Watkins Glen State Park protects a narrow, two-mile gorge cut through layers of sedimentary rock at the southern end of Seneca Lake. The Gorge Trail follows the stream through the ravine, passing behind, beside, and over 19 waterfalls connected by 832 stone steps and a series of tunnels blasted through the rock. The geological layers visible in the cliff walls span roughly 400 million years. It is, by wide consensus, the single most dramatic natural feature in the Finger Lakes and one of the best short hikes in the northeastern United States.

The park is heavily visited—over a million people per year—and summer weekends can be crowded enough to diminish the experience. Early morning visits, weekdays, or shoulder-season trips (May, October) are significantly better. Beyond the Gorge Trail, the park includes an upper trail along the rim, a campground, and a public swimming pool. The village of Watkins Glen is walkable from the park entrance and has restaurants and shops. Plan for about an hour to walk the gorge at a leisurely pace, longer if you want to photograph every waterfall.