A Guide to Watkins Glen State Park: A Magical Little Spot in the Finger Lakes

As if wine and charming towns weren’t enough reason to plan a Finger Lakes vacation, there’s an enchanting park with the kind of waterfalls and beautiful views that feel straight out of a fairytale! It’s called Watkins Glen State Park, and this is a short guide to the area!

I’ve now walked through the gorge trail at Watkins Glen State Park twice since first learning of it from my friends over at Bobo & Chichi. They mentioned it was like something out of Fern Gully while other travelers also kept mentioning how beautiful it was, so I knew I needed to get over there!! The first time I went was in late summer after a travel conference, and I fell immediately in love. A few years later when I returned to the area when fall foliage was out, I knew we had to make time to walk through the gorge trail once more and it was somehow even more enchanting than it had been in my memory.

I absolutely cannot emphasize this enough, if you are planning any sort of trip to the Finger Lakes between roughly May and early November, it’s basically a crime to skip Watkins Glen. The “hike” is so easy and short I saw an Amish woman do it flip flops, and the views, ugh!!! Not to be dramatic, but you must, you must!!

IMPORTANT 2026 NOTE: The Main Entrance Tunnel is currently CLOSED as they completely replace the Sentry Bridge with. You’ll want to use one of the other two entrances to get into the Gorge Trail until it re-opens. From the sounds of it they’re aiming for July 2026 but no concrete updates yet!

A Quick Bit About Watkins Glen

The Village of Watkins Glen

This is just for those of you who may get a little confused because there are two places named Watkins Glen. First off, the village in Schuyler County (yes, it’s named for the father of Peggy, Angelica, Eliza who snuck into the city just to watch all the guys at –) is named Watkins Glen. It borders the bottom of Seneca Lake and includes Watkins Glen State Park but also has a lot more going on.

Honestly, I’ve never properly stopped in to walk around because it’s always felt like the busiest of the Finger Lakes towns I’ve visited and parking was always a pain in the butt but it is on my list to stay in town and get to know it better.

Besides the park, it’s also known for auto racing and Watkins Glen International. Oh and you can book a spot on the True Love schooner, aka the one featured in Grace Kelly’s High Society.

Watkins Glen State Park

Now like I said, Watkins Glen State Park is a park within the village of Watkins Glen. And if you can’t tell from that “state park” moniker, yes, it’s part of the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Recreation system. Back in the day, it was actually private property first to a guy named Morvalden Ells and then another guy named John Lytle, who actually built a hotel in the property. At one point you could take the train from NYC to Watkins Glen. If anyone has old timey photos of your ancestors visiting it back in the late 1800s/early 1900s, I would LOVE to see them!!

It later passed to public ownership and the park was redesigned to be both sturdier and more environmentally-friendly. It’s free to visit and what makes the park so beautiful is the mix of lush greenery (or in fall, the colorful foliage) and the way the shales made of sandstone and limestone that create very cool, visual bits of nature. Not to mention, the gorge itself and array of waterfalls!

How to Visit Watkins Glen State Park

Best Time to Visit Watkins Glen

There are no strict closing or opening dates for the park, so check local groups if you’re coming earlier in May or later in October. It’s all kind of reliant on the weather, and if it’s warm enough that the water isn’t freezing on the pathways.

I’ve really only been in quieter times (mid-September early morning and mid-October during the week), so I can’t speak to how busy a random Saturday afternoon in July may be! If you are coming in the summer months, I’d advise to go as early as possible to the have the place to yourself. The park is open from dawn to dusk.

What to Wear

I will warn you, you will likely get at least a little wet from the waterfalls. Nothing crazy unless you get really close, but expect to walk through some mist and on wet floors! Don’t wear anything delicate you don’t want getting wet at all.

The Three Entrances

Just noting here that there are three entrances to Watkins Glen State Park! Plug in the Visitor Center for the Main Entrance. This will take you right into the Gorge Trail and comes in right from downtown Watkins Glen. The second entrance is the South Entrance which is like south of the gorge and near the campground and pool. You can access the Gorge Trail from here but you’ll need to follow the Finger Lakes Trail or South Rim Trail to get there. And the last entrance is the Upper Entrance which is accessed right of Station Road. Start with the North Rim Trail the go left to follow the Gorge Trail.

