close

Watkins Glen State Park Camping

notifications Text me when there's a cancellation at Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park - 淡泊雅志
Photo: 淡泊雅志
Watkins Glen State Park - thekevinchang
Photo: thekevinchang
Watkins Glen State Park - bobistraveling
Photo: bobistraveling
Watkins Glen State Park - bobistraveling
Photo: bobistraveling
Watkins Glen State Park - bobistraveling
Photo: bobistraveling

Campgrounds

Campgrounds in Watkins Glen State Park

Cayuga Village Electric Loop A

Watkins Glen State Park

Mohawk Village Electric Loop B

Watkins Glen State Park

Oneida Village Loop C

Watkins Glen State Park

Onondaga Village Loop D

Watkins Glen State Park

Pavilions

Watkins Glen State Park

Rustic Cabins

Watkins Glen State Park

Seneca Village Loop E

Watkins Glen State Park

Tuscarora Village Loop F

Watkins Glen State Park

Overview

A brief introduction to Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Park is in the village of Watkins Glen, south of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County in New York's Finger Lakes region. The park's lower part is near the village, while the upper part is open woodland. It was opened to the public in 1863 and was privately run as a tourist resort until 1906, when it was purchased by New York State. Initially known as Watkins Glen State Reservation, the park was first managed by the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society before being turned over to full state control in 1911. Since 1924, it has been managed by the Finger Lakes Region of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The centerpiece of the 778-acre (3.15 km2) park is a 400-foot-deep (120 m) narrow gorge cut through rock by Glen Creek, a stream that was left hanging when glaciers of the Ice age deepened the Seneca valley, increasing the tributary stream gradient to create rapids and waterfalls wherever there were layers of hard rock. The area's rocks are sedimentary of Devonian age, part of a dissected plateau that was uplifted with little faulting or distortion. They consist mostly of soft shales, with some layers of harder sandstone and limestone.

The park features three trails, open from mid-May to early November, by which one can climb or descend the gorge. The Southern Rim and Indian Trails run along the gorge's wooded rim, while the Gorge Trail is closest to the stream and runs over, under and along the park's 19 waterfalls by way of stone bridges and more than 800 stone steps. The trails connect to the Finger Lakes Trail, an 800-mile (1,300 km) system of trails within New York state.

Read more about Watkins Glen State Park at Wikipedia

ARE Watkins Glen State Park campsites SOLD OUT?

We can help! Many campsite reservations are cancelled daily. Just tell us when you’d like to camp at Watkins Glen State Park, and how long you want to camp for. We’ll text you when a suitable spot opens up!

Scan for cancellations

Contact Watkins Glen State Park

Spotted an error?

Whoops! Sometimes we make mistakes. Want to help improve the Watkins Glen State Park listing? Please suggest a correction.

Other nearby parks

Open to camping at other nearby parks? Here are a few other parks you'll find in the vicinity.

Reviews

Camper reviews for Watkins Glen State Park

Post a review for Watkins Glen State Park

Be the first to post a review of Watkins Glen State Park!

How was your visit to Watkins Glen State Park? Share your review of Watkins Glen State Park and help fellow nature-lovers make an informed decision.

Post a review
Please be nice. Around here, we try to be helpful, inclusive, and constructive.

Map

View a map of Watkins Glen State Park

UNABLE TO RESERVE A CAMPSITE?

Get notified when a sold-out campground has availability

Tell us when, where, and how long you want to camp for. We’ll notify you (via SMS) when a suitable spot opens up at that campground—so you can nab that sold-out campsite reservation!

Create a scan