Watkins Glen State Park

The state of New York passes unnoticed for many tourists visiting NYC in the same way that Paris seems to rob tourists from the rest of France. That being said, the state of New York is a land of forests, charming cities, lakes, and vineyards that is worth exploring.

You can find this natural park of glacial origins in the Finger Lakes region of the north of New York. The trails are simple (but watch out for slippery parts!) and more or less flat. Perhaps the most interesting trail is the Gorge Trail (2.5km) which passes by 19 waterfalls, small lakes, and gorge-like rock strucures. If you want to check things out from above, I'd also recommend Indian Trail.

When you hike the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen, be prepared to see incredible rock formations jetting out from rocky cliffs, several waterfalls that you can even walk behind, and a hiking trail like no other! There are over 800 steps from top to bottom along the Gorge Trail on a very gradual incline. However, you barely notice that you're exercising at all as the views are so amazing! Be sure to wear hiking boots or sturdy running shoes as the stones can get slippery. There are also suspension bridges that you can walk across allowing for great views of the flowing creek and rocks down below. At one point, we entered a shaded zone that had its own rainforest-like micro-climate with ferns and moss growing all around.