I love it when gems like this fall into my lap and then after I’ve explored them, I get to share them with you, my readers. This is an incredible destination. I know I say that a lot, (a real LOT) but this one really does live up to the hype. Two truly ravishing waterfalls in a setting that looks like it jumped right out of Jurassic Park. This is a magical destination that makes me really appreciate the beauty of New York State and what a privilege it is to live here.
Trail & Safety
First things first, this is not a trail for novice hikers. There are places where you can easily slip and hurt yourself if you aren’t paying attention or wearing the proper footwear. I know it is very tempting to wear flip-flops when you know that you are going to a waterfall but this is extremely dangerous. Flip flops do not give you the right traction or support when you are walking on wet and often slippery rocks. If you’re hiking Excelsior Glen, sneakers or hiking boots are an absolute must.
The trail is pretty easy to follow. While there is a steep branch of the trail at the beginning that leads down into the creek to the lower of the two falls, the trail travels uphill towards the upper falls. If you keep hiking up the hill you reach the top of the lower falls, you’ll need to continue hiking as well as climb over a bunch of large logs to reach the upper falls.
There is actually a third waterfall at Excelsior Glen, however it is not easy to reach and can be dangerous.
Lower Falls
When we walked down into the glen surrounding the lower falls, it felt like stepping into another world. Something ancient and I was just waiting for a T-Rex or velociraptor to break onto the scene. I can even stress enough how prehistoric this part of the glen looks. The waterfall is enclosed by the walls of the glen, almost completely surrounding the creek, like walking into a room.
Upper Falls
I actually didn’t realize the upper falls were even there at first because of the way the glen appeared. However, as we continued to hike upward, the 2nd and much larger waterfall appeared. As I said previously, you have to climb over a lot of large logs to get to the falls but it is definitely worth it. Also, there is a fairly deep pool at the bottom of this waterfall perfect for swimming.
Important: The parking for this waterfall is located right along the highway (where traffic is traveling at 55 miles/hour.) Please use extra caution when visiting this waterfall as you will be right along the highway. Please use caution and be aware of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic at Excelsior Glen.
Getting to Excelsior Glen
Excelsior Glen is pretty easy to find. It is located on Route 414 just as you are leaving Watkins Glen. There isn’t much of a parking area, which is on the south side of the bridge. If you are headed towards Watkins Glen on RT 414, you will want to turn around in the canoe park at the end of the road and head back north to the pull-off on the side of the road. Maybe two cars at the most can fit while being truly off the road. The best time to visit here is in the early morning when the traffic is light.
Google Map Link
Other Places to Visit
Explore the Waterfalls of the Finger Lakes
Enjoy a collection of the best waterfalls to visit in the Finger Lakes. Learn everything you need to know to plan a great visit.
Catherine Creek Wildlife Management Area
This hidden gem at the bottom of Seneca Lake has so many elements of beauty to offer visitors, including a hidden waterfall.
Watkins Glen State Park
This is one of the most popular and clearly most spectacular state parks in not just New York but the United States.
Have you visited Excelsior Glen? What did you think? Did we miss anything? Do you have a favorite New York State waterfall? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.