Visiting Watkins Glen with your pet requires some preparation. Especially if you want to hike the canyon. But well worth the effort. Here’s what you need to know to plan a trip with your pet.
Watkins Glen sits at the foot of Seneca Lake, one of 11 lakes carved out by retreating Ice Age glaciers. The lakes, which stretch like claws across central New York City, give the area the name Finger Lakes.
Locals refer to the area as “New York’s wine country,” but the Finger Lakes region is so much more. With a wide range of seasonal outdoor recreation, a quaint downtown, and many excellent wineries and breweries, it’s an exceptional pet-friendly vacation destination. And Watkins Glen makes a great base camp for your adventures.
Watkins Glen State Park
A trip to Watkins Glen wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the state park just off downtown (1000 N Franklin Street). The area is home to many wonderful state parks, Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous.
Watkins Glen State Park has similar facilities to other nearby state parks, including camping, picnic areas, and hiking trails, but it also has a canyon that is a real jaw-dropper.
read more ⇒ Tips for hiking with dogs
Explore Watkins Glen State Park with your dog
The Gorge Trail draws most visitors to Watkins Glen State Park. And when you hike, you’ll find the trail narrow, steep, and busy. Dogs are not allowed because just imagining a dog on a leash walking down the street gives me nightmares.
Watkins Glen State Park Pet Policy
A maximum of 2 pets are allowed in campgrounds and day-use areas unless prohibited by signs or directives (not allowed on the canyon trail)). Pets must be supervised at all times and kept in a crate or on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length. Upon request of the staff, we will present a rabies vaccination certificate. Pets are not allowed on playgrounds, buildings, pools, water playgrounds or guarded beaches (does not apply to service animals).
Although the park’s most dramatic trails are off limits, you and your dog can still enjoy a wonderful visit to Watkins Glen State Park.
Glen Creek runs two miles through the park. It then descends 400 feet that distance, creating 19 waterfalls and many natural pools. This gives you a variety of options for having fun with your best friends.
The park is open year-round, but parts of some trails may be closed during the winter when it freezes.
Dog-friendly rim trail overlooking the canyon
Watkins Glen has two dog-friendly trails that follow the rim overlooking the canyon. North Rim Trail and the South Rim Trail. They are 1.1 and 1.8 miles apart, respectively, and both offer views of the canyon from your chosen vantage point.
Hiking both rim trails is a great way to explore the park with your dog and get some exercise in the process. If you have such plans, allow approximately 3 hours to fully enjoy these trails.
Pro tip: The South Rim Trail is Finger Lakes Trail, a 580-mile-long trail that traverses the Finger Lakes region. The entire trail is pet friendly as long as your pet is on a leash.
https://fingerlakestrail.org/plan-hikes-finger-lakes-trail/about-the-finger-lakes-trail/
Take turns hiking the canyon trail
After exploring the trails of the Rim Trail with your dog, look for benches and tables in the gift shop near the park’s main entrance. The gift shop sells cool drinks and light snacks. It’s a comfortable place for one person to sit with their dog and people-watch while the other hikes up the mountain. canyon trail (1.5 miles).
rent a campsite or cabin
By making Watkins Glen State Park a base for your visit rather than just a day hike, you’ll have more flexibility with your canyon hikes. And your pup is given a familiar “home” to wait while someone from the owner climbs a beautiful canyon.
The park has campgrounds for RVs and tents, as well as rustic cabins that are pet-friendly. However, be aware that camping at Finger Lakes State Park is very popular. Reservations may be required up to one year in advance. During high season a 3 night stay must be booked.
Also, the high season is short, from May to October. Also, without electricity or heating, the cabin might make for a chilly stay during shoulder season.
read more ⇒ Would you like to try cabin camping with your pet?
More Dog Friendly Activities in Watkins Glen
Once you’ve arrived at Watkins Glen, you won’t want to leave without seeing it all. Luckily, there are plenty of options to keep you busy.
Enjoy a cruise with your dog
Board Captain Leo’s pontoon boat for a sightseeing tour of the lake. Learn about the industrial history of the area or just sit back and watch the sunset. The private charter is for up to 6 people (plus a well-behaved pet) and takes 2 hours for him.
