Watkins Glen State Park

Pros: Fantastic hike into the gorge trail with many waterfalls and pools.
Cons: A bit removed from the rest of the state.

While on a relatively recent trip up to the Buffalo area of New York from my home on Long Island for business we decided to try and catch a part of the state we haven't visited much, the Finger Lakes region. One particular place that I remembered ...

Pros: We stumbled upon it, and I'm happy we did.
Cons: Thousands of other people stumbled upon it at the same time.

It's been many years, nearly a decade, since I visited Watkins Glen in New York State, along the Finger Lakes region.

Quite by accident my former husband and I stumbled upon this beautiful park while on our way to Lake Placid for a family...

Pros: I loved the gorge.
Cons: The rain was a bit much.

My trip to Watkins Glen was quite possibly the greatest and most horrible time of my life all boiled into one. I came for the gorge. Well, actually, I came because my parents made me, but the gorge sits firmly in the nucleus of my brain, an awesome and...

Pros: Fantastic Canyon
Cons: Cheesy Laser Light Show

Review Topic:  Sports & Outdoors

Watkins Glen is a natural wonder and a human blunder. A steep-walled canyon carved in New York State's famous finger lakes region, the Glen has been ruined by goofy park directors who are...

Pros: Well maintained, clearly marked, great views, lovely waterfalls, far from major city
Cons: Laser show, man made changes, relatively busy

Watkins Glenn is a great day visit. You park at the base of the canyon, and hike up. You have a choice of either walking down or taking a shuttle bus back the the parking lot. The Glenn is interesting, beautiful, and great exercise. Somehow I think...

Pros: Beautiful
Cons: Need refreshment at the end! Hard trip to the top

The Watkins Glen State Park is definitely one of my favorites. I have been there a few times and would definitely go back again. The gorge is beautiful. You start off going down a trail that looks like it has been traveled very little. You walk down ...

Pros: Unique natural Wonderland
Cons: Can be crowded in Summer. Go Early!!

Just got back a few weeks ago. Very unique and beautiful place. I didn't see the so called cheesy laser show but what I did see was a very, very, cool geologic wonder.
The gorge walk is really amazing and we were there the Fourth of July weekend and it really wasn't crowded. This is because we arrived and started walking at about 10am. When we were done the parking lot was completely full so the earlier the better.
As for many who say man's imprint on this place is lame (use of many stone steps and staircases) I believe, in this particular case, they are wrong. I too usually believe in leaving things alone, but in Watkins Glen the stone paths and staircases work harmoniously with the natural environment. Think Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water.
These stairs were built during the WPA and if this were tried today I'm sure it would be a total disaster. It works really well and the combination of man constructed stone paths and natural scenery creates a very cool and unique environment.
A must if you're in the area.

Pros: The natural beauty of the falls; wine to sample!
Cons: New York State does little to preserve their parks. Poor.

The campgrounds at Watkin's Glen S.P. suck. The sites are too close and open. I like people and all, but I didn't feel as if I were camping b/c my neighbors were on top of me. The bathhouse was a mess, too. And, much of the area around the falls was in a dreadful state of disrepair. New York needs to spend some money on upgrades and maintenance. We visited the falls at Taughannock while in the area, and the observation deck was falling apart. Pretty poor for a state that taxes the crap out of its citizens! I won't be back.