A Gorge Unlike Any Other

Watkins Glen State Park compresses 19 waterfalls into a two-mile stretch of stone corridor. The Gorge Trail — 832 steps from the main entrance at the village edge to the upper entrance at the top of the park — passes behind a curtain of water at Cavern Cascade, through a tunnel carved directly through rock, and along ledges where the stone walls rise 200 feet on either side. The entire walk takes about 45 minutes at a moderate pace, and there is nothing else like it in the northeastern United States.

The park opened to the public in 1863, making it one of the oldest tourist attractions in the Finger Lakes. Over 300,000 years of water erosion created the gorge, cutting through Devonian-era rock that dates back roughly 380 million years. Today, the park sees more than one million visitors annually — a staggering number for a village with a year-round population of about 1,800.

Walking the Gorge Trail

The main entrance is at the south end of the village, a short walk from Franklin Street. The lower section — from the entrance to the Spiral Tunnel — is the most dramatic, with the trail passing directly behind the sheet of water at Cavern Cascade. The stone pathway is maintained but uneven in places, and it gets wet. Wear shoes with grip. The trail is open from mid-May through early November, weather permitting. Dogs are not allowed on the Gorge Trail itself but are welcome on the rim trails above.

Rim Trails and Alternatives

Two rim trails run along the top of the gorge — the Indian Trail on the south side and the South Rim Trail on the north. Both are less crowded than the gorge floor and offer views straight down into the canyon. A shuttle runs between the upper and lower entrances during peak season, so you can walk the gorge one way and ride back.

Watkins Glen International

Before the state park draws you in completely, consider that Watkins Glen has a second identity: it is one of America’s historic motorsport capitals. Watkins Glen International, a 3.4-mile road course located on the hills above town, has hosted professional racing since 1956. Before that, from 1948 to 1952, the race ran on public roads through the village itself — down Franklin Street, around the lakefront, and up the hillside. The original street course is marked with historical plaques that you can follow on foot.

Today, the raceway hosts NASCAR Cup Series events, IMSA sports car races, and vintage racing weekends. Race weekends transform the village — the population swells, every restaurant and hotel fills, and the sound of engines carries across Seneca Lake. The NASCAR weekend, typically in September, is the single biggest event in the Finger Lakes.

The Village

Watkins Glen’s commercial center runs along Franklin Street, a two-block stretch that dead-ends at the Seneca Lake waterfront. The village feels compact and walkable — you can cover the entire downtown in 15 minutes on foot. Restaurants include Wildflower Cafe (farm-to-table in a narrow storefront), Nickel’s Pit BBQ (smoked meats, long lines on summer weekends), and the Seneca Harbor Station at the marina.

The waterfront itself has a public pier, a small park, and Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake Cruises, which runs sightseeing and dinner cruises from the village marina. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail — more than 30 wineries along a 45-mile loop around the lake — begins at the village’s doorstep, with several tasting rooms located within a five-minute drive heading north on either shore.

What to Do Beyond the Gorge

• Seneca Lake Wine Trail: Drive north on Route 414 (east shore) or Route 14 (west shore) for a day of tasting rooms. Popular stops within 15 minutes include Lakewood Vineyards, Castel Grisch, and Catharine Valley Winery.
• Farm Sanctuary: Located 15 minutes south of the village in Watkins Glen, this is one of the country’s first shelters for farm animals. Guided tours run from May through October.
• Clute Memorial Park: A municipal park on the lakefront north of the village center with a swimming beach, campground, and boat launch. The beach is free for village residents; non-residents pay a small fee in summer.
• Hector Falls: A roadside waterfall visible from Route 414 about five miles north of the village on the east shore of Seneca Lake. Pull off, look, and keep driving — it takes 30 seconds but it is a 165-foot cascade right beside the road.
• International Motor Racing Research Center: A free museum and archive on Decatur Street in the village, documenting the history of motor racing at Watkins Glen and around the world. Small but focused, and worth an hour for anyone with even mild interest in motorsport history.

Practical Details

Watkins Glen is located at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, roughly 60 miles southwest of Syracuse and 90 miles southeast of Rochester. Parking at the state park main entrance fills early on summer weekends — arrive before 9 a.m. or use the upper entrance on Route 329. Village parking is free on side streets and in municipal lots. The state park charges a $10 vehicle fee from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.

Peak season is June through October. The gorge trail closes for winter due to ice, but the rim trails sometimes remain accessible. The village itself is open year-round, though some restaurants and shops reduce hours from November through April.

Locals Know

The best time to walk the Gorge Trail is in the first hour after the park opens (typically 8 a.m.) or after 4 p.m. on weekdays. Midday on summer Saturdays, the trail can feel like a theme park queue. Also: Aunt Sarah’s Pancake House on Route 14 south of the village has been serving breakfast since the 1960s — the buckwheat pancakes with local maple syrup are the order, and locals will wait 30 minutes for a table without complaint.