Watkins Glen State Park, NY

Friends Tina and Birdie and I camped at Watkins Glen State Park. A gorge runs through it.

And an awesome trail follows the course of the water through the gorge. Of course we hiked it.

You can plan to get wet while hiking next to all the falling water, but the day we hiked it it was raining in addition to the waterfall spray.

It was wet and wild and wonderful!

 There are over 800 stone steps and stone bridges which span over and under 19 waterfalls.

 This one goes under.

There's a spiral tunnel that climbs to the next level.

Starting at the bottom, there's a 400 foot elevation gain past steep cliffs.

 Lush tropical-like greenery grows in the gorge.

 The trail is 2.5 miles one way....up. Then we went back down. 

 Because of the rain, it was not crowded as it might have been on a sunny summer day.

 Cliff walls are more than 200 feet high.

 You know some daring adventurers just have to walk across that log. Glad I didn't have to watch anybody do that.

 Hanging garden of ferns.

Rock cairns near the log ...definitely off the trail.

View from behind a waterfall.

 Looking down from a bridge.

 A short rest.

 A heart-shaped pothole, formed by swirling water.

Two waterfalls...

Me on the bridge over the last waterfall.

We turned around here and made our way back. If you have transportation, you can do the trail one-way starting at the top and hiking downhill all the way. But, I don't regret seeing it twice, coming and going.