A gorge with nineteen waterfalls, and the lake that makes the wine
Finger Lakes, New York · 3 nights · June–October · up to 10
Seneca is deep enough that it almost never freezes, which is why riesling grows on its slopes and why the wineries run down both shores. The west side is the serious one. Watkins Glen is at the south end: a gorge trail that climbs eight hundred stone steps past nineteen waterfalls cut into the rock, going behind the water in two places. That trail opens and closes with the season rather than the calendar, so check before you fix a date.
The ending
A stone bridge inside a gorge with a waterfall coming over the lip above it, the path running behind the water, and enough noise that talking means standing close.
That is The Gorge Trail, Watkins Glen State Park. See how private it is and when it’s open, or build the rest of the trip around it.
Do
- Watkins Glen State Park Gorge Hike
- Seneca Lake Winery Tour
- Luxe Vineyard Picnic at Hermann J. Wiemer
- Seneca Lake Sunset Cruise
Eat
- Kindred Fare (Geneva)
- Veraisons Restaurant (Glenora)
Stay
- Belhurst Castle
- Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
When is the gorge trail open?
Roughly mid-May to mid or late October, and the park sets the dates by weather rather than by calendar. It is the one thing here that can genuinely not happen.
How many wineries in a day?
Three at the outside, and only because the pours are small and the drive between them is five minutes. Two is still better.