Letchworth Vs. Watkins Glen: What To See In Each New York State Park

Visiting Letchworth and Watkins Glen soon? Here is what each New York State Park has to offer its guests.

Letchworth and Watkins Glen State Parks are regarded as some of the top parks to visit in the US and offer perfect retreats for vacationers looking for unforgettable outdoor experiences. The parks boast some of the most beautiful waterfalls in New York, incredible overlooks, amazing hiking trails, and plenty of photography opportunities for enjoying some epic Instagram moments. Each state park offers unique outdoor experiences for adventurous tourists.

Letchworth is the best state park in the US and will always be magical, regardless of the time of the year. It is located in Western New York, not far from Watkins Glen, which is in Upstate New York. Visiting Letchworth and Watkins Glen soon? Here is what to see in each New York State Park.

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These parks are among the most beautiful state parks in the United States. Both Letchworth State Park and Watkins Glen were founded in 1906.

Both Letchworth State Park and Watkins Glen State Park are incredible hiking destinations with a lot to offer for adventurous travelers. However, hiking is better in Letchworth than in Watkins Glen State Park, thanks to having 66 miles of hiking trails.

Letchworth State Park is home to 30 hiking trails that cover a total distance of 66 miles. There are easy and moderate hikes in the park, making it an excellent spot for hikers of all levels. Some of the best trails in Letchworth State Park include:

Nestled in New York's Finger Lake region, Watkins Glen is a great hiking location but with fewer options than Letchworth State Park. The park is brimming with breathtaking natural attractions, including cliffs, waterfalls, and plenty of unique rock formations.

Watkins Glen's best hiking trail is the Gorge Trail, which covers about one and a half miles and is regarded as a moderate hike. Visitors will find plenty of incredible stops along the gorge trail, and since many of them are marked, it will be easy to get to them.

Famous for its perfect photography and hiking opportunities, Letchworth State Park boasts multiple scenic stops that tourists can enjoy exploring along its beautiful trails.

Letchworth State Park isn't as rich in waterfalls as Watkins Glen State Park. It has three major waterfalls, Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls, along its stunning Gorge Trail. Lower Falls is the park's smallest, calmest, and most beautiful waterfall.

Standing at 107 feet high, Middle Falls is the most popular waterfall in the park. The Inspiration Point gives the best view of the falls.

The Upper Falls is also known as the High Falls and is best viewed from the park's Inspiration Point.

The Historic Genese Arch Bridge

Also known as Portage Bridge, the Historic Genese Arch Bridge is one of the best photography spots in Letchworth State Park. This is the second bridge built in the same location as the first two, with the original one dating back to 1875. The original bridge had a reputation for being the world's highest and longest wooden bridge. It is among the most Instagrammable spots in Letchworth State Park and is totally worth visiting.

The Humphrey Nature Center was launched in 2016 and is known for providing incredible exhibits that give an incredible insight into the park's history.

Any beautiful adventure in a state or a national park starts from a visitor center, and Letchworth State Park is no exemption. Vacationers will find the Park's largest visitor center near Inspiration Point, where they can find answers to their queries and make use of the gift shop, the park's main offices, and restrooms.

Other beautiful stops to not miss include Mount Morris Dam, Harvey Swimming Pool, and William Pryor Letchworth Museum.

Along Watkins Glen's Gorge Trail, vacationers will come across multiple bucket-list-worthy spots to explore. Luckily, many of the points of interest have signage on the park's map to keep tourists well-informed about the areas and directions.

When hiking the Gorge Trail, vacationers will use the Entrance Tunnel to begin their fun adventure in Watkins Glen State Park. This is one of the park's most striking features. The tunnel is well-lightened and not too long so visitors will not find it challenging to navigate through. Climbing through the gorgeous tunnel gives tourists an incredible chance to enjoy their first view of the park's scenery.

Sentry Bridge is one of the most popular and best bridges in Watkins Glen State Park and dates back to the 1930s. The bridge is incredibly stunning and can be seen right from the nearby highway.

Related: These Are The 10 Best State Parks Near The Finger Lakes For Camping

Another incredible stop to make along Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen State Park is Couch's Staircase, a 120-step stone staircase that can take travelers to the South Entrance of the park. Marveling at the artificial wonder from its bottom is one of the best things to do during a visit to Watkins Glen.

Cavern Cascade is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Upstate New York and an incredible attraction to not miss in Watkins Glen State Park. It is reachable by following the North Rim Trail.

Located only a few steps away from Cavern Cascade, Spiral Tunnel is another beautiful feature of Watkins Glen to explore. Hand-cut by workers in 1927, the Spiral tunnel is a bit longer than the entrance tunnel.

Jacob's Ladder is among Watkins Glen State Park's most notable attractions, and that guarantees an unforgettable experience of Upstate New York.

The ladder boasts 180 steps and can take them all the way back to the park's upper entrance.

Other things to see at the gorge include the Central Cascade, Rainbow Falls, Frowning Cliff, and the Suspension Bridge.

Letchworth State Park is home to incredible overlooks, each offering unique perspectives of the park. Some of the best ones to explore include Hogs Back Overlook, Great Bend Overlook, Archery Field Overlook, and Inspiration Point.

At Watkins Glen State Park, one of the best state parks with cabin rentals in the Finger Lakes, travelers can enjoy two incredible lookouts; Point Lookout and Lover's Lane Lookout. Both of them offer some of the most impressive views of the gorge.

Related: 10 Best Cabin Rentals You Can Book In Watkins Glen State Park

Well, the answer to this question depends on what one is looking to experience. For a more substantial hiking experience, Letchworth is definitely better because it has plenty of incredible trails to choose from. For waterfalls, Watkins is a better choice since tourists have 19 beautiful waterfalls to see. Letchworth's waterfall scene is lesser vibrant because they are only three. Letchworth also offers plenty of scenic overlooks. Watkins Glen is one of the best parks not to miss in Finger Lakes. However, Letchworth State Park is a better destination, as it has more adventure opportunities.

Quinter Auma is a travel writer based in Kenya. She has written travel articles on destinations across Africa and beyond. Her writing is inspired by her passion to travel to new destinations and inspire others to get out of their comfort zones and explore the beauty of this world - whether they travel around the world or in their own countries.