Watkins Glen State Park

"Welcome to New York's ultimate hidden gem- Watkins Glen State Park! The main feature of this exceptionally lovely natural area is the natural, 400-foot gorge running through the park, carved out by a babbling creek. It makes for a serene, blissful hike through natural beauty so captivating that you might forget that you're not in a fairytale. The canyon is made up of shale, sandstone and limestone, which erode at different rates-- that's why the creek is full of magical pools and misty waterfalls (19 in total!) There are three trails in the park, which lead visitors through meadows and into the canyon along the creek-- but be prepared for a bit of a workout, since the trail into the canyon has around 800 steps! It's totally worth it though; even though you can't swim in the creek, you can explore the caves along the trail and go behind many of the waterfalls. Along the way, you'll pass gorgeous bridges (the Sentry bridge in particular seems to complement the gorgeous scenery to perfection) and the eerie remnants of the resort that once occupied the park land. Despite the fact that the resort is gone, visitors can do some old-school camping at the park, which also has a swimming pool and offers guided tours. The best time to visit? Spring, when things are just starting to bloom, and fall, when the firey foliage lights up the scenery." -Roadtrippers Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks, with a reputation for leaving visitors spellbound. Within two miles, the glen's stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Rim trails overlook the gorge. Campers and day-visitors can enjoy the Olympic-size pool, scheduled summer tours through the gorge, tent and trailer campsites, picnic facilities and excellent fishing in nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek, which is renowned for its annual spring run of rainbow trout. Watkins Glen State Park is located on the edge of the village of Watkins Glen, New York, south of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County. The main feature of the park is the hiking trail that climbs up through the gorge, passing over and under waterfalls. The park has a lower part that is next to the village and an upper part that is open woodland. Sparkling lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and rolling pastoral land dominate the landscape of the Finger Lakes Region. Over thousands of years, gigantic glaciers and coursing streams have carved this landscape.  The most recent glacier moved through shallow river valleys leaving in its place deep, steep-sided troughs. When the glaciers receded north 10,000 years ago, water filled these new troughs, creating the 11 Finger Lakes. Since that time water has flowed down glacially steepened hillsides carrying debris that cut away at soft sedimentary rock to form our beautiful and unique gorges.