The best camping in Watkins Glen State Park, NY

Located in the Fingers Lake region, this scenic park packs a lot of natural beauty in a small area, including 19 waterfalls, towering cliffs, and gorges. Several hiking trails take you alongside, over, under, and through gorges and behind several waterfalls. Facilities include an Olympic-size swimming pool, picnic tables and pavilions, playgrounds, sports fields, gift shops, food concessions, and a shuttle. Anglers can cast their line in nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek, known for an annual spring run of rainbow trout. More than 300 campsites, suitable for RVs, trailers, and tents and 10 camping cabins, offer plenty of options for staying overnight.

• Best for hikers: The Tuscarora Village Campground offers the closest access to a network of hiking trails.
• Best for RVs: The Mohawk Village Campground offers 54 sites with electric hook-ups.
• Best for comfort: Ten rustic Watkins Glen Cabins provide sheltered space for six, but does not include water or electricity.

1. You must have a reservation to camp. Plan to reserve a site as soon as you know your dates during the peak season or over weekends.
2. If traveling between mid May and October, reservations can be made the same day until 3pm.
3. Reservations for 2 or more nights can be made nine months in advance. One night stays can be booked seven days in advance.

Mid June to August are the busiest times at the park, especially on weekends. Time your visit for early in the day before the parking lots fill up or go during the week. Entrance fees are collected from mid May to mid October. Spring is the best time to see the waterfalls at peak flow. The campground is open from late May to early October, while the pool is open from the end of June to Labor Day. The Gorge Trail is only open from early spring to late fall, with the shuttle running over the same period. Early to mid-October is the best time to see the fall colors. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular activities in winter.

• During peak season, Gorge Trail is one-way. Wear sturdy shoes as there are more than 800 steps, and spray from the waterfalls can make rocky pathways wet.
• Swimming is not permitted in the gorge and only in the swimming pool.
• Accessible facilities include the gift shop, restrooms, swimming area, and most pavilions.
• Pets are not allowed in buildings, playgrounds, the pool area, or on the Gorge Trail, though they are permitted on the Indian Trail and South Rim Trail and in some camping loops. A certificate of rabies vaccination is required.
• Do not bring firewood from more than 50 miles away from the park