The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
walked the gorge and climbed the 832 stairs
in Watkins Glen State Park
and then had to muster the strength for the return trip
September 18, 2013

Entering Watkins Glen State Park cost Lee and Karen Duquette, aka the two RV Gypsies, $8 to park their truck, on this date (any prices mentioned on this website may change as time passes - the two RV Gypsies do NOT control any prices anyplace). Then they walked the Gorge Trail which followed Glen Creek past water-sculptured rocks, 19 waterfalls, plus 832 stairs (one-way).

Below: From the parking lot, the two RV Gypsies got a glimpse of the Sentry Bridge and Cavern Cascade.

Below: The entrance tunnel leading to the Sentry Bridge. Tunnels in the gorge were hand-cut into the rock in the early 1900s.

Below: The two RV Gypsies looked down from the Sentry Bridge into the gorge and they got a glimpse of Cavern Cascade.

The two RV Gypsies noticed a hole in the cliff to the right of the falls and learned that in the mid 1800s, water behind a dam passed through this hole (which is really a tunnel), then the water flowed down a wooden trough, and over the waterwheel of a flour mill in the Main Entrance.

Below: The two RV Gypsies looked back at the Entrance Tunnel where it met Sentry Bridge.

Below: Looking down into the gorge and the lower falls of Cavern Cascade.

Below is one of two waterfalls the two RV Gypsies walked behind. This is made possible by the wearing away of a thin layer of shale rock underneath a tougher layer of sandstone. The waterfall has eroded this narrow section of gorge and the deep pool below. First Karen Duquette photographed Lee Duquette as he was about to walk under Cavern Cascade. Then Lee went back down the trail and photographed Karen as she was about to walk under Cavern Cascade.

Below: Standing behind Cavern Cascade, Karen Duquette photographed Lee Duquette as he, once again, approached Cavern Cascade. Then Karen looked straight down Cavern Cascade to the pool below and took a photo of the amazing sight before her eyes.

Below: As the two RV Gypsies continued their walk, they paused and looked up to the top of Cavern Cascade, then looked back at the main gorge trail that led to Cavern Cascade. Karen Duquette marveled at what a wonderfully unique place they were fortunate enough to explore. She realizes how lucky they are to be able to travel as they do.

Below: After climbing up the stairs in the Spiral Tunnel, Karen Duquette turned around and took a photo, but only a small portion of the Spiral staircase could be seen in the photo.

Next, the two RV Gypsies groaned as they saw a lot of stairs leading to the suspension bridge, 85 feet above the creek.

During the great flood of 1935, the water rose to within five feet of the suspension bridge. Much of the stone masonry work in this park was built after this flood. In the 1800s, the dining room of the 3-story Glen Mountain House peered over the gorge next to the Suspension Bridge and Lily Pond.

Below: At the top of the stairs, Karen Duquette paused once again and looked down the stairs and into the gorge. Then when she stepped onto the suspension bridge, she looked down at the Lily Pond.

Looking over the edge at
"The Narrows"

Several cascades seen from The Narrows

Below: Glen Cathedral

Below: Karen Duquette entered the Glen Cathedral Tunnel

Lee Duquette paused to read some informative signs. Then Karen Duquette photographed the signs and they are posted below. The two RV Gypsies want this website to be more than just a bunch of photos. They like to include a touch of history, and Karen thinks that signs are a great way to do just that.

Below: The orange dot in the photo below shows that the two RV Gypsies were actually standing way below where the water level used to be 12,000 years ago. The sign also explained the formation of the gorge.

Below: Plunging more than 60 feet, Central Cascade is the highest waterfall in the gorge. Above this waterfall, the trail crosses the creek via a scenic stone bridge.

But to get there, the two RV Gypsies had to climb lots more stairs. - There are 832 stairs in total (one-way).

Below: Lee Duquette climbed up the stairs to the bridge and Karen Duquette spent some time taking photographs from the trail below. Then she took photos of Lee on the Central Cascade Bridge.

Below: Then Lee Duquette photographed Karen Duquette as she finally made her way up the stairs too.

Below: The Glen of Pools area that leads to Rainbow Falls.

Below: Lee Duquette stopped to read a sign before walking under Rainbow Falls.

Below: Karen Duquette walked under Rainbow Falls and then she reached out to feel the water.

Below: Karen Duquette felt the coolness of the water at Rainbow Falls.

Below: Stairs leading up to the bridge over Rainbow Falls.

Below: From the bridge above Rainbow Falls, Karen Duquette looked back at other people walking under Rainbow Falls. Then Karen photographed the view from the bridge, looking in the other direction.

Below: Beyond the bridge above Rainbow Falls, there were lots more stairs down to Spiral Gorge.

Below: The two RV Gypsies walked through Spiral Gorge, a dark and narrow passage with dripping springs and sculptured pools

Below: Lee Duquette on the stairs leading to thin Pluto Falls, named for the ancient Roman lord of the underworld.

Then, of course, it was time to go down some stairs and then the two RV Gypsies viewed a staircase of several unnamed waterfalls.

Below: Sculptured pools of water and beauty

Below: Lee Duquette noticed a large beehive and bees on the side of the cliff.

Below: After Mile Point Bridge, the scenery changed as the Gorge Trail took the two RV Gypsies low down into the Gorge and right beside a small stream. The water appeared to be still, but in reality, it was moving ever so slowly. The two RV Gypsies meet a group of people who were on a tour bus as they were walking the opposite way from the two RV Gypsies. The tour bus dropped them off at the Upper Entrance and they will walk one-way to the Main Entrance, where the tour bus will pick them up. However, once the two RV Gypsies reach the Upper Entrance, they have to walk the trail and do the 832 stairs all over again to get back to the Main Entrance and their truck where they parked in the Main Entrance parking lot. - Oh Joy - Oh Joy !!!

Below: The two RV Gypsies came to a sign about the railroad bridge at the upper end of Watkins Glen. Karen Duquette photographed parts of the sign that explained what they were actually looking at.

Below: A 1904 postcard showing the original Railroad bridge at the upper end of Watkins Glen - and the actual bridge as it appears today, September 18, 2013

The it was time for the two RV Gypsies to complete their 1-1/2 mile hike from the Main Entrance to the Upper Entrance by climbing the remaining staircase at Jacobs Ladder. Below, Lee Duquette was part way up the final staircase, and Karen Duquette told him to turn around so she could photograph him on the stairs.

Then as the two RV Gypsies rounded the corner, there were even more stairs. Karen was too tired to photograph the rest of the stairs. This completed a total of 832 stairs (One-Way) on this journey along the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park.

Below: After reaching the Upper Entrance, the two RV Gypsies sat on a wall and took a much needed rest. Then they photographed two signs that were at the Upper Gorge, and used the restrooms. The gift shop and snack bar were closed.

In season, there is a shuttle bus at the Upper Gorge that drives people back to the Main Entrance Parking Lot. But it was no longer prime season so the shuttle bus was not running and the two RV Gypsies had to hike their way back to the Main Entrance Parking Lot. They considered walking the roadway back, but thought there could be a possibility of getting lost if they tried that. So they thought it best to stay within the park. They were quite relieved when they eventually reached the Sentry Bridge again and were able to take a picture of their truck in the parking lot. But they agreed that this hike was worth the effort.