Watkins Glen

Minnehaha Falls, New York

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I visited Watkins Glen State Park almost 4 years ago to the day, and I guess it’s as good of a time as any to reminisce. In early May, Watkins Glen is often still trying to shrug off the effects of winter. When we visited, only about a third of the trail was available for hiking. The other two-thirds was blocked off because park rangers still had to make sure that there weren’t any dangerous new obstacles. The park was very good about making us aware that only a portion of the trail was hike-able before we paid the entry fee.

As you start along the trail, Sentry Falls is right in view. There is an uphill climb, though it is not particularly bad. I believe Minnehaha Falls is the second clearly visible waterfall along the trail. It is a difficult waterfall to capture, as there’s not an angle that is especially good for photographing the falls. It is easy to capture the stunning effects of erosion. As you continue further along, you will encounter the Cavern Cascade.

So if you’re planning on visiting Watkins Glen State Park, what’s the best bet? Visit in late May or early June when you’ll have more luck hiking the whole Gorge Trail.

Directions:

  1. Watkins Glen State Park is directly off of NY-14 in Watkins Glen.
  2. Pay the state park entrance fee, and then park.
  3.  This waterfall can be seen along the Gorge Trail.

Accessibility: 9/10 (easy)
Height: 20′
Length of Hike: up to 3 miles round-trip

Minnehaha Falls in May 2009

Where in the World is Minnehaha Falls?

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Waterfall in Watkins Glen SP, New York

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The last post about Watkins Glen State Park was a while ago, so I might as well take a little time to inform you again about this really interesting state park with numerous waterfalls. Right inside the city of Watkins Glen is the state park of the mentioned glen. When you can visit, you’ll be introduced to a number of different waterfalls with very different personalities. The problem happens to be that you can’t always visit. When my dad and I visited in early May, the state park system was still cleaning up the damage that had occurred during the winter. (It seems to be an expected event in many of the glens.) At least there’s a sense of placing safety first here.

There are some really impressive waterfalls in the park, and then there are some smaller drops that aren’t necessarily the most interesting, but they can still be rather cool. Often, the rock formations around the falls are the nifty part. This specific drop is one of those smaller drops that hasn’t been named, but it should still be recognized.

Directions:

  1. Watkins Glen State Park is directly off of NY-14 in Watkins Glen.
  2. Pay the state park entrance fee, and then park.
  3. This waterfall can be seen along the Gorge Trail.

Accessibility: 9/10 (easy)
Height: 5′
Length of Hike: up to 3 miles round-trip

Waterfall in Watkins Glen in May 2009

Where in the World is this Waterfall in Watkins Glen?

NY-14 Falls #2, New York

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The second unnamed falls on NY route 14 (May 2009)

As I’m driving along in different places looking for waterfalls, every once in a while I spot waterfalls that are off on the side of the road. In some places, like North Carolina or Colorado, I couldn’t exactly stop to take photos of these often unmentioned falls because of the insanely winding roads lacking pulloffs.

So I was pleasantly surprised to find at least three smaller waterfalls along New York route 14 that I could actually stop and photograph. These might not even be of significance to many, but I still think they’re cool. I visited this area near Watkins Glen in early May, and based on the level of water, these waterfalls are likely seasonal. They are also not as big as many of the other waterfalls in the area. Even so, I think all waterfalls are at least moderately interesting, so pay attention to these surprises.

Directions:

  1. As you’re driving south on NY-14 from Watkins Glen toward Montour Falls, these three waterfalls will be on your right. All three of the waterfalls I photographed were north of Aunt Sarah’s Falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: ~40′
Length of Hike: roadside

Where in the World is NY-14 Falls #2?

NY-14 Falls #3, New York

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As I mentioned when discussing NY-14 Falls #1, as you’re driving along NY-14 from Watkins Glen to Montour Falls, you’ll find a number of smaller waterfalls that aren’t really reported. Sometimes smaller waterfalls go to the wayside when near larger waterfalls. These three waterfalls are all very pretty, and are extremely easy to visit as they’re right off of NY-14. I’m guessing these waterfalls might only be flowing in late winter, spring, or after a heavy rainfall.

Directions:

  1. As you’re driving south on NY-14 from Watkins Glen toward Montour Falls, these three waterfalls will be on your right. All three of the waterfalls I photographed were north of Aunt Sarah’s Falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 25′
Length of Hike: roadside

A waterfall along NY-14 (May 2009)

Where in the World is NY-14 Falls #3?

Sentry Falls, New York

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Sentry Falls is the first waterfall that you see when entering Watkins Glen, and it is my favorite of the falls in the park. That might seem odd, considering people can’t even see the whole waterfall at this point because it is twisting and turning so much. It is not the tallest or widest fall in the park either. It’s just the most scenic of the waterfalls that I saw.

As I have mentioned before, I visited Watkins Glen State Park in early May when only the first third of the gorge trail was open. That means I have not seen all of the falls up close. I have seen other amazing pictures of other falls in the park, but some of those I have not seen. So I must settle with Sentry Falls. Part of the beauty of Sentry Falls lies in the beautiful rock surrounding it and the extremely cool stone suspension bridge built over the falls. To me, it is one of the most intriguing views in all of the park…and it’s the first thing you see!

Directions:

  1. Watkins Glen State Park is directly off of NY-14 in Watkins Glen.
  2. Pay the state park entrance fee, and then park.
  3. Sentry Falls greets you as you start your hike.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 25′
Length of Hike: up to 3 miles round-trip (Sentry Falls is at the start)

Sentry Falls in May 2009

Where in the World is Sentry Falls?

