Watkins Glen State Park-Gorge Trail

We spent a week in the Finger Lakes New York area. Our base camp was Sampson State Park about 40 minutes North of Watkins Glen State Park. Sampson State Park is a nice quiet campground to stay at in early June with a lot of amenities for our brood.

To watch the video version of this post click here otherwise continue reading below:

Where do I start the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail?

Watkins Glen feels like a park in the city. The parking lot for the Gorge trail is across the street from the County Sheriff and Courthouse and down the street from a used car dealership. Parking is limited. We arrived early and by the time we finished the trail and returned to our truck before lunch the parking lots were full. Pro Tip, if you are staying at a State Park your campground park pass will substitute for a parking pass in the lot. So, hang your campground park pass on your rear view mirror and ignore the parking meters!

How Many Waterfalls Can I see at Watkins Glen State Park?

According to the NY park website https://parks.ny.gov/parks/watkinsglen/maps.aspx The stream flows over 19 waterfalls, combining for 400 feet of elevation change. We were impressed with the magnitude of the hike and the construction of the trail. The tunnels were fun. The stone work adds to the beauty of the trail. The stone knee wall providing safeguards for hikers and the stone stairs are in great shape and appropriate for the gorge. There are many features of the trail including stone bridges that allow hikers to see above the falls and straight on views of the gorge. Additionally, the trail travels behind and next to falls in a way that allows people to get close to the water and feel and hear the flow of water.

What is it like Hiking Watkins Glen Gorge Trail?

There are a few rules to the trail. One is no pets allowed. Pets on the gorge trail would be difficult for people. The trail is tight and heavily travelled. Dogs could cause unnecessary conflict and might even send people over the edge of the trail into the rocks and water below. Two, is don’t throw rocks. There are many loose rocks on the trail. You will be fined if caught by NY officials and it is dangerous for other hikers. The trails also require carry in/carry out rules and trash cans are limited. It’s a good policy for hikers overall and even though this is an urban trail it would be difficult for NY staff to haul garbage out of the trail to dumpsters.

What Gear Should You Use to Hike Watkins Glen?

We enjoyed our hike of Watkins Glen. Our brood found it helpful for everyone to have cameras so they could get their favorite picture from their eyes. Two hiking poles were used by the kids throughout the hike. We find that it not only supports their hiking ability but it also gives them something to fidget with. Finally, we carry Teton hiking packs with many snacks, water, and a stuffed animal or two. We didn’t need to use the water bladders on any of our hikes in the Finger Lakes. There was plenty of shade, places to stop and rest, and we carried bottled water instead.

For examples of the gear we took on our hike check out these links below for more details.

Teton Sports Hydration Pack Video Review: https://youtu.be/KEBrYwp8RQk

Amazon Link: 2021 model https://amzn.to/3SnKcGR

2022 model https://amzn.to/3vIogMZ

Camelbak Mini M.U.L.E hydration backpack Video Review for younger hikers: https://youtu.be/WbRgZr6C20g

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3Zpj91p

Merrell Moab II Men's Hiking Shoes: https://amzn.to/3Ardw8k

The First Aid Kit we carry: https://amzn.to/3Lcvu2h

Trekking Poles: https://amzn.to/3DHj54L

Tactical Flashlights: https://amzn.to/3QLY25T

Compass: https://amzn.to/3GahGU5

As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

To see more check out our YouTube video of our hike of Watkins Glen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MIDuE-Fd10 Of all the hikes in the finger lakes,this was our favorite hike for its many waterfalls, the trail construction, level of difficulty, and gorge height and rock formations.

We hiked these Falls while in the Finger Lakes. Read more here:

1. Buttermilk Falls

2. Taughannock Falls

3. Robert Treman State Park Falls trail

4. check out the wineries we visited, too

What did you find fun at Watkins Glen? What questions do you have?