It’s like pretty obvious if you know how to look at a map but I didn’t know about the entrances, drove to the South one, and spent 30 minutes confused as to why I wasn’t seeing a gorge lol. So, you know, sometimes we have really dumb moments, okay!

Where to Park

Every entrance has its own parking lot, and while I swear the South Entrance was free back in 2018, it looks like there’s a $10 fee for vehicles these days. I will say, when we used the Main Entrance on my second visit, I saw there was two hour free parking on the street right by the parking lot (maybe on 10th and/or Franklin). I already knew even with our dilly-dallying and photo-taking we wouldn’t need a full two hours, so we parked there with no issue.

Getting Around

Of course, the main way to get around Watkins Glen State Park is to hike! And by hike I mean walking with some wet stone steps to climb up. Like I said, I watched someone do this in a dress and flip-flops to give you an idea of how easy it is. And when my friend and I went later we were in a cute outfits and tennis shoes, aka NOT in workout gear.

There are three main out and back trails for the park and they all more or less extend from the Main Entrance to the Upper Entrance — North Rim (aka Indian), Gorge, and South Rim. Take it from me, the Gorge Trail is the only one you’ll want to do. The other two are like above the gorge, and you won’t get nearly as many pretty views. I took the South Rim trail back and I don’t even think I took any photos. It’s quicker, though, so if you’re in a rush to get back, you may want to use one of them!

The Gorge Trail is about 1.5miles one way and relatively flat besides any stairs, so like I said, you really don’t need more than two hours in the park or fancy hiking shoes to do it!

Where to Stay for Visiting

Campgrounds in Watkins Glen

Right off the South Entrance is the campground for Watkins Glen! Since I’ve never camped, all I can do is point you to the reservation page! But as someone who’s looking into getting into camping, I will say this seems like a nice practice spot for when you’re still getting the hang of things.

The Village of Watkins Glen

Your next option is to stay in the village of Watkins Glen! Depending on where you stay, you should be able to just walk up to the Main Entrance from town. Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel is the most well-known hotel. You can also see the famous little red Seneca Lake structure that’s always photographed for this area. (Fun Fact: said photo is always on the fridge in “New Girl”!)

Otherwise, The Red Kettle Inn and The Blackberry Inn are in town and have that cozy, historic vibe. And a little outside of downtown (but still like 20-25 minutes walking to the entrance) are superrrr cute places — Idlewilde Inn and Hudson Manor B&B.

And for bigger groups who want more of a house stay in town, there are plenty of Airbnb rentals like this 3-bedroom home or this 5-bedroom home.

Nearby Cottages & Quieter Stays

I will say most people I know plan trips to the Finger Lakes so they can stay in some remote cottage or cabin, so if that’s more your jam, I’d check out Airbnb and VRBO listings around southern Seneca Lake. This cabin looks quite remote and perfect for a couple or solo getaway (complete with a hot tub!) while this cottage is part of a group of four so good for a group who still wants some privacy. And I’m kind of in love with this yurt option for something different!

Other Towns in the Finger Lakes

If you don’t mind having a bit of a drive, you could also base yourself in other towns around the Finger Lakes and just plan to drive in to see the park. Both Hammondsport and Penn Yan by Keuka Lake are less than 30 minutes by car. Corning is also only 30 minutes away and has more of a small city vibe if you’d prefer that. If you go north, Geneva, on the opposite side of Seneca Lake, is around 40 minutes by car and then Seneca Falls (real life It’s a Wonderful Life’s Bedford Falls) is 50 minutes.

Misc. Important Information

Off the top of my head:

• Bathrooms at least by the Main Entrance but none in the park. Plan accordingly!
• No pets or alcohol allowed on the Gorge Trail.
• Should have plenty of cell service all throughout!

