watkins glen state park

I will admit I was not ready for some of the steeper trails, but it was really a lot of fun, peaceful, and scenic. Just to sit and listen to the rushing water is refreshing in itself. Good place for a family, but also a nice place to go alone and reflect on one of the less busier days maybe before the end of the season, or just before.

Our family has a camp vacation here yearly. We take the extended family and two campsites and enjoy a week of tranquil beauty! The area is amazing, the Glen is incredible, the local restaurants are great, the Lake has plenty of activity. We enjoy all of the little nooks and crannies at the state park. They provide wood and ice for a fee, have lovely playgrounds, treat their visitors very well and provide wonderful campsites!

I hesitate to write this because a zillion more people will flock to it - but this is simply one of the most beautiful spots on the planet. Waterfalls, rock bridges and formations, waterslides - all in a canyon of sorts that you can walk through. My wife grew up near there and at first I hesitated on going because it was just a "state park". I hesitate no more - we've been three times and would go again anytime we are anywhere near it. The area is known outside of there for only the speedway (is that still going?) but this is just a fabulous piece of God's creation. Do not miss it.PS - there is a hesitation for those with difficulty walking up stairs. There are quite a few. BUT even if you can walk a few, you can sit and enjoy the view from the first viewpoint (nice bench there) and be completely amazed while watching your part traverse further along the trail. Also it is probably always in the shade so is much cooler than the area. I've only been in the summer but can't imagine it would be anything but spectacular at any time. Go - enjoy - this is one of the greatest and most beautiful spots in the whole world. You'll be glad you did it.

This was a very enjoyable outing. Not too strenuous so it's family friendly. I liked the fact that there is a half way point which allows you to shorten your walk if you like. I believe the full walk is 3 miles. I took the short cut make it only 1 1/2.

What a fabulous park!!! It is visually stunning!!What's so incredible is that it is right in downtown Watkins Glen and is so incredibly accessible there is not reason not to visit. Stone walkways, gorges, waterfalls, stunning cliffs. What's not to like and admire?Take time and walk this beautiful natural wonder. It is NOT to be missed. You will be in awe of its beauty.

I would definitely go back here to hike again, however I would recommend doing it during the week... not the weekend. There were soo many people the paths were crowded with people taking pictures. On the bright side the views were quite beautiful

One of my most favorite places! It is a work out however. Lots of stairs to climb, but absolutely beautiful! Very easy to navigate! As long as you can follow a map you will be fine! Get ready to see lots of waterfalls!!

Had everything you could want in terms of accessibility. People were very friendly. Great park for all ages to explore.

We were driving along the Finger Lakes during a road trip when we saw this park and decided to stop by to investigate. We are so glad we did! This formation is stunning. We walked around the glen and explored the various caves and passages. There are definitely sections that are mucky, dark and wet so wear the appropriate footwear and clothing. But the beauty and grand power of the water moulding the rock is breathtaking. Parking can be tight and the washrooms are less than desired but what do you expect for a public attraction in the summer? We stopped by the gift shop at the end of our hike and bought a few items to document our trip. If we are ever in the area again we would stop and explore.

On our way back from Niagara Falls we decided to stop here. It was a two hour detour but totally worth it. A great hike I won't soon forget.

Breathtaking, awesome, God's Glory are just a few word to describe this marvel of nature you mustn't miss. Visit for the day and you, your friends, family will love it. Hiking is a MUST. Enjoy God's paradise.

Are you visiting Niagara falls?, then, not to miss this Park which is on the way to New York from Niagara. Breathtakingly beautiful. Your tour operator will drop you atop the hill and you can come down through the narrow staircase carved on the hills. You can see and experience some of the amazing scenes on the way down, which you normally don't get to see in other places. it would take around 30 minutes or more to come down from the top but you will definitely have to stop in between and take photos of the scenery there, cracked hills, water falls and some of the hill crevasses look like the cracks on the mountains happened during a severe earth quake. The feeling is great here and there is an entry fee per vehicle, as you know nothing comes free in this world but it is definitely affordable here. If you are going to Niagara falls, not to miss watkin glen state park on the way back. if you have knee problem, back ache etc., please skip this because, it would definitely put pressure on your knees due to gravitational pull while walking down. If you are obese and diabetic, great chance to bring your sugar levels down and also greatly enjoy your walk and tone your leg muscles :)

Drove 4.5 hours there and back on one Saturday with a good friend of mine just to get a glimpse of the supposed treasures hiding here. Thunderstorms cancelled our planned trip in late September and the next opportunity we had, we took, despite a forecast of showers in late October. Although it was pretty grey out, the waterfalls & vistas were STILL incredibly stunning. Most of the fall foliage ended up on the rock below and surrounding the water by the time we went but added some autumn color down below. The trail was very slippery (the rain earlier in the day contributed to this) and would really advise against wearing heels/shoes you don't want to ruin (saw a few women wearing heels--crazy). My friend and I agreed that driving a total of 9 hours in one day to spend 3-4 hours to hike the gorge trail and explore this gem was well worth it. Next time I visit, I would definitely stay at a nearby hotel or camp out if the weather is warm to spend a full weekend here. As a bonus, Seneca Lake (largest finger lake) was a 5 minute drive away from the main park entrance and was also sooo beautiful! For dinner, we opted to eat at Seneca Harbor Station which had food that was decent but nothing special and rather pricey. This park shows the true power and beauty of nature through the intricate carving of the gorge. Perfect day -- definitely recommend.

I wouldnt consider watkins glen to be a spot for a good hike even though you might be covering some heights. It is normally crowded and has stairs for everyone to climb/walk. It definitely is a wonderful experience and a beautiful walk by many waterfalls in the gorge. The waterfalls all along the way add sparkle and shine to the already beautiful gorge. We took the popular gorge trail by the water going up and came back down taking the Indian Trail - that trhogh the woods around and you dont get to see the water but there is neat lil bridge that you get to see/cross that would be missed on the main trail as this bridge is at a much higher elevation than the trail by the water.I would recomment Watkins Glen to anyone planning to spend 2-3 hours outdoors with little or very less physical exertion.

Went to Watkins Glen State Park as part of our visit to the Finger Lakes Area of New York State.What a wonderful experience. We walked the Gorge trail and wound our way around an intricate pattern of little water falls. It was stunning to say the least. Only creep thing was on the way back we went a little off trail and wound up on the perimeter of a cemetery that abridged the property of the State Park. We came upon a Vault above ground with a door that had been popped open. Needless to say we picked up our pace upon seeing this. Visions of zombies briefly crossed our mind but we finished the walk down intact!