Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Park is a state park in New York’s Finger Lakes region famous for a deeply carved glacial gorge that contains a chain of waterfalls. The park’s gorge trail and stone architecture make it one of the region’s most visited natural attractions.

The park’s primary highlight is the Gorge Trail that follows the stream through narrow sandstone walls, over waterfalls and past carved stone stairways and bridges; the trail passes 19 named falls over a distance of roughly 1.5 miles (about 2.4 kilometres). Several additional trails, including rim routes, provide alternative views from the top of the gorge. The park includes picnic areas, parking and visitor facilities close to the village of Watkins Glen on the southern tip of Seneca Lake.

The gorge was carved by meltwater and the stream over the last several thousand years; late 19th- and early 20th-century improvements created the stone stairways and walkways that form the current Gorge Trail. The park has been managed to provide public access while protecting the geologic features.

Located at the southern end of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region, the park sits adjacent to the village of Watkins Glen and is accessible by regional roads and short drives from nearby towns and cities.

• Gorge length and waterfalls: The gorge contains 19 named waterfalls along its length and the main Gorge Trail is roughly 1.5 miles (about 2.4 kilometres) long with stone steps and bridges.
• Safety and timing: Best visited outside winter and during low-flow periods for safer footing on the trails; the gorge can be icy and dangerous when wet or frozen.

What to See #

• Gorge Trail: Gorge Trail - a stone- and stair-lined trail that runs along the bottom of the gorge and passes 19 named waterfalls over a distance of roughly 1.5 miles (about 2.4 kilometres).
• Rim Trail: Rim Trail - follows the top of the gorge providing panoramic views down onto the gorge and waterfalls; it connects to the Gorge Trail at several points.
• Upper Falls area: Upper Falls and Cavern Cascade area - the upper portion of the park's gorge where several of the tallest falls are concentrated and trail access is available from the upper lot.