Want to keep things simple? You can Launch your own kayak on the Katherine Creek Canal, leading to Seneca Lake. There is ample parking and a concrete ramp makes it easy to pick up your puppy and paddle away.
read more ⇒ Tips for Canoeing or Kayaking with Your Dog
Explore nearby towns
One of my favorite things to do when visiting Watkins Glen with my pet is visit the surrounding towns. From Canandaigua to Ithaca, each location has its own character and charm. A stroll down Main Street will keep you entertained for hours.
Visit pet-friendly wineries
A trip to New York wine country is a must to try the local wines. So if you’re visiting Watkins Her Glen with your pet, be sure to take the time to visit a few wineries.
There are three different wine trails near Watkins Glen, the closest being Seneca Lake Wine Trail. With over 30 wineries and a handful of breweries and distilleries, it’s the largest and most active of all the Finger Lakes wine trails. The good news for pet lovers is that there are at least 11 dog-friendly wineries on the trail, and the list is growing all the time.
read more ⇒ Uncorking Pet-Friendly Finger Lakes Wine Country
At Castell Glish Winery, just outside Watkins Glen, polite dogs are welcome in the tasting room.
boundary breakthroughon the eastern side of Seneca Lake. that’s all The Finger Lakes winery has its own fenced-in dog park, where dogs are off leash and free to roam. How cool is that?
Lakewood Vineyard is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic with award-winning wines.
and Fox Run Vineyards, a short drive south of Geneva, consider their dogs part of the family. Bo’s Bones treats are available for tasting and purchase. Their wine garden is dog friendly. If the weather is not nice, dogs are welcome in the historic Barrel Room.
There are also breweries and distilleries just a short drive from town. The Grist Iron Brewing Company in Burdett and The Beerocracy at Seneca Lake Brewing Company in Rock Stream offer sunset views, live music, and pet-friendly areas.
Ride more trails
If you’ve enjoyed hiking in Watkins Glen State Park and want to check out more trails in the area, there are plenty of options.of Finger Lakes National Forest Located on a ridge between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, it has over 30 miles of pet-friendly trails.
and just 45 miles north of Watkins Glen, sampson state park It occupies over 2,000 acres on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. Sampson State Park offers hiking, boating, camping and some of the best sunsets in the Finger Lakes region. which is the best? Dogs can swim there too! It will be the perfect place to stay during your visit.
Explore the glacier-carved valleys south of Seneca Lake. Katherine Valley Trail. With six miles of abandoned railroad and canal towpath tracks, this compact, dusty surface offers easy walking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
of Finger Lakes Trail Travel through Watkins Glen for 580 miles from Allegany State Park to Catskill Park.
New York State forests offer even more dog-friendly hikes.check out Sugar Hill State ForestLocated just 13.8 miles west of Watkins Glen, it features an old-fashioned fire tower and scenic views.Or go to Connecticut Hill Wildlife Refuge22 miles east of Watkins Glen, offers panoramic views, fishing and pristine camping.
Dine on the pet-friendly patio
Visiting Watkins Glen with your pet is sure to leave you hungry. Bring your pup to a barbecue on the pet-friendly patio of Nickel’s Pit BBQ on Franklin Street. A great place for people-watching. You can also listen to live music on weekends.
For a casual bite, head to Lakeside Italy on the marina. Pets must be out during the ordering process. However, you can enjoy some great boat watching while you dine.
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel’s Blue Point Grill restaurant (seasonal, weather permitting) also offers patio seating. Enjoy your meal surrounded by flowers and waterscapes.
Or watch the boats depart from the beach patio at Seneca Harbor Station.
read more ⇒ Tips for bringing your dog to pet-friendly restaurants
attend an outdoor concert
Are your pets music lovers who don’t mind crowds? Then why not take them somewhere? outdoor concert?!
Lafayette Park, located downtown on 4th and Decatur Streets, hosts concerts every Tuesday night in July and August from 7-9pm.
Clute Park on the waterfront hosts concerts every Sunday night.
Visit Watkins Glen with your pet
Did we convince you? Are you ready to plan a trip to Watkins Her Glen with your pet?
i hope so. This is because Finger Lake is not so highly regarded as a national treasure. And Watkins Glen is right in the middle.
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