I like to consider myself a pretty well traveled person. I have been out of the country, lived down south and been out west. I have enjoyed my stay in various hotels, resorts and condos but nothing beats sleeping under the stars. Trading a bed for a plush sleeping bag, running water for natural waterfalls and TV time for a natural playground is the perfect getaway.
My dad took me on my first camping trip to Watkins Glen State Park and I thought the campsite was just perfect. It was close to several small waterfalls for my 8 year old self to explore. The park also had picnic areas, a swimming pool and my favorite…the trails throughout The Glen. Now at 22, I am still going back to the same spot with my dad.
Since going out to get ice cream ranks pretty high on my family’s favorite thing to do list, my dad and I aren’t exactly cut out for strenuous hikes. The Great Escape is one of our favorites and it’s located at the entrance of the campground. How could we not stop? The trail is a perfect place to take it easy and just enjoy one another’s company.
The gorge is absolutely breathtaking. There are 19 waterfalls on the trail that you will see up close by walking over and under them. The stone bridges and walkways on the trail compliment the natural beauty of the gorge. We don’t like to bring drinks and snacks in tow so we stop at the concession stand/ picnic area at the end of the trail. We conclude our hike by taking a dip in the Olympic sized pool.
The park offers 305 campsites with bathrooms, showers and firewood for sale. If you are new to the camping world, you can rest assured that there are food concessions, gift shops, modern playgrounds and grills. For directions, season information and rates call (607) 535-4511.
You can take the day off from the campground by setting out on a day of fishing at nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek. Other nearby state parks are Stony Brook,
Pinnacle, Keuka Lake, Newtown Battlefield and Mark Twain State Park. Watkins Glen International Racetrack, The Corning Museum of Glass and the Seneca Lake Wine Trail are also nearby.
If you are a regular at Watkins Glen State Park and want to try something new, the Finger Lakes National Forest offers three different campgrounds. The Blueberry Patch Campground has a place to picnic, a spot for your tent, pump wells and vault toilets on site. There is a small fee ($10) to camp here and The Patch operates on a first come, first-served basis. The campground is appropriately named because of its proximity to a large patch of wild blueberries. This makes this destination very popular during blueberry picking season.
If you want to stretch your legs a little further than the blueberry fields at The Patch, call your friends and make reservations at Potomac Group Campground. The hiking campground is for groups of 10-40 that love to picnic and hike. The site has cooking grills, hand pumps and vault toilets on the site.
For equestrian lovers, The Backbone Horse Campground is designed specifically for horseback riders. The site is equipped with parking with hitching trails, a corral, water for the horses and toilets and cooking grills for you. For more information on camping here call (607) 546-4470.
Wherever you choose to camp in Finger Lakes Wine Country, you will be blown away by all the beauty that surrounds you. Close to so many attractions and wineries, there is something for everyone here. You can camp overnight for the same price as going to see a move in the theatre. Go out and enjoy some fresh air and maybe we’ll meet up on the trails!
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