Rainbow Falls, New York

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Rainbow Falls in May 2009

When we visited Watkins Glen State Park in early May, we were only partly lucky. The first third of the Gorge Trail was open, so we did see many interesting waterfalls. Unluckily, that meant we couldn’t see Rainbow Falls and a few other falls from the Gorge Trail. The view of Rainbow Falls that we got from the Rim Trail wasn’t bad at all, but I’m under the impression that the cool part about Rainbow Falls is being able walk underneath the falls. We weren’t able to do that. Oh well. I would suggest visiting later in May, even though the park is open in early May and all of the snow is melted by then.

Directions:

  1. Watkins Glen State Park is directly off of NY-14 in Watkins Glen.
  2. Pay the state park entrance fee, and then park.
  3. Rainbow Falls can be seen from the Gorge Trail or the Rim Trail.

Accessibility: 9/10 (easy)
Height: 50′
Length of Hike: up to 3 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Rainbow Falls?

Cavern Cascade, New York

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Cavern Cascade in May 2009

I was thinking about Cavern Cascade, and realized that it isn’t actually a cascade, but instead a plunge waterfall. A cascade usually has multiple drops due to rock steps. I didn’t see any rock steps…But that’s an aside.

The waterfall is actually very cool. It was one of the waterfalls that I saw in Watkins Glen State Park, considering that only the first third of the Gorge Trail was open when I visited in early May. It’s difficult to miss this waterfall if you walk along the Gorge Trail, as the trail leads directly BEHIND the falls. You’re sure to get wet!!!

Directions:

  1. Watkins Glen State Park is directly off of NY-14 in Watkins Glen.
  2. Pay the state park entrance fee, and then park.
  3. Cavern Cascade can be seen from the Gorge Trail.

Accessibility: 9/10 (easy)
Height: 43′
Length of Hike: up to 3 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Cavern Cascade?

Twin Falls, New York

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Twin Falls in May 2009

The hike to Twin Falls (also referred to as Templar Falls) is short, but it’s a steep one. It’s not really that hard, but you’re going to have to essentially maneuver your way down the hill that leads to the river Twin Falls is found on. There is an easier way to view the top half of the falls, but that isn’t very exciting, especially since it’s advertised as having two parts!

It doesn’t take that long to get to the falls. Just keep track of where you came down, because you’re going to have to go back up! I think I came down the clearest route I could find, and then had to jump over rocks to get upstream to see the better view of the falls. It’s a fun experience for a smaller waterfall. This waterfall is relatively near other waterfalls, but is still secluded enough that you won’t encounter many others at this falls.

Directions:

  1. Head north on NY-14 from Watkins Glen.
  2. Turn left onto Bath Street, which will turn into County Line Road.
  3. After about 2.5 miles, turn left onto Van Zandt Hollow Road. This will merge into Templar Road.
  4. Shortly after merging onto Templar Road, you should notice a sign indicating the Finger Lakes Trail on your right. Park right here, as the falls are right on the river near you.
  5. Explore a little bit. You may find the first falls, and then you can figure out how to get down to see the whole falls.

Accessibility: 4/10 (moderate/strenuous)
Height: 25′
Length of Hike: 0.2 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Twin Falls?

NY-14 Falls #1, New York

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A waterfall along NY-14 in May 2009

As I’m driving along in different places looking for waterfalls, every once in a while I spot waterfalls that are off on the side of the road. In some places, like North Carolina or Colorado, I couldn’t exactly stop to take photos of these often unmentioned falls because of the insanely winding roads lacking pulloffs.

So I was pleasantly surprised to find at least three smaller waterfalls along New York route 14 that I could actually stop and photograph. These might not even be of significance to many, but I still think they’re cool. I visited this area near Watkins Glen in early May, and based on the level of water, these waterfalls are likely seasonal. They are also not as big as many of the other waterfalls in the area. Even so, I think all waterfalls are at least moderately interesting, so pay attention to these surprises.

Directions:

  1. As you’re driving south on NY-14 from Watkins Glen toward Montour Falls, these three waterfalls will be on your right. All three of the waterfalls I photographed were north of Aunt Sarah’s Falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: ~40′
Length of Hike: roadside

Where in the World is NY-14 Falls #1?

She-Qua-Ga Falls, New York

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I envy the person whose property is right near She-Qua-Ga Falls. She-Qua-Ga Falls is one of the many beautiful waterfalls in the Finger Lakes region of New York that does not require a difficult or complicated walk along a gorge trail to view. The falls are in plain sight in the town of Montour Falls.

There is not really any trek to the falls except for a very enjoyable stroll around the city. It’s beautiful to see She-Qua-Ga Falls with Victorian-style homes in the foreground. It’s just a great sight to see, and easy to view too!!

Directions:

  1. The easiest way to access She-Qua-Ga Falls and see other falls at the same time is to drive south on NY-14 toward Montour Falls from Watkins Glen.
  2. As you’re driving along, you’ll see signs for the falls. To view the falls, you can turn onto Genesee Street.
  3. You may not be able to park on Genesee Street, so we ended up parking on Main Street, I believe, which runs perpendicular to Genesee.
  4. From there the falls will be right in front of you, and the walk is on very level land.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 156′
Length of Hike: 0.1 miles round-trip

She-Qua-Ga Falls in May 2009

Where in the World is She-Qua-Ga Falls?