Watkins Glen State Park Parking — Attraction in Town of Dix

Loved Hiking through Gorge trail last weekend with family. We parked on the upper level at south entrance and took a shuttle back. we didn't realize we are not starting the trail from top as there is a main entrance on upper level. Shuttle driver was very kind, she was suppose to drop all at main entrance but as we didnt recognize the parking spot and approached her for help she asked us to hop back without extra charge and dropped us off at south entrance. Be ready to walk through lots of stairs, I had an impression from reading reviews that it would be too muddy and our clothes would get dirty but we didn't get a single splash on us but yes good foot care is a must. We went in around 9am and there were handsome amount of ppl, still not that crowded. By the time we came back, the parking lot was fully packed. We sat on benches in the play area near the south entrance to have a little picnic/lunch. Washroom were clean. Playarea was well kept too.

Note for muslim visitors: we carried home cooked meals with us as there are no halal restaurants in the area. Halal options are available in Ithaca and 1 restaurant in elmira with poor reviews. We enjoyed good seafood lunch at Seneca...

This is a great starting point for anyone trying to do the Gorge Trail. We went on a weekday early in the morning so there was no issue parking here. You pay with a card at the meters they have within the lot. Once you pay make sure to leave your ticket on your dashboard. The welcome center and gift shop are right across the street from this lot. They have maps at the welcome center. The shuttle wasn’t running but that’s okay. The gorge trail is a lot of steps and can be challenging because of the water that exists on certain parts of the trail floor. So bring your hiking poles or wear your knee braces in order to be safe while enjoying. Jacob’s ladder is an enormous set of stairs so if you finish at Mile High Point you really aren’t missing out. The Indian Trail and North Rim Trail are the same trail, and is an easier way back to the main, south, or upper entrance depending on where you parked vs. walking back on the gorge trail. Such a beautiful place!...

This parking lot is large and provides excellent access to Watkins Glen State Park. The visitors center and the trailhead to several hikes is literally across the street . We arrived around 9:45am on a Friday and it was basically empty but by noon it was pretty full.

It cost $10 to park in this lot and it covers you for the full day. There are several pay machines where we paid by credit card. The one closest to our vehicle didn’t work but there are others or you can pay cash at the visitors center. We drive a 22’ long camper van and it fit but other larger RVs are not allowed in here .. although we saw a couple that were longer/bigger than our camper van when...