Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Hours of Operation

• Park Hours: Open year round dawn to dusk. Please check dates below for pool, camping, trail opening dates.
  
• Trails Update:  The Gorge Trail will open for the season on May 10, 2025 and typically closes for the season mid to late October depending on the weather.
  
  
  The north and south rim nature trails are open all year sunrise to sunset.
• 2025 Swimming Pool Season: June 28 - September 1
  Open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays
  Open 11:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. weekends
  
  *Dates and times are subject to change. Visitors may contact the park office before your visit to confirm swimming is open.
• 2025 Camping Season: Opens May 16, 2025. No walk-up camping will be accepted. 
  Camping by reservation only, visit http://www.newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com or call 1-800-456-2267
• Shuttle Bus (between entrances only)
  
  $6 per person each way
  Shuttle will operate:

  Weekends only from  May 24 to June 27
  Daily from June 28 through September 1
  Weekends only from September 2 to end of season (Oct. 20, 2025).

  
  Shuttle, when in operation runs between all 3 entrances:
  Main- 1009 N. Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
  South- 3530 Route 419, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
  Upper- 3310 Route 409, Watkins Glen, NY 14891

• Gift shop will open mid-May and close for the season end of November 
• Bow hunting for deer is permitted in season.

Fees & Rates

Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.

The easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80- and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.

• Vehicle Entrance Fee
• $10 per vehicle (includes pool)
  Non-commercial bus: $35
  Commercial bus: $75
  Non-profit seasonal bus pass: $75
  
  Collection Hours (All Gates)
  Sunrise to Sunset
  Mid-May to Mid-October
• Camping
• $18-$30
  
  Out of state resident fee for camping, per night: $5
  
  Cabins:
  
  Rustic Cabins (3 night minimum)
  
  Base Rate: $58.00 per night
  Out of State Fee: $7.00 per night
• Peddling Fee
• $400
  
• Shuttle
• $6 per person one way

Maps

Firewood source maps show a 50-mile radius from which untreated firewood may be moved to this campground. For more information see firewood restrictions.

• Firewood Source Map (pdf)

• Camp Loop Map (pdf)
• Topographical Map (pdf)
• Watkins Glen Trail Map (pdf)

The Finger Lakes Environmental Education Department offers scheduled gorge tours and educational programs at Buttermilk Falls, Robert H. Treman, Taughannock Falls and Watkins Glen State Parks. All park programs are free and open to the public, no registration required, although a parking fee may be charged.

If you have a group (10 or more) that is interested in scheduling its own gorge tour or educational program at a Finger Lakes State Park, please fill out this quick form to help us best assist you. Regional Environmental Educator Josh Teeter (Josh.Teeter@parks.ny.gov) or Elijah Kruger (Elijah.Kruger@parks.ny.gov) will respond and coordinate a free program with you.

Attention Hunters: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (i.e., "bird flu") has recently been detected in New York State in a variety of waterfowl species. Although the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) has stated that avian influenza rarely spreads to humans, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is encouraging hunters to take extra precautions while processing harvested waterfowl. For more information on best practices for hunters to minimize risk of exposure, please read NYSDEC Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - What Hunters Need to Know (leaves State Parks website).

For general information on Avian Influenza, please see: Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine - Avian Influenza Fact Sheet (leaves State Parks website).

For additional updates on Avian Influenza, including current updates, see NYSDEC - Animal Diseases (leaves State Parks website) and NYSDOH - Questions and Answers about Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) (leaves State Parks website).

Deer hunting, bow only, is permitted in season. Please reference the NYS DEC Hunting & Trapping Guide for current dates and rules.

• 2024-25 Hunting Schedule for Finger Lakes State Parks & Historic Sites
• At Watkins Glen State Park, bow hunting on the west side of the railroad is open during DEC regulated archery seasons. The east side of the railroad opens November 1 through the end of DEC regulated archery seasons.

A valid New York State hunting license with the proper hunting stamps will serve as the regional hunting permit. Except where otherwise stated, this is the only permit necessary.

Safety zones and restricted areas are posted to ensure the safety of other park patrons and regional personnel. Signs will be posted at all parks during hunting season to notify patrons of this activity. Handguns will not be permitted in any of the parks. No trapping is allowed.

For additional information, please contact Watkins Glen State Park at: (607) 535-4511