Where to Go in Watkins Glen State Park

I basically went backward and went from the South – Main Entrance instead of going through to the Upper, so  I’m going to start this guide from the Main Entrance to make it easier!

The Main Entrance

After parking, you’ll walk along the gorge on the path you see above! It’s a nice park area with lots of little stands with information on Watkins Glen’s geological history and the culture of the area. My favorite bit was seeing the paintings from 200+ years ago to compare what I was looking at in the present day!

You’ll essentially keep walking until you get to the Sentry Bridge and the side entrance tunnel staircase that takes you up to cross it.

The Sentry Bridge

Once you get through the park, you’ll reach the Entrance Tunnel, which is like a little doorway that’ll take you up some stairs and across Sentry Bridge. Interestingly enough, Sentry Bridge is getting a huge makeover at the moment (2026) and the stone bridge is being completely replaced with a steel one. Kind of cool to think I’ll have seen it in three different stages by the time I go for a third visit. Above you can see them from my first visit in 2018 and my second in 2023!

Viewpoint from Sentry Bridge

Once you cross the Sentry Bridge, you’ll get two really fantastic views. Look behind to see the main entrance area from afar and then look forward for your first stunning view of the gorge!

Cavern Cascade and Spiral Tunnel

The first big site is the Cavern Cascade and the Spiral Tunnel. You’ll walk under the waterfall and then up a spiral staircase. It’s a pretty gorgeous first real waterfall of the hike!

Lover’s Lane

I remember walking past a sign for Lover’s Lane, but I didn’t go up because I saw a couple sitting there and didn’t want to be that stranger ruining a lovey-dovey moment. I don’t think we went up the second visit either!

Suspension Bridge

The Suspension Bridge connects the North and South Rim Trails. If you’re on the Gorge Trail you’ll be walking about 85ft below it! If you want to, you can climb up to get the view on the right! Since I came in via the South Entrance on my first visit, I walked across it.

The Narrows

Not sure it’s an official label on the map anymore but it’s just a small stretch where the pathway gets a little narrower and things are a bit shadier and cooler. And if as you can see in the picture, this is what I mean when I say the paths get wet and you don’t want to wear any nice shoes that could get ruined!

Glen Cathedral

The Glen Cathedral was in a pretty open area. I’m still not sure why it’s called Glen Cathedral even after visiting and reading the brochure on it! I guess the rock formations along the cliff look a bit like a cathedral topping? Kind of crazy to think you’re looking at millions of years of geological history though!

Central Cascade

Soon you’ll come to another short series of stairs and a rocky archway before you reach the Central Cascade. This is the tallest waterfall in the gorge!

Rainbow Falls

This is the big sight to see, and the one you’ll see photos of everywhere. It’s quite beautiful, and you’ll eventually walk underneath it. It gets its name because on a sunny day, you’ll see the sun reflect off the falls in rainbow colors. I went on a slightly cloudy day, so I didn’t get the rainbow effect, but it was still stunning!

Frowning Cliff

There’s another landmark after Rainbow Falls called Frowning Cliff but I’m going to be honest — I don’t remember it at all and did not take photos either time, so… I guess don’t feel insane if you miss it too!

Mile Point Bridge

The Mile Point Bridge does exactly what its name suggests – marks a mile from the Main Entrance into the park. It’s part of the photos with Rainbow Falls. You can keep going to the Upper Entrance & Jacobs Ladder or turn back on the South or North Rim Trails.

Looping Back

Both times we turned back around Mile Point Bridge so I have no clue what Jacob’s Ladder is like. The first time I went parts of the North Rim Trail were under construction, so I walked back along the South Rim Trail to see the difference. Like I mentioned, it’s not nearly as pretty so you’re better off retracing your steps along the Gorge Trail!

And there you have it! A guide to visiting the gorgeous Watkins Glen State Park. Anything else you’d add or want to know? Let me know bleow!

For more New York travel

• 13 Pretty Places to Visit in Hudson Valley
• Owego Travel Guide: A Southern Gateway to the Finger Lakes
• Belleayre Skiing: What to Expect, Where to Stay, and More

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