Gorge Trail

Watkins Glen State Park's Gorge Trail is arguably the most spectacular short hike in New York State, descending into a 700-foot-deep sandstone and shale gorge carved by Glen Creek over 12,000 years since the last glacier retreated. The trail passes beneath and behind 19 distinct waterfalls in just 1.8 miles, threading through tunnels blasted from bedrock and crossing the creek on over 200 hand-laid stone steps constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. Spiral Gorge, the trail's most photographed section, twists the creek through a helical canyon so narrow that the walls nearly meet overhead. Rainbow Falls, the tallest single drop at roughly 60 feet, often generates mist rainbows on sunny mornings. The rock is perpetually wet and requires careful footing; the park prohibits dogs on the Gorge Trail to prevent accidents on slick stone. Entry to the gorge is restricted to the May through November season when ice has cleared. The park charges $10 per vehicle at the main Cavern Cascade entrance, though hikers arriving on foot from the village of Watkins Glen enter for free at the lower portal near the Finger Lakes Wine Country visitor center.