The Top 4 State Parks in New York’s Finger Lakes Region

Located within Upstate New York, the Finger Lakes region is paradise for would-be vacationers and roadtrippers, containing dozens of state parks with stunning waterfalls, gorges, and lakes. With accessible trails and relatively short driving distances, it’s easy to explore a park or two in depth each day here. And, as part of New York’s state park system, passes from any park in the state are valid at the other parks on the same day, meaning less fees for you. What’s not to love?

Located within its namesake village, and containing a whopping 19 waterfalls within its mile and a half length, Watkins Glen State Park might have the best gorge trail in the Finger Lakes. It takes about two hours to complete round-trip, but if you’re not feeling up to traversing the 832 stone steps twice, there’s a seasonal shuttle bus service that will ferry you between the entrances of the park.

Welcome to the Grand Canyon of the East. In contrast to the other parks on this list, Letchworth State Park’s main attraction is its lengthy rim trail. There are parking lots at each of the three waterfalls, all with trailhead access, making it possible to start and end your journey at any of the major viewpoints along the way. You should expect to spend at least 3 hours to complete the rim trail between all the waterfalls, but if you’re short on time, starting at Upper Falls and ending at Inspiration Point isn’t a bad idea, since the views at Lower Falls are somewhat obscured.

The tallest waterfall in New York looks like something out of an Icelandic fairy tale. At 215 feet, it’s even taller than Niagara Falls, and not quite as grand, but certainly elegant. The Overlook Visitors Center along Taughannock Park Road provides another great vantage point, pictured above, and is certainly worth stopping at. The gorge trail leading to the waterfall is short and flat, making this park an excellent addition to any trip.

Last but not least, Robert H. Treman State Park with its 115 foot tall Lucifer Falls and winding, stone-carved cliffside staircase warrants a few hours visit to see in its entirety. It’s also the only state park on this list with a natural swimming pool, although you can find similar ones at Stony Brook and Buttermilk Falls state parks. Expect some huffing and puffing if you elect to do the entire trail rather than park in each separate lot, as there’s significant elevation gain from the lower waterfall to the upper one.

Whichever park you decide to visit, expect to see some stunning waterfalls, vast gorges, and elaborate rock formations. Letchworth and Robert H. Treman state parks easily deserve close to half a day for their size, while Watkins Glen and Taughannock Falls can be seen in a shorter amount of time and have views just as great. But why stop at just one? All the parks on this list are within half an hour of each other with the exception of Letchworth, and with other nearby state parks like Buttermilk Falls and Stony Brook, it’s easy to draft a full itinerary.