Walk Through the Waterfalls at Watkins Glen

A must-visit. We parked at the Upper Entrance parking lot, which was the perfect choice since it saved us from climbing the 870 steps—especially important with two young kids. We simply walked downhill through the gorge and took the shuttle back to the upper parking lot at the end of the hike (only $6 for adults and $1 for kids, with shuttles running every 30 minutes). The trail is absolutely stunning, with so much variety along the way. You’ll walk beside the stream, pass towering waterfalls that feel 10 stories high, go behind cascading falls, explore caves, and cross scenic bridges. Every section offers something unique, making the entire experience unforgettable. Arrive early in the morning to avoid the crowds and enjoy the beauty at a more relaxed pace. Highly recommended for families and nature lovers alike!

Just Wow… Watkins Glen State Park is truly one of the most beautiful places we’ve visited. The Gorge Trail is breathtaking, with stunning waterfalls, stone bridges, and scenic rock formations around every turn. The trail is well maintained, and every few minutes there’s another incredible view that’s worth stopping for. It was a wonderful family experience and definitely worth the drive from Canada. Highly recommended for anyone who loves nature, photography, and hiking! My advice would be starting trail from upper level, walk downhill and grab shuttle from main entrance to go back to upper level parking (you have to pay for shuttle)

If you're in the area or even if you're not, this is a must see. It's beautiful, it's doable I think for most people without serious mobility issues, there are hundreds and hundreds of steps. It can be slick in some areas, but generally, absolutely beautiful gorge, 19 waterfalls, incredible photo opportunities. You can park at the top and work your way down through the gorge, but then you can take a shuttle back to the very top where you parked or walk back up on a number of trails. Alternately you can park at the bottom and hike in just a little bit and just see some of the falls from the lower portion of the gorge. Highly recommend. Save yourself about a thousand steps and take the shuttle up or down depending on where you park.

Watkins Glen State Park is absolutely stunning! I did the Gorge Trail with my parents, and it turned into such a memorable hike for all of us. The trail is beautiful throughout, with waterfalls, stone bridges, narrow gorge pathways, and scenic viewpoints at almost every turn. All the viewpoints are clearly marked, which makes it easy to follow and enjoy the hike without feeling lost. Some spots are definitely more picturesque than others, but each viewpoint has something unique to offer—whether it’s the sound of rushing water, a dramatic rock formation, or a peaceful view of the gorge. Overall, it’s a must-visit if you enjoy nature, waterfalls, and scenic hikes. A truly unforgettable experience!

A beautiful experience. The waterfalls, stone, trees.. we decided to hike up and do a shuttle ride back. Every step had a remarkable view. There were cascading waterfalls you stepped behind, caves to walk through. Getting up did take some work, especially with toddlers, they had to be carried up quite a bit of rock steps. We arrived before 10am and there were already a lot of people, you could tell when a shuttle of people were dropped off to walk down, large groups walking down, just something to be mindful of, as not everyone was being patient on the small path.