My goal is to provide quality content of a ton of different locations across the US. That’s not easy for one person, so I’m always looking for guest bloggers who want to share their own experiences. Here’s my first guest blogger, Joshua House, sharing some great info and photography about Watkins Glen State Park in New York that is definitely worth your time if you are ever in the area.
Far from the hustle and bustle of New York City lies one of the “crown jewels” of New York State’s extensive State Park system, Watkins Glen State Park. The center piece of an already iconic region Watkins Glen State Park (or simply The Glen) was developed privately at first starting in the 1860s, it was acquired by the State of New York in 1906.
The park truly has something for everyone; is your love history, then visit it for the classic 1930s WPA and CCC construction, if a good workout is your thing, well how’s more than 800 steps in each direction sound to you, over about three miles round trip, there’s 19 waterfalls to see along the Gorge Trail giving both iconic and often over looked views as well as sections of flat-water that reflect the cliffs surrounding you.
I first visited Watkins Glen in the mid 90’s, and fell in love. Even now, nearly two decades later whenever I visit the Finger Lakes region I try and visit the park, because it is constantly changing. The gorge is formed by Glen Creek, which has been slowly eroding the cliffs and its channel since the end of the last ice age. Winter storms and ice close the Gorge Trail from November until mid-May, spring rains continue to fuel the water falls. By late summer the falls will continue to flow although less impressively. Autumn brings her foliage in the trees along the rim of the gorge and floating in Glen Creek. As the seasons turn and turn there are occasional slides along the gorge walls, which changes the way the light falls in the glen. This can cause parts of the glen to change visually between visits. For photographers this is particularly important, because the light will also change, compared to previous visits.
If you’re an RV or camper user Watkins Glen State Park can be a great home base to work from while on vacation. The park has camping spaces, the extensive trail system, and a swimming pool for those hot summer afternoons. There is easily a week’s worth of adventure for a family traveling through the area, within an hour’s drive there are wineries, sailing on Seneca Lake, the Glenn Curtiss Museum (an early aviator and inventor of the 5th wheel camper) the Corning Museum of Glass, and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, and Watkins Glen International, one of two road course race tracks in the United States used by NASCAR. And if more hiking is your thing, there are numerous other trails in the area, including the Finger Lakes Trail which stretches 549 miles along the New York Pennsylvania state line.
For those looking for a long weekend option for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day or Columbus Day Watkins Glen is easily reachable if one leaves work at noon Friday from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Harrisburg, Washington DC, Philadelphia or New York. If you have a week available and want to explore the Finger Lakes the village of Watkins Glen has several hotels and bed and breakfasts to choose from as well as several campgrounds. It is an opportunity that should not be passed up.
Be sure to check out Joshua House’s website where you can find tons more great photography from all around the country!
Also, feel free to check out my Flickr account and Facebook page!