The Gorge Trail - Watkins Glen, NY
Located in Watkins Glen State Park (open between May and October), the Gorge Trail is only 1.5 miles but packs in a lot with its 800+ steps and 19 waterfalls!
If you’d rather see the trail, click here for the video of my visit in August of 2021.
My top piece of advice for this trail is to go early in the morning, before the crowds arrive. Start at the main entrance and, as you walk up the Gorge Trail, the sun will be behind you, so don’t forget to turn around every once in a while, this trail is worth seeing from multiple angles (and read until the end for how to see it from above).
My second tip is to wear good shoes because the trail will get wet… and so might you. You’ll be mostly walking along the river but also going under some waterfalls, which is really pretty but can get messy.
This trail isn’t very difficult, and not long at all, but if steps are an issue it might challenge you. The trail is paved and goes up gradually with some stairs here and there for the first mile. Then there is a flat stretch before… Jacob’s ladder and its 180 steps all at once!
However short the trail itself, do plan time to just look around and take photos, it is too pretty to rush through. Two hours is a good amount of time to go up the Gorge Trail (with plenty of time to gawk and marvel) and then back to the main entrance via the Indian Trail, which will offer you a couple of opportunities to look down at the gorge and the trail you just walked.
Check the official website for more info: