Exploring the Finger Lakes, Watkins Glenn and Letchworth State Parks

My wife and I made our very first New York RV trip to the beautiful Finger Lakes Region to celebrate our 24th wedding aniversary. We stayed at Watkins Glen State Park in site 105 on the Mohawk loop for 3 nights. This awesome campground is located at the Southern end of Senaca Lake.
In this video we showcase the gorge walk through the state park, give you a campground drive tour, take a drive around Senaca Lake, and finally make an improptu visit to Letchworth State Park on our way home, which really surprised us with its beauty.
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0:00-0:34 Intro
0:34-3:30 Arrive at Watkins Glen State Park and set up RV
3:30-6:50 Trail run around the gorge
6:50-7:15 Cookin over the fire
7:15-7:47 Day 2 at camp
7:47-13:45 The Gorge walk at Watkins Glen
13:45-16:12 Drive around Senaca Lake, visting Geneva, Senaca Falls, Nickels BBQ
16:12-23:24 Watkins Glen State Park Campground tour/review
23:24-25:03 Finger Lakes Boating Museum
25:03-25:39 Leaving Watkins Glen heading to Letchworth SP
25:39-30:54 Letchworth State Park highlights
30:54-31:51 Conclusion/outro

[@freddonelson5505]

Watkins Glen and Letchworth .... two wonderful places in the east! Glad you got to experience them!!

[@jasonwish-]

Can't believe I didn't know about these places sooner!

[@terryrodbourn2793]

the best time is the early spring just after the snow melt! you'll really see water over the falls and Spring flowers too!

[@jasonwish-]

@@terryrodbourn2793 I will certainly be going back again in the future to see that!

[@Snarkapotamus]

Love the area. Born and raised just south of there (Elmira/Corning). Walked the 800-steps up and down at the Glen a few years ago...

[@jasonwish-]

Such a beautiful area! Those steps are quite the workout!

[@joyforeveryoung]

Greetings from CT. Absolutely excellent video!!! Thank you for sharing.

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you so much glad you enjoyed the video!

[@nalonabrato8900]

I haven’t been there since I was fifteen. I was going to boarding school in Union Springs at the time. I lived in Upstate NY for most of my childhood, ages 8-18, after moving from Michigan) Oneida (one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy) is pronounced Oh-nigh-duh. I still have friends up there I keep in touch with. Thank you for this video. It brought back so many memories.

[@jasonwish-]

Glad it brought back some good memories. We really enjoyed our drive through New York and hope to go back soon to see some more, I especially want to show my wife the Adironacks. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@teresap.5991]

You guys should go to Utah sometime and see it!!! Breathtaking 😮. 20 years ago my husband and I took a trip out west and saw 12 national parks. It is the best memory in my whole life ❣️. I'll never forget it.

[@jasonwish-]

We will definitely make it out there eventually. We’re been to Yosemite on a family vacation about 10 years ago but haven’t been out west much due to my occupation of vegetable farming so It’s hard to get away from the farm March through October, but we’ll be empty nesters next year so partial retirement plans are not far off!

[@teresap.5991]

I just commented in your five State Park camping in Pennsylvania video about being from Southwest pennsylvania. My husband and I love the finger lakes region and we have vacationed up there 4 times now. Watkins Glen is one of the coolest places to see anywhere in this country. Im almost 67 now and we went last Sept again. We took the shuttle to the top and walked down. I have a very bad back and almost didn't make it. But the beauty makes it so worth it. I have a pic of it I took hanging in my hallway.❤ We also vacationed up at whiteface mountains in Northern New York and why is it gorgeous up there too. Very close to lake placid. We went in the fall and the trees were the most beautiful colors I've ever seen.

[@jasonwish-]

Great comment! We loved Watkins Glen and the Finger Lakes! I’ve been to Lake Placid and the Adirondacks High Peak Wilderness backpacking and can’t wait to take my wife there. White face Mnts are on our list too! Thanks!

[@suespony]

Nice video, we actually live on one of the fingerlakes, love both Letchworth and Watkins, but in the summer, Watkins is so busy we tend to go to Letchworth instead. (Least once a month) Great place to live, Winters are to long, but can't beat the summers.

[@jasonwish-]

An absolutely beautiful place and I can’t wait to come back again someday. This fall we’re hoping to tour through the New England states for about 2 1/2 weeks, really looking forward to that! Thanks!

[@10lizal]

If you had been able to go to the It’s a wonderful life museum it would have explained the towns connection to the movie. Frank Capra had relatives in the area and when he was writing the story he used information he had received from locals when visiting the town. A gentleman had jumped by off of that bridge to save the life of another, there was a banker that built small homes for veterans returning from the war and a home that closely resembles the house George bought and remodeled in the movie.

