Beautiful cavernous gorge — Watkins Glen on the southern side of Seneca Lake is the most famous of the Finger Lake State Parks with a series of 19 waterfalls on a 2-mile trail with over 800 stepping-stones. The 400-foot deep gorge quickly overtakes hikers along a narrow trail and Glen Creek with a series of rapids and waterfalls formed during the Ice Age that deepened the Seneca Valley. Streams of water drizzle, drip, and flow off the cliffs as you climb the stunning rugged gorge.
Cavern Cascade
Upon entering the creek path you are immediately greeted by Sentry Bridge with a round fume water whole that once powered the 1800’s flour mill. The picturesque stairs lead through a tunnel, across the bridge, sculpted sandstone, and further up the trail to the first major waterfalls. Cavern Cascade drops 52-feet down the mountainous gorge into the refreshing stream and carved landscape. An eroded layer of sandstone allows hikers to walk behind the waterfalls and through the spiral tunnel staircase, hand-cut in 1927. It is one of the most dramatic waterfalls as the path and cliffs narrow.
The Narrows
Climbing further is a long stretch leading to Central Cascade. The Narrows with its own “micro-climate, is similar to a rainforest is a shady, cool, and moist section of the gorge with lush ferns and moss-covered rocks. As the hike continues the sun breaks through and the landscape rapidly reverses at Glen Cathedral with a dryer dessert-like climate full of wildflowers and dry shrubs leading to the highest waterfalls in the gorge.
The Central Cascade, at 60-feet, plunges into Glen Cathedral through a scenic stone bridge and narrow spout creating a stunning horsetail-type fall. The crevasse is so narrow and deep the waterfalls seemly disappears into the earth.
Rainbow Falls
From the clearing of the Central Cascade Bridge, the cavern steepens and narrows as the gorge walls enclose the trail creating an ensemble of waterfalls known as Rainbow Falls — one slipping off a lush green forested hillside into the rugged gorge merging with the cascading rapids flowing through a stone bridge. Beams of sunlight illuminate the hillside and falls contrasting against dramatic dark shadows as streams of water drop and drizzle all around the cavern edge into series of small, smooth, rounded plunge pools — it is the highlight of the hike and most picturesque section of the park.
Frowning Cliff
Above Rainbow Falls are the Frowning Cliffs, one of the narrowest and shadiest places in Watkins Glen that few plants grew here. The rough curved stone walls press and bulge into the trail overshadowing the quieter and softer flowing waters — trees traverse across the top of the gorge casting subtle shadows and soft natural lighting. Arriving at the Mile Point Bridge the trail further flattens and the stream widens until Jacob’s Ladder with a very steep climb and 180-stairs to the Eastern Entrance and Indian Trail back to the Main Entrance and town.
Beyond the stunning gorge, Watkins Glen is a charming town with great eateries and an abundance of outdoor activities on Seneca Lake, including sailing, boating, fishing, and kayaking. Glenora and Hector Falls are notable and flow into the lake and are best enjoyed by boat. The town is also known for the International Speedway, motorsports, NASCAR, and the Seneca Lake Wine Trail with a large concentration of award-winning wineries with over 60 vineyards. It doesn't get much better than wine, racing, and waterfalls.
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