Summer of 21 - #32 - Watkins Glen State Park - A fabulous day although some anxious moments.

June 4th, 2021 

We decided to go to Watkins Glen State Park in New York State. It was an hour drive but we thought it would be worth it and it definitely was.

From my research I was apprehensive as to if we were fit enough to do it all.  Normally they have a shuttle bus that you can get at one of three places within the park to take you back to your parking area but because of covid this had been discontinued. I knew once we started we had to get back, it is a one way trail in places. Consequently I kept going back and forth on whether we should attempt it. I studied the trail map which showed the trails and read different reviews from people. You wouldn't believe the amount of time I spent researching this, or maybe those of you who truly know me will believe it!!! 

Ultimately I decided the "easiest route" would be from the south entrance where we had a couple of options and it was central in the gorge. It meant we would miss the wonderful main entrance but we also missed some steep steps and I knew we would have enough steps to climb as we walked through the gorge.

Here's the trail map. 

We parked in the South entrance parking and made our way to the Gorge Trail. You can see from the map above there are various paths you can take to get onto the Gorge Trail and I wanted to start at Couch's Staircase. Of we went, hopefully on the right trail........

It was already beautiful and we'd only just started.

We found the Lily Pond and I knew we were on the right trail.  There were still multiple options from here but I knew we needed to go to the right and off we headed.

After a 10 minute walk, we reached Couch's Staircase and looked down at the main entrance.

I found it ironic that a sign describing the formation of the gorge with the word "destroyed" in the heading had itself been destroyed by graffiti.  

A warning sign telling you to stay on the paths, not go near the cliff edges, beware of falling rocks and loose stones on the trail, and not throw or kick rocks down into the gorge.

Trail Feature #2 - "Couch's Staircase - 120 stairs covered in shade-loving ferns.

Guess we're going down these steps. Bryan was brave and went first, at my insistence!!! 😉

The closed staircase opened up to this view, amazing!!  The people down there had come in the main entrance and the two at the front were standing on Sentry Bridge which is Trail Feature #1 - "Look for a round flume hole in the rock where water was once diverted to power a mill in the 1800's where the Visitor center now stands."

We carried on down the steps and I decided to take a VIDEO.  If you watch it, which I hope you do, you will hear me giggling "nervously" as I nearly step on a snake. It actually affected me more than I thought and I became very aware that there could be snakes anywhere, even on these paths that have so many people walking on them. I'm going to let the pictures do the "talking" for the most part.

Trail Feature #3 - Point Lookout "Gaze down into the sculpted rocks of the gorge."

Looking down at the main entrance, we would have had to walk up steps from there. I think we made the right choice to use the South entrance.

It's just breathtaking!!!

Here's the snake I nearly trod on.  A man warned me about it. It was tucked up against the wall that everyone was standing along looking over at the water. I think it might be a rattlesnake, eeekkk!!!! However, Bryan thinks it was dead, as it didn't move or make any noise. There were so many people around, you would think it would be trying to protect itself. 

Here's the first steps we had to climb. All the steps before have been downwards.  There are 800 steps on this trail but we won't be doing all of those, at least not in one day!!!

This is one of the waterfalls you walk behind.

Trail Feature #4 - Cavern Cascade "Walk behind this waterfall in a narrow space where water has undercut the layer of sandstone by eroding away crumbly shale beneath. Travel through the Spiral Tunnel, handcut in 1927."

There I am about to go behind the waterfall.

Taken from behind the waterfall.  I'll bet you would've never have guessed that would you? 😂

These steps led up from behind the waterfall. It felt mysterious and magical. 

The Spiral Tunnel, that was handcut in 1927, led back outside and, guess what, more steps.  In the distance is the suspension bridge.

We will get to the suspension bridge later.

We continued to walk along. It was amazing, so much beauty to see. It was my kind of place.  

Trail Feature #5 - Suspension Bridge "Built in 1870, this bridge stands 85 feet above the creek and connects the Rim Trails. The dining room of the Glen Mountain House, a private resort, peered over the gorge next to the bridge before burning down in 1903."