[@jasonwish-]

Great information, thank you!

[@talldude5841]

I was there along time ago, and after watching your outstanding video I need to go back again. Thanks for showing all the wonderful places to us. From Wooster Ohio here.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! We will certainly be back to explore more of the finger Lakes area in the future. We have some very nice places in Ohio but still doesn’t compare to Watkins Glen!

[@prewartomatoes]

Come back, we’d love to have you here!

[@jamesosborne5950]

Lots of beautiful memories for you two . Happy anniversary

[@jasonwish-]

It was such an awesome trip and we will defintiley be back for more in the future! I wish I had known about the Finger Lakes sooner! Thanks James!

[@joedrumsta3317]

Awesome! We are planning a camping trip to the Glen and this video was perfect and informative! Cant wait to check out the other videos.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Joe! I miss that place, it was awesome!

[@nicolenew1708]

SUPER COOL

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks!

[@MissRailfan]

Born and raised in Elmira not far from WGSP or Ithaca. LOVE Wgsp and Letchworth, i tell anyone i meet to go to those two parks. NEVER TRESSPASS on the RR tracks. Ranger was WrOnG. Seneca falls is the top of Cayuga Lake. PA Grand Canyon isnt the grand canyon of the east, Letchworth is. Its advertised at the Grand Canyon of the east and its one of a kind. Its 900 feet deep, a river that flows north, not many rivers flow north in the world. you can see hot air ballons that letchworth few times a year. the Finger Lakes Trail 7 is along the old canal later rr. I miss the old bridge, its was a site to see. trains could only go 10mph due to the weight and safety. A lot of the cabins, buildings and pavilions were built during the great depression, CCC camps at many of them.

[@jasonwish-]

great info, thanks!

[@JourneyontheTrail]

Great video bud!! Definitely need to get the family up there. That boat museum looked really cool to. My truck looks almost identical to yours. I’ve got the 3.5 eco boost and just got done towing about 7500lb camper through the mountains of West Virginia. Got about what you did…9mpg give or take. Just glad I’ve got the 36 gallon tank to avoid stopping much with how quick it’s drinking up that fuel lol. Thanks as always for sharing!

[@jasonwish-]

I love my 36 gal tank too! Afer talking to ya about the higher octane fuel it makes me want to test it out now. Hopefully we can get a trip in together this fall sometime.

[@joelcarminati7822]

Nice area. Thanks for video Jason.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Joel, maybe next time we’ll go a little further, all the way up to your neck of the woods!

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Great video, we're hoping to get up there later this year. Great tip about looking for your campground on Google. Thanks for sharing.

[@jasonwish-]

Glad it was helpful!

[@backpackingadventures4813]

Sweet camp site! I haven’t been car camping in a long time and I’m actually itching to do it. I’ll add it to my list for this fall. I love those camp chairs you were sporting. They looked insanely comfortable! The park seems like one of the most beautiful state parks I’ve seen. Amazing waterfalls and gorges. The boat muse was really cool. Great video Jason!

[@jasonwish-]

Since my wife is not really into backpacking we have to either car camp or RV camp...she will hike with me but there better be a bed and shower at the other end! Thanks for watching Dan!

[@rosesmith6208]

@@jasonwish- my hubby feels the saem but I kind of too, tho I dont mind trying hammock camping

[@garryramsey1949]

Great job Jason

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Garry!

[@dougandashley]

Great video! 7 or 8 miles per gallon. That really stings with the current gas prices. We want to buy a truck & RV, but used truck prices seem really high right now.

[@jasonwish-]

I was told recently that premium octane fuel would increase that effeciency quite a bit but would still hit the pocket book pretty hard for sure! Diesel is the way to go if you can afford the initial cost up front especially if you will be pulling a load quite often, otherwise it probably makes more sense to just go gas. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@JoshEbersole]

Looked like a relaxing place Jason.

[@jasonwish-]

Such a beautiful area, I can't believe I've never been here before! Definitely going back! One thing I didn't mention is that were hundreds of wineries and craft breweries in the Finger Lakes area...too many to choose from!

[@DMSAdventures]

Too much to comment on!! Rugged Mountain Mister thought you were alone and I told him your wife was with you.... then he kept asking the rest of the video where she was despite me explaining that she didn't want to be on camera. Apparently it really bothered him haha! That first gorge was unbelievable! A visit closer to winter may thin the crowds out a bit. i bet that would be a real winter wonderland as well. Hahaha I love the anti-climactic It's A Wonderful Life Bridge! I was like.. oh thats gonna be cool! (We love the movie) But yup... it DID resemble the bridge. Was it difficult to get the drone permit? Or did you even look into it? I enjoyed the camper set up and take down sequences actually... Something different! Fun episode to watch!

