Watkins Glenn State Park is known worldwide for its natural beauty and unique ecosystems. At just an hour and a half drive from Rochester, it is an easy day trip with unforgettable views, great hiking, and endless photography opportunities. After many years of admiring friends’ pictures of Watkins Glen, I finally took my family there this summer and I was not disappointed.
Making a Plan
While there are many trails to explore, the iconic Gorge Trail is by far the most popular. This trail walks you along the inside edge of the gorge, so you can follow alongside cliffs, through tunnels, under waterfalls, and over bridges. The other trails bring you through more wooded areas that have their own beauty to explore and connect in several places to the main Gorge Trail. You can choose to enter the Gorge Trail from all three park entrances. You can hike the trail to the end and back, one way, or skip parts of the trail by utilizing the paid shuttle that runs between the three entrance areas. Make sure to take a look at the Watkins Glen State Park Trail Map ahead of time to be able to make informed decisions on how you’d like to experience Watkins Glen.
Like us, many people choose to hike the Gorge Trail from east to west because they want to face the breathtaking views as they ascend the gorge. While the trail had absolutely gorgeous views, you do need to use some caution on it. There were many stairs as we followed along the gorge. However, if you take the time to stop and enjoy the views along the way, I found the amount of stairs do-able. Some of the stone and pavement was uneven, which helped to keep good footing in the wet areas, but also demanded I be aware of my footing. The trail had varying widths. The walls along the edge were a mix of railings, short stone walls, waist-high stone walls, or no barriers at all. Please exercise discretion and have talks ahead of time with children about safety.
The Entrances
Main Entrance: 1000 N. Franklin Street Watkins Glen, NY 14891
The Main Entrance is located at the eastern end of the gorge in the bustling town of Watkins Glen. The paid parking lots for this entrance are near the gorge and across a relatively busy street. This is a more commercial entrance and can be crowded.
Amenities at the Main Entrance:
- parking lots (paid)
- visitor information center
- gift shop and cafe
- bathroom facilities
- walkable location near many shops, restaurants, and Seneca Lake
- shuttle stop (fee)
Upper Entrance: 3310 Route 409 Watkins Glen, NY 14891
The Upper Entrance is located at the western end of Watkins Glen State Park. This wooded entrance has the least amount of vehicle traffic, so this parking lot is smaller and usually has spaces available, even when the Main Entrance parking lots are full. The path from this area starts by descending Jacob’s Ladder, the steepest and longest stairway of the trail. However, some people prefer to hike down the path and take the shuttle back up to the top for a bit of ease.
Amenities at the Upper Entrance:
- parking lot (paid)
- small playground for toddlers and younger elementary children
- bathroom facilities
- small gift shop that serves ice cream
- small picnic area
- shuttle stop (fee)
South Entrance: 3528 Route 419 Watkins Glen, NY 14891
The South Entrance is a great way to enter the park if you plan on camping or spending the whole day. The area is expansive, with a large parking lot, and many amenities for visitors. It is not as busy as the Main Entrance and you can go behind the South Pavilion and jump onto the Gorge Trail and hike in either direction.
Amenities at the South Entrance:
- parking lot (paid)
- public swimming pool (with changing rooms)
- snack shop
- bathrooms (at pool and lower level behind the South Pavillion building)
- large picnic areas
- playground for little kids and younger elementary age
- South Pavillion (spaces to rent)
- Lily Pond with frogs
- shuttle stop (fee)
Related Educational Suggestions
- Study the life cycle of a green frog (found at the Lily Pond)
- Create a scavenger hunt and study of the flora and fauna listed on iNaturalist (don’t forget binoculars!)
- Study the threatened species in Watkins Glen
- Study and experiment with erosion patterns
- Bring a camera for photography practice
- Research sedimentary rocks (sandstone and shale)
- Read about the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the New Deal during the Great Depression
- Read the informational plaques along the trail
- Study the geology if the area (rock layers, calcareous shale cliff, talus slopes, glaciers, lakes, plunge pools)
- Schedule a free 1.5 hour group Watkins Glen Gorge Tour
Additional Information
Watkins Glen State Park is a great place to spend the day or a weekend. It has a great campground right in the park so you can take advantage of the many amenities with no rush. Groups are welcome and knowledgeable tour guides are happy to provide you with free educational tours if you contact them in advance. Nearby there are many wineries, other gorgeous state parks, Seneca Lake, and the Watkins Glen International Raceway.