We walked under the suspension bridge and the water curved through the rocks.

small waterfall in the distance

Unfortunately it was here I started to feel out of breath. This happens sometimes when I climb a lot of steps, go uphill or try and go too fast. I think the elevation doesn't help here as well.

I knew we needed to start walking back to the car but I wasn't sure the best way to go.  I started to look at the map but I think I panicked a little as I realized if I passed out it would be difficult to get any assistance here to get me back to the car. 

Bryan was worried about me but I told him I just needed to sit down and take my time. I found a ledge to sit on, see that small ledge on the right in the picture below, and I sat.  Yes, there was water on the ground.  The ledge was damp.  I didn't care, I had to sit. Bryan made sure I sat on my coat. I wasn't going to risk sitting on the wall on the left because if I passed out I could have tumbled into the water below. I know Bryan would have been there but in my mind I just needed to focus on calming myself down, taking deep breaths and drinking water. 

Now although this sounds very dramatic, realistically I think I managed to hide how I was feeling from everyone who walked by. I told Bryan to take pictures because I felt that would detract from me sitting there.  Everyone would think I was just patiently waiting for him. I didn't look at anyone, just sat, perched on a rock ledge!!! 😔

After a while, I started to feel better. I told Bryan I thought I should eat something, so I had a granola bar.

We thought there should be a path leading up to a footpath above us that would lead back to the suspension bridge but I didn't want to go up all the stairs to find it was only a viewpoint and we had to come back down, so Bryan went and checked it out.  He returned to tell me we could get on the footpath up there, so we proceeded slowly.  It was a sad way to end our day but at least we had seen most of what we had wanted.

Once we climbed the steps slowly up to the North Rim Trail, Indian Trail it was mostly flat the rest of the way back to the suspension bridge. We took our time.

Bryan took a few pictures.  This was looking back down into the gorge, from halfway up the steps.

Bryan went on to the lookout while I waited on the trail. We didn't know to look for the year stamp as we weren't paying attention at this time to the leaflet, ha!!ha!! He also was very quick as he didn't want to leave me for too long.

Trail Feature #6 - Lover's Lane Lookout "This poured concrete lookout is all that remains of the old trail that was destroyed by the flood of 1935.  Look carefully in the steps to see the year stamped in which it was created."

I was feeling a lot better now but knew I had to pace myself.  

Information boards telling how different plants thrived depending on where they were.

Looking down into the gorge

We came to the Suspension Bridge. Here the Indian/North Rim Trail continued on to the main entrance.  

We were thankful we had parked at the south entrance as it was closer.

It meant crossing the Suspension Bridge that we had passed under earlier.

Unfortunately I now needed to "pee". Remember all the water I drank while trying to breathe..... 

The nearest toilet was back where we started, we were on our way there but really had no idea of how far it was as we were going back a different route. So now, I had to make sure not to wet myself as well as remember how to breathe!! 😂

They are working to save the Hemlocks here as well. Remember when we were at Gettysburg they were doing the same there.

We got over the bridge and started walking along the footpath. In the distance I saw the Lily Pond and so knew we were getting closer. I started to walk faster, leaving Bry behind as I had to get to the toilets.  Stopping briefly a couple of times to pace myself. I made it, phew!!!  What a relief that was. Bryan had caught up with me by the time I reached there as I had to be careful not to overdo it.

The Ladies toilets with a Romeo & Juliet balcony over the entrance!!

The last steps of the day leading up to the car park.

Information sign and picnic tables by the car park.

We sat in the car, in the air conditioning, and ate our lunch. 

On the way home we passed Watkins Glen Speedway in the distance.

and this fan?? wind turbine??, who knows???

 We picked up dinner from Chili's, so we didn't have to cook.

I was a little sad that our day got interrupted by me not feeling well but we still had a good day and I'm so glad we did it.  I had worried that it might be too much for Bryan and it ended up being me who got sick.  I would love to come back and do the other half or at least part of it. We know now that we can go over the suspension bridge back and rejoin the trail without doing all that we have already done. Who knows maybe one day we'll return!!!