Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: Watkins Glen Short Hike

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Watkins Glen Short Hike

Watkins Glen State Park,
Schuyler Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Gorge Trail
North Rim Trail

Total Time: 0:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 0.9 Mile

Pros: Famous, highly scenic area gorge
Cons: A very busy and popular area
Hike Type: Loop

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/8fMK31X5m6TmSs1c8

Watkins Glen is perhaps the most famous gorge in New York State, and certainly the most-well known in the Finger Lakes area. It is a steep and narrow gorge with unique rock formations and many waterfalls. I was with my family on a camping trip and we were en route from Corning to Ithaca, and we drove through Watkins Glen on the return route.

It was already late in the day, so we couldn't do the full route, so we just did the first part with a very short loop just under a while. It may have been short, but it was beautiful. The lateness in the made for a very quiet hike, despite this hike being very busy normally. There is a parking fee to visit the area, but since I was already staying at a state campground I was exempt from parking fee.

I was at Watkins Glen on a camping trip approximately 9 years prior, and noticed the newly renovated entrance area. There used to be a parking lot at then entry of the gorge, which was now replaced by paths and gardens. We took the Gorge Trail through the gorge, crossing the Sentry Bridge at the first waterfall, and then behind the waterfalls at Cavern Cascade, and then under the suspension bridge. We then took the North Rim Connector Trail back, crossing over the Suspension Bridge, and then back along the North Rim Connector Trail back to the entrance area.