Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Hours of Operation

• Park is open year round dawn to dusk. Please check dates below for pool, camping, trail opening dates.
  
• Trails Update: The gorge trail home of all 19 waterfalls is closed and typically reopens for the season mid to late May
  
  
  The north and south rim nature trails are open all year sunrise to sunset.
• 2023 Swimming Pool Season: June 28 - September 2, 2024
  Open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays
  Open 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekends
  
  *Dates and hours are subject to change. Visitors may contact the park office before your visit to confirm swimming is open.
• 2024 Camping Season: Opens May 17, 2024. 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 25 to June 28
  Daily from July 1 through September 2
  Weekends only from September 7 to end of season (Oct. 27, 2023).

  
  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 November 22, 2023
• 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

New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.

• Watkins Glen State Park Trail Map

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)
• Watkins Glen Park Map (pdf)
• Watkins Glen Trail Map (pdf)
• Topographical 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. The regional Environmental Educator Josh Teeter (Josh.Teeter@parks.ny.gov) will respond and coordinate a free program with you.

The Finger Lakes Story

Sparkling lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and rolling pastoral land dominate the landscape of the Finger Lakes Region. Over thousands of years, gigantic glaciers and coursing streams have carved this landscape. The most recent glacier moved through shallow river valleys leaving in its place deep, steep-sided troughs. When the glaciers receded north 10,000 years ago, water filled these new troughs, creating the 11 Finger Lakes. Since that time water has flowed down glacially steepened hillsides carrying debris that cut away at soft sedimentary rock to form our beautiful and unique gorges.

Gorge Tours provide information and insights about individual park history, ecology, gorge formation and geology. Tours last approximately one and one half hours.

Watkins Glen Gorge Tour - You'll tour a mile of the gorge trail that follows Glen Creek past water-sculpted rocks, through tunnels, next to and actually under two waterfalls. There are many beautiful stone steps on this trail making it a difficult hike for some visitors.

Educational Programs are offered about a variety of topics.

Birds ● Fossils ● Reptiles and Amphibians ● Insects ● Invasive Species ● Mammals ● Trees● Park Histories ● Animal Tracks ● Wilderness Survival

If don't see a specific topic please call or email us with your questions.

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

• 2022-23 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