Watkins Glen State Park, New York, United States

5Cheryl L 5:00 PM May 28, 2022

Nonstop views!
Beautiful, magical views! So many waterfalls! We absolutely loved this hike. I would call it a must-do if in the area (and worth at least an hour drive, for sure). Here are some things to know. The trail opened this year on May 20, and it typically closes in the fall (date varies based on weather). It's best to get their early in the day because the trail gets crowded, and you can get the best pictures with fewer people. We arrived at 8:45 am, and I would go earlier next time. We parked in the lot at the corner of Franklin and Pine St (for $10), near the main entrance. That lot was filling up when we arrived (on a Sunday), but I understand there is another lot across the street. There were restrooms and a visitor's center. We stopped by the visitor's center, and a very cheerful, helpful lady showed us the best route. Because the first bridge on the Gorge trail was closed for renovation, we needed to start with a detour, which started with stairs behind the Sinclair gas station. After we climbed those stairs, the trail went up, up, up, and I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. From there though, there was a stone staircase going down that led to the Gorge trail. The trail was nonstop gorgeous. There were lots of stairs, but there was always a flat portion of trail after each set of stairs that let me catch my breath. Also, we stopped so often for pictures and views, that the trail did not seem all that strenuous (after the very first part). The trail is very well built and maintained (stone railings, stone bridges, lots of signs), but the trail was muddy, and I was glad to have tennis shoes with excellent treads. Many people wore hiking shoes. We hiked up to a sign marked "Mile Point". From there you can either continue up to the shuttle or cross over to the Indian trail or just turn around and go back the way you came. Taking the Indian trail avoids the crowds. It took us around 1.5 hours for the 2 mile roundtrip because we stopped a lot for pictures and also stopped a lot to allow others to take private photos. There was a cute gift shop at the bottom of the trail (opens at 10 am). It had local ice cream, but we didn't try it. In summary, wonderful trail and experience!

5RaleighFrench 5:00 PM Oct 15, 2022

Beautiful even with low water levels
October 2022 - The ranger I met on the trail told me the water level was very low. That didn't matter. Looking at the walls along the trail and the geologic shapes of the pools of water were worth it. The trees were just past their peak of color, but were still stupendous. It can be frustrating waiting for everyone to take their selfies as it is very crowded, so I just kept walking. People were all just standing in a line watching others take selfies. Take a photo and move on! I parked on the street outside the park. Two hour parking limit but it was free. They say to allow 90 minutes to walk the trail, but it can be done in an hour if you don't wait on others to take their photos. Also, if you don't like the crowds, after hiking up to the top on the gorge trail, you can take Indian Trail back down to the parking lot. Very few people take that trail. You will not, however, have any gorge views on Indian Trail. You are walking through a forest. I would suggest NOT going up the gorge if you have bad knees or have a baby stroller. There are many steps and your shoes WILL get wet. One other thing - WAZE took me to a road that led to a cemetery. That road is just past the park parking lot (if the park is on your left when you arrive). Do NOT take that road. Park on the road that is perpendicular to the road the park is on. There is also a pay parking lot next to these free parking spaces. I arrived at 9:15 AM and it was already quite crowded.