Watkins Glen: a 19-waterfall gorge and a racing legend

Watkins Glen sits at the south end of Seneca Lake, and it’s known for two very different thrills. One is the gorge. At Watkins Glen State Park, the stream drops 400 feet in about two miles, past cliffs that rise as high as 200 feet. The Gorge Trail packs 19 waterfalls into a single mile, with the path winding over, under, and right through the spray. It’s one of the most loved parks in the whole Finger Lakes.

The Gorge Trail is seasonal. It usually opens mid-to-late May and closes mid-to-late October, depending on weather. There’s a per-vehicle day-use fee in the busy season, and pets aren’t allowed on the Gorge Trail itself. Check the official New York State Parks page for current hours, fees, and any trail closures before you head out. The park is at 1009 N Franklin St, right in the village.

The other thrill is speed. In 1948, Cameron Argetsinger organized a post-war road race right here, run on the village’s public roads. The races grew up and moved to a permanent track just outside town. From 1961 to 1980, Watkins Glen International hosted the Formula One United States Grand Prix, 20 straight years that put this little village on the world racing map. Today the track still runs a full season, including NASCAR.

So you can spend a morning chasing waterfalls on foot and an afternoon watching cars chase each other. Not a bad day in one small town.