by Mark Johnson
Just a few hundred yards from the city limit of bustling Watkins Glen lies a delightful waterfall hidden in a quiet gully. Excelsior Glen empties into the eastern side of Seneca Lake, just north of the city’s Clute Memorial Park. We visited on a beautiful Saturday in June when Watkins Glen (both the state park and the city) were crowded with visitors. Yet we had Excelsior Glen and its magnificent 100’ cascade to ourselves.
Find ample parking on Route 414 opposite Cass Rd. Enter the glen at the Finger Lakes Trail sign, one-quarter mile to the north along 414. The trailhead is well marked, but we soon lost the trail. Simply follow the streambed or either ridge. From the just below the base of the first fall, a 30’ cascade, the left bank is steep but passable. The main waterfall is reached after hiking upstream for a quarter of a mile. As in many gullies, surfaces tend to be slippery or loose; our party included one novice hiker who emerged somewhat muddy and bruised, so watch your step.We found the area to be very clean — only one discarded aluminum can to carry out. We did not encounter any fences, posted signs or other human activity. Just an awesome waterfall!
The waterfalls of Excelsior Glen are some of the 200+ waterfalls mapped and described in the guidebook “200 Waterfaslls in Central & Western New York – A Finders’ Guide.”
