Here's a set of falls within Watkins Glen State Park that most people have probably never seen. These are on a tributary called Hamilton Creek that comes in from the south about 1.25 miles above the railroad bridge. There are two parking options for these. One, you can park along the north side of Townsend Road just east of where the creek passes (there are a series of flat grassy areas). Look for the signs that say "state land, no hunting ect." Two, the FLX Trail crosses this tributary at the bottom of the hollow on a nice CCC bridge. The FLX trail can be accessed at points nearby, both upstream and downstream.
Parking Map
Trail Map
There are roughly 5 falls over 10 feet, including one thats about 35-40 ft. While this section is a lot less spectacular in some ways relative to the part everyone visits, this must be one of the largest drops within the park, probably second to cavern cascade. I saw no signs of people (no trails, no garbage). Its not shown on the trail map but from the footbridge at the bottom of the tributary there is a white blazed trail heading steeply uphill (the FLX trail heads left/downstream) that comes back towards Townsend Road. You can then of course walk the road back to your car. If your coming/going to twin falls from any other falls in the WG/Montour Falls area, you will likely pass right by this spot. The next tributary upstream, Townsend Creek, has a similar drop in elevation and can be accessed from the FLX trail. There is also a tributary coming from the north (Hemlock Run) but glen creek cant be crossed in the spring and that tributary probably doesnt have much flow later on.
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Watkins Glen State Park
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- HaloGirl
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Great photos! Thanks for sharing the secret.
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Thanks! I've got to check that out this summer!
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- cbobcat49
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We're heading to Watkins Glen tomorrow and I'm hoping to check out Hamilton Creek.
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~Henry David Thoreau
- cbobcat49
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We checked this place out yesterday. It really is a hidden secret! I wonder if it's inside the park boundaries or not. Bremer, I see in your second photo that you actually climbed that last falls. I'm sure this stream really dries out in the summer. As you can see in the shot the water level is already a lot lower than when you visited.
A really picturesque section of the Finger Lakes Trail we walked on to get here...
A really picturesque section of the Finger Lakes Trail we walked on to get here...
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~Henry David Thoreau
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Glad you enjoyed it! I actually started at the top and then came down the ridge to get to the base. The tributary is definitely within the park, but if you venture too far west of the tributary the land is private. Here are the park Boundaries. Unfortunately it seems like waterfall season is already coming to an end, at least for these streams with smaller watersheds.
"Now I see the Secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth" - W. Whitman
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- cbobcat49
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I drove around on Townsend Rd. and couldn't find an easy way in. I knew the FLT crossed Whites Hollow Rd. near the creek so I figured I'd just hike that up to Hamilton Creek.
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~Henry David Thoreau