Watkins Glen State Park is an oasis among the already beautiful landscape of Seneca Lake. Right off of the quaint Main St in Watkins Glen, NY rests the Lower Entrance of the park. It’s a short walk from the parking lot to the first of many breathtaking views. As we walked up the first set of stone stairs, and slowly felt the moisture of the falls fill the air, we quickly realized why visiting this park was worth the 7 hour drive.
The Watkins Glen Park has 19 waterfalls over the gorgeous 2 mile trail of stone steps and bridges. The cascading waterfalls and lush greenery, which is the result the diverse environment of shadows and sun, creates a magical environment. We got to the park at 8:00 in the morning, after having a lovely breakfast on Main St. There are small breakfast spots, and bakeries with outdoor café tables. We settled into our seats on the sidewalk and absorbed the authentic Americana charm that is often lost in popular tourist locations. There are also a few places to stop to pick up some food for a picnic. We stopped by the Glen Mountain Market Bakery & Deli to grab some sandwiches to enjoy after our hike.