RV Rental Watkins Glen State Park, NY

There’s plenty to see and do in Watkins Glen State Park, but the one attraction that every visitor should be sure to check out is the Gorge Trail. This iconic trail runs for one and a half miles alongside the glen, leading you through towering cliffs and past otherworldly natural scenery on one truly memorable hike.

Along the way, you’ll see the many attractions for which the park is famous. These include the vast expanse of Glen Cathedral with its natural pool and the astonishing beauty of Rainbow Falls. However, you’ll need to climb more than 800 stone steps along the way, so a decent level of physical fitness is required.

There are 19 waterfalls in total along the trail, which should give you plenty of chances to work on your photography skills. Whether you’re a photographer by trade or just looking to get the perfect shot for your vacation scrapbook, you’ll constantly be stopping to capture the breathtaking vistas that continue to appear as you hike along the trail.

Once you’ve admired the remarkable glen from every angle, you may want to explore the region surrounding the park. If you’re a keen angler, you’ll no doubt be drawn to Catherine Creek and its spring-time population of rainbow trout. Seneca Lake is also a famous fishing destination, particularly for trout and largemouth or smallmouth bass.

Seneca Lake also boasts another big highlight: excellent wineries. You’ll find a host of well-known wineries near the lake’s southern end, so it’s well worth touring around the area to sample a few local drops at the cellar door.

If you’re going RV camping at Watkins Glen State Park, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

• Cayuga Village. Thirty-three of the 49 campsites here can accommodate RVs of up to 20 or 30 feet. Restrooms and showers are provided, while a dump station and the camp office are nearby.
• Mohawk Village. A popular spot for RV camping, Mohawk Village offers 54 RV-friendly sites; however, the maximum vehicle length is 20 feet for some sites and 30 feet for others. Electric hookups, restrooms, and showers are all provided.
• Oneida Village. Oneida Village is a 47-site campground, but there are only four RV sites available — three for RVs up to 20 feet, and one for RVs up to 30 feet. Restrooms and showers are provided, while this centrally located campground also offers easy access to many park features and amenities.
• Onondaga Village. This campground has 49 sites, 26 of which can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet long. Restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and fire rings are all provided.
• Seneca Village. Twenty-four of the 47 sites in this campground welcome RVs up to 30 feet long. Showers, restrooms and a playground are all provided, while leashed pets are welcome.
• Tuscarora Village. Popular with hikers, this 53-site campground features 12 sites for RVs 20 or 30 feet long. This pet-friendly campground features restrooms and showers, and there’s a playground nearby if you’re traveling with kids. A dump station is also available.

It’s easy to see why Watkins Glen State Park is such a popular destination, and you’ll no doubt want to stay a while so you can explore each of its beautiful waterfalls. But once you’ve experienced everything the park has to offer, there’s also lots to see and do in this part of New York.

If more natural scenery is what you crave, you’ll find an abundance of state parks nearby. Robert H. Treman State Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, and Sampson State Park are all within easy reach, and if you don’t mind traveling a little further afield, there’s nothing to stop you turning northwest and checking out the iconic Niagara Falls.

If you’d prefer the bright lights of civilization, make the one-and-a-half-hour drive northeast to Syracuse, or set your GPS for Rochester on the shores of Lake Ontario.

Where you go and what you do is entirely up to you — that’s the beauty of camping with an RV — so find a rental motorhome at Watkins Glen and start planning your Finger Lakes camping getaway.