Visited Watkins Glen State Park from Ontario and was absolutely amazed by its beauty. The gorge is truly spectacular, with scenic pathways winding through towering rock walls, stunning waterfalls, and crystal-clear streams. Every turn offers another fantastic view and a great photo opportunity. The trails are well maintained and allow you to experience the waterfalls up close, making the hike both enjoyable and memorable. It feels like stepping into a completely different world. This is definitely one of the most beautiful state parks I’ve visited and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Finger Lakes region. A must-see destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

This was one of the highlights of our trip. The Gorge Trail was absolutely beautiful, and we made it a point to visit all 10 of the stops marked on the map. Every section of the trail felt unique, with different rock formations, viewpoints, and details to appreciate along the way. The waterfalls were stunning, and there always seemed to be something new to discover around each turn. The trails were easy to follow and not overly strenuous, making for a relaxing and enjoyable walk while still offering incredible scenery. Overall, a wonderful state park that is well worth visiting if you enjoy nature, waterfalls, and scenic hikes.

An absolutely breathtaking combination of natural wonders that makes for the perfect day trip in the Finger Lakes region! Starting at Watkins Glen State Park is a magical experience. The Gorge Trail is a masterpiece of stonework, taking you past 19 incredible waterfalls compressed into less than two miles. Walking under and behind the cascading water feels like stepping into a fantasy world. It is a well-maintained, highly accessible hike, though there are plenty of stairs, so wearing shoes with good traction is a must. ?Just a short, scenic drive further north along the east side of Seneca Lake brings you to Hector Falls, which is an absolute must-see bonus stop. It is a massive, stunning cascade that drops right down beside the road. You can view the incredible upper sections easily from the Route 414 bridge. Pairing the deep, dramatic stone gorge of the state park with the wide, roadside majesty of Hector Falls gives you the absolute best of New York’s natural beauty in one afternoon!

Can’t say a negative thing about this place. Nice and easy trail. Only $10 to park and enjoy this beautiful trail. Not very private as there were good amount of people on a rainy day so I can only imagine on a good weather day. I would highly recommend and would definitely go back.

Very fun half day. It is about a 2.5 mile hike from bottom to top, and back. There are a ton of stairs, I think between 800-900, depending on which trails you take. I am fairly fit, walking the 2.5 miles with a little break at top was no problem, but my legs were sore for 2 days after because of stairs. It is very pretty, I really enjoyed the walk, but if you take the elevator to get to 5th floor rather than taking the stairs, this is probably not the walk for you. There is a visitor center at the bottom and maybe ways to see some of the falls with less stairs. I did see a wheelchair being pushed on the rim trail, but you really can't see much from the top. Also a raincoat and sturdy footwear would be hekpful. Path by falls, and under one fall, were very wet, some from rain the day before, but much is probably wet most days (with some deeper puddles that required jumping or boots to keep feet dry). It really was a fun walk, took us about 2 hours. Saw there was a campground, some camp stores/ gift shops, info centers. If I were not with 2 teenagers who wanted to hike, I probably could have spent a few extra hours walking slower, taking more pictures, visiting the visitor center, maybe even spending a night at the campground.

Great views, fall colors at its peak. And no matter when you hike the gorge trail, it’s always wet and muddy so dress appropriately with hiking shoes. We ended up doing the gorge trail 3 times back and forth coz it’s so pretty. And then did the rim trail too taking the Jacob ladder 150-180 steps down to gorge trail again. Visiting here 10 years we felt there is a new construction happening. Infact the start of the gorge trail is blocked and there is a detour on the rim trail to get to the gorge trail currently. Parking lot is $10 day parking, which can be used in any other finger lakes state parks.

Start-to-end stunning views and modest trail length on the 1.5 mile Gorge Trail make this a perfect family hike with younger kids. We brought a group of eight with four children under 10 and everyone loved the experience. It took about an hour-and-a-half with plenty of photo and snack breaks. The Gorge Trail is mostly stone and well-maintained. We took the North Rim Trail back and it was a lot less crowded than the popular Gorge Trail. Lots of steps make for a vigorous climb at times, but it was all manageable for our 6-year-old and 7-year-old. The many waterfalls keep everyone motivated to push forward, and the rock walls make for incredible scenery throughout. One of the best hikes I’ve ever taken.

This place doesn’t disappoint! Beautiful waterfalls/foliage and well-maintained. I would recommend hiking shoes because it does get a bit wet/slippery on some spots. Lots of steps, but still pretty easy. Takes 1-2 hours done leisurely. Many spots to take a breather or to relax and enjoy the scenery. I’d recommend doing early and a day after it rains is best.

Visited Watkins Glen State Park during peak fall season, and it was one of the most breathtaking experiences I’ve had. The gorge trail is simply magical , waterfalls flowing through layered rock walls, colorful leaves carpeting the paths, and mist rising from the falls made it feel straight out of a postcard. The park was fairly busy, but completely worth it. The trails are well-maintained and easy to follow, though be ready for stairs (lots of them!). Every turn offers another photo-worthy spot. Parking was easy to find near the main entrance, and restrooms and picnic areas were clean. If you can, go early in the morning to beat the crowds and catch the sunlight filtering through the gorge, it’s unforgettable. A must-visit, especially during fall foliage season! ??

Such a beautiful hike. Being in a gorge like this is a one of a kind experience. Trails are excellently maintained and marked clearly. Staff at the visitor center were very helpful. The entire thing is under 1.5 miles, so you can explore all the trails and see everything this place has to offer in 1 day. Also seems to have a shuttle maybe just on weekends and it's a very accessible hike/ sights for all ages.