(Updated September 14, 2022) If you haven’t already done one, It’s time to plan a Watkins Glen hike! This experience is up there with other Finger Lakes activities that shouldn’t be missed: hiking the natural gorges of Ithaca, touring the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, and visiting the many wineries and breweries the region is so famous for.
Hiking on the remarkably beautiful Watkins Glen Gorge Trail in Upstate New York should be at the top of this list. Located in Watkins Glen State Park in the Finger Lakes, this hike is a must for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone with an interest in exploring a stunning gorge that was carved into the landscape 12,000 years ago.
Read on to learn more about this enchanting Watkins Glen hike and then start planning your own trip to this fascinating destination.
If you’re interested interested in more outdoor adventures in Watkins Glen, read about our experience with boat tours and kayaking on Seneca Lake. And when you’re ready for more local information, please read my post, Things to do in Watkins Glen, which includes recommendations on where to eat and where to stay.
About Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park is located in a village of the same name. It features three hiking trails and 19 waterfalls set amidst a 400-foot gorge carved by the Glen Stream over the course of thousands of years.
This state park in the Finger Lakes region of New York State is hardly a hidden gem.
Watkins Glen State Park placed third in a 2015 USA Today Reader’s Choice Poll for Best State Park in the U.S. And in April of 2021, Conde Nast Traveler named it the Best State Park in New York.
The gorge trail here is well-known, beloved, and sometimes overridden with hikers. However, it’s too incredible of a destination to skip and with some careful planning, you may be able to avoid the crowds.
Best Time to Hike the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail
The Watkins Glen Gorge Trail is a seasonal trail. It’s closed from approximately mid-May through mid-October because winter weather creates unsafe trail conditions. Even when the trail is open, you should always call the Visitor Center at 607-535-4511 before you go.
Any extreme weather, such as excessive rain, may lead to the closure of the Gorge Trail.
Now about those crowds…
It was reported that in 2019 that more than a million people visited Watkins Glen State Park. That included an additional 60,000 visitors compared to the year before.
This place is busy, my friends.
And because it’s a narrow gorge trail that follows a river, not to mention the narrow stone staircases hikers must climb up and down, there’s not a lot of room to spread out. On extra busy days, hikers may have to walk in single file and even wait in line on order to move forward on the path.
Hiking at Watkins Glen, particularly on the Gorge Trail, is the most crowded from mid-June through August. The trail is family-friendly and good for kids so when school’s out, crowds descend. Autumn, with the changing leaves, is also a busy time, especially on the weekends.
To avoid the worst of the crowds any time of year, a Watkins Glen hike during the week would be best, if possible. If there’s a hint of bad weather, maybe a little drizzling rain or an extra chill in the air, you might encounter fewer people on the trail.
If you don’t mind crowds, feel free to go whenever you wish! Just remember it will be challenging to take those selfies without some stranger lurking around in the background, trying to get their own crowd-free photos.
Hiking the Watkins Glen State Park Gorge Trail
The Gorge Trail is visually spectacular, winding its way next to Glen Greek, deep inside the gorge. The trail is 1.4 miles long and categorized as moderately difficult. It follows a narrow stone pathway and has a gradual ascent. There are 832 stone steps to climb and several stone bridges that span Glen Creek.
The most popular way to experience this extraordinary natural wonder is to begin at the Main Entrance and then follow the gorge trail out and back again. I recommend allowing at least two hours to follow the Gorge Trail. This allows for photo ops and plenty of time to gaze in awe at the surrounding beauty.
In between the Visitor Center and the trail entrance is a plaza lined with information about the geological formation and history of Watkins Glen, and then the entrance to the Gorge Trail is immediately dramatic, beginning at a stone tunnel that was hand-cut into the cliffside in the early 1900s.
The trail map that you pick up at the Visitor Center labels the falls, bridges, and other points of interest you’ll encounter along the way. Nearly every incline and bend on this Watkins Glen hike is an opportunity for a photo. Numerous rocky, layered cliffs rise up to 200 feet above the trail, all sculpted into various swirling patterns thousands of years in the making.
Dogs are not allowed on the Gorge Trail.
Watkins Glen Waterfalls
There are a lot of amazing formations and features to see on these Watkins Glen trails. Perhaps the most fun aspect of the hike is spotting the 19 waterfalls that line the Gorge Trail. Among these Watkins Glen waterfalls, you’ll see, for example, Cavern Cascade, which in order to pass you have to walk behind and yes, you’ll get a little wet.
You’ll also see Central Cascade, which, with a 60-foot plunge, is the highest waterfall on the trail. Another one that’s special is Rainbow Falls, so called because of the burst of colors it creates when the sun is shining on it just right.
Note: If you are chasing waterfalls, be sure to add Ithaca and Trumansburg to your itinerary!
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More Watkins Glen State Park Trails
If you’re visiting the park when the Gorge Trail is closed but still want to clock in some Watkins Glen hiking, two trails are open year-round.
Hikers will follow the forested rims of the glen on both the Indian Trail (2.4 miles; moderate) and the South Rim Trail (2.6 miles; moderate). Both offer views down into the steep gorge. These trails may close during extreme weather so I recommend calling the park office at 607-535-4511 before you visit to check trail status.
Alternatively, download the Parks Explorer App for the most up-to-date information. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. Dogs are allowed on the Indian Trail and the South Rim Trail. Hiking Watkins Glen, whichever trail you follow, is a great Finger Lakes experience!
Swimming at Watkins Glen State Park
The park has an Olympic-size swimming pool that’s open to both day visitors and campers during the summer months. Lifeguards are on duty and a there’s also a small wading pool for kids. The pool is located near the park’s Six Nations Camping Area. Grills and picnic tables are available for public use on the grounds just outside the pool. There is no additional cost for swimming.
- 2022 Swimming Pool Season: July 1-September 5.
Watkins Glen State Park Camping
The Six Nations Camping Area in Watkins Glen State Park includes 305 campsites. Amenities include restrooms, hot showers, picnic tables, grills, and firewood for sale. Campers also have access to the swimming pool. Reservations are required.
- 2022 Camping Season: May 20-October 9
- 2023 Camping Season: May 19-October 8
Getting to and around Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State park has three entrances: a Main Entrance, and North Entrance, and a South Entrance.
Parking costs $10 per vehicle (includes pool use) but if you’re staying in the town of Watkins Glen and can walk to the park, it would save you the vehicle fee. The Empire Pass is valid here. Parking fees apply from mid-May to mid-October.
At the Main Entrance, there’s a gift shop, restrooms, and a Visitor Center. You can also pick up a Watkins Glen State Park trail map, check on trail conditions, and ask the friendly staff any questions you might have. They’ll also outline your various trail options to help you maximize your experience.
A shuttle bus runs between all three entrances. The shuttle costs $6 per person each way and operates on the following dates in 2022:
- May 28-July 4: Weekends only
- July 5-Labor Day (first Monday in September): Daily
- Labor Day-October 23: Weekends only
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How to Get to Watkins Glen, NY
The most convenient way to get to Watkins Glen is by car. Driving distance and time from major cities:
- Ithaca: 25 miles; 40 minutes.
- Rochester: 80 miles; 90 minutes.
- Syracuse: 90 miles; 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Buffalo: 145 miles; 2.5 hours.
- Toronto: 240 miles; 4.5 hours
- New York City: 260 miles; 5 hours.
Additional options:
- By train: The nearest Amtrak stations are in Syracuse and Rochester.
- By bus: The nearest bus station are in Ithaca, Syracuse, and Rochester.
- By plane: The closest major airports are in Syracuse and Rochester.