only been to one gorge before, in Slovenia, so I can feel your excitement. So beautiful!
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Ooh, I'd love to visit a gorge in Slovenia!
Emily Luxton says
Wow, awesome photos! Looks like such a cool park :)
Lauren | Justin Plus Lauren says
Thank you so much!
Hannah Logan says
Wow that looks beautiful, definitely somewhere I would be interested in seeing for myself! And what a perfect day (from the look of it) for a visit! Love the waterfalls especially, but can't imagine anyone climbing those stairs in heels or sandals! Thanks for sharing :)
Justin and Lauren says
It was a perfect day for it! Although I think it would be nice to hike here even on really hot days during the summer as there are enough shaded locations. And yeah, I don't know why anyone would wear heeled shoes or fancy sandals here! It was way better wearing appropriate shoes :)
Chris Boothman says
Wow, this looks really stunning and definitely a place that we would love to explore! I have been to NY a couple of times but never ventured to this part of the state so will definitely add this to the bucket list. Always love exploring gorges and state parks that have waterfalls.
It is so great when you come across such hidden gems that most people have never heard of and then you can encourage folks to visit them! Thanks so much for sharing this, definitely look forward to checking this out for ourselves.
Justin and Lauren says
You should definitely add it to your bucket list - the Finger Lakes region is gorgeous in terms of its natural scenery! I'll be writing soon about places we visited in nearby Ithaca very soon - great to combine Watkins Glen and Ithaca since they're pretty close together!
Chris Boothman says
Also would like to add our thanks for linking up to this week's #WeekendWanderlust on our website! This is certainly a spot that folks would do well to take note of and consider for a weekend getaway!
Ashley Hubbard says
Oh man, I've been wanting to go here ever since I first heard of it! Beautiful photos! Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler!
Justin and Lauren says
Thanks, Ashley! You should visit here when you can, it's beautiful!
Alli Blair says
Wow those images are stunning! I love how lush and green everything is and my favourite detail in the images are the rock formations!
Justin and Lauren says
Thank you, Alli! The rocks were super cool, like nothing I've ever seen before!
CarmensTravelTips says
I never heard of Watkins Glen State Park. We visit New York every so often. I'll have to check out this place. My kids would love it. Thanks for sharing it.
Justin and Lauren says
It is a great place to bring your kids for the day! I first came here when I was a kid, that's how I knew about it :) A great day outdoors with family!
FrankAboutCroatia says
I haven't heard about Watkins Glen State Park before, but it looks absolutely gorgeous. I like the fact that taking the Gorge Trail you can actually see all the highlights of the park (I don't like the fact that you have to climb 800 steps in order to do so :) ).
Justin and Lauren says
The steps are really spread out enough so you don't really notice them being strenuous at all! Plus when you're walking through tunnels and stuff, it doesn't seem too much like exercise :) It is beautiful there, if you find yourself in the region be sure to check it out!
Corinne Vail says
Justin and Lauren, Watkins Glen is gorgeous! Love your photos!
Justin and Lauren says
Thank you so much! It was such a beautiful place, we happily spent hours there!
Marissa Sutera says
I love hiking, and these photos are gorgeous! Going to have to add this to my list!
Justin and Lauren says
It's a wonderful place! Definitely a must-see!
slightly astray says
Wow, such a gorgeous place! I love all the waterfalls and little pools. I love scenic hikes like this. But... what I'm really interested in is reading about your Farm Sanctuary experience!!!
Justin and Lauren says
Oh yes, I'll be writing about that very soon! :)
Karyn @ Not Done Travelling says
This place looks gorgeous! I would love to go see it but I won't be in the area until December! Do you know if any part of the park is open over wintertime?
Justin and Lauren says
Unfortunately this section is closed over the winter as they don't maintain the path and I'm sure it gets really icy. That's too bad! I hope you are able to go back sometime. However, there are some nearby places in Ithaca that you could probably visit in the winter instead - I'll be posting about this over the next week or so!
Karyn @ Not Done Travelling says
Awesome, looking forward to it!