[@jasonwish-]

Could be a little trecherous in the winter but I bet it's beautiful. Yep, she was there the entire time with me, lol. I never looked into getting a permit but it would have sure been cool to fly the drone over some of those areas, thanks Mark and RMM!

[@justint.kennerly5780]

Is it possible the great flood near Seneca lake was caused by the building of a navy base

[@tomcop668]

The first falls you showed at Letchworth around the 28:20 mark is the Middle Falls and the rock cropping in the middle of it is the famous "face in the falls." You can see it pretty well in your video. There are a few made up legends associated with it. Too bad you didn't show the lower falls also and a great shot would've been from Inspiration point where you can see all 3 falls at once. I enjoyed your video.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! I'm sure we'll be back again someday!

[@ThiagoCrossFit]

Hello, what is the best way to get to the park? By bus, train or excursion

[@jasonwish-]

I guess it depends on where you’re staying. if you’re just driving straight there, there’s plenty of parking lots at the entrance and if you’re staying within the small town it’s within walking distance for the most part. If you’re staying in the campground or at the lodge, there are trails that lead right to it.

[@davidnoel1750]

Beautiful, but please buckle up that seat belt, safety first!

[@carolm8003]

What month were you there?

[@jasonwish-]

June 20

[@biglakepress5788]

Been there done that when I was 16... grew up in Buffalo and Binghamton, that was the place to go. Genesee river as well. Miss those days big time. Upstate NY is a treasure. Everything south of the Hudson entering the NYC area is garbage! Nuff said.

[@jasonwish-]

It was a great trip, looking forward to visiting more places in New York...I will check out the Genesee River area. Any other must see areas we should look into? I've backpacked in the Adironacks but need to take my wife there still. Are the Catskills worth checking out?

[@jasonwish-]

I just now realized that the Genesee river is what flows through Letchworth SP, that place was awesome.

[@biglakepress5788]

Susquehanna and Chenango rivers in the southern teir of NY and northern PA are awesome. Chohacton river as well. Allegany reservoir south of Buffalo 👍

[@anninwhack1998]

@@jasonwish- Mongaup pond is really beautiful and adjacent to vigorous day or overnight hikes in the big Indian wilderness If you’re bringing your camper w family no hookups. There’s also Little Pond w same. These are on the bottom of the Catskills park so likely faster to get to if you’re driving over. But there’s a lot there that’s very pretty and challenging if you’re not bringing the camper.

[@rosesmith6208]

was wondering when you would be back up again, hows the tomatoes growing? that area is very beautiful, I live in ohio too and I think ohio is just as beautiful except for the canyon sections tho they are very pretty. that campground seemed alright but I hate being crammed into a park like sardines, kind of ruinsthe back to nature feel and hearing the nature sounds not a bunchof noise of people I can get that staying home. they take a good idea of camping and then ruin it by making it into a 'city'. might as well pitch my tent in m y backyard there is more space between me and my neighbors than that campground.

[@jasonwish-]

Having a pretty good tomato season but melons and corn are the big thing currently. Yeah, I hate overcrowded camping as well, we were using the Hipcamp app and had planned on staying at a dispersed/primitive site on our way there and on our way home but ended up staying at a wallmart on the way there cause we missed our exit and on the way home we happen to stumble across Letchworth SP, and glad we did!

[@stephenkearney9111]

The "six nations" of the native american Iroquois.

[@jasonwish-]

yes, pretty cool layout of the campground, I like all the separate loops.

[@robertwilliams2762]

I’m 59 YO and still it amazes me what people call camping. Dragging along their houses burning gas and on top of that electric? I think just driving to a site and putting up a tent is glamping.

[@jasonwish-]

This is just the way my wife enjoys "camping" and when she enjoys something I normally do as well. But trust me I know what "real camping" is....I've backpacked thousands of miles and cowboy camped under the stars in 8 different states and even hold a few speed records called "fastest known times" where you backpack and camp your way thru a trail as fast as possible with 50-60 mile days with nothing but what you can carry on your back, so be careful when you make an assumption that someone doesn't know what camping is.

[@rone7927]

I didn't see or hear any evidence of "we"

[@jasonwish-]

My wife made me agree not to include her in my videos if they get put on KZbin, but trust me she is there...I wouldn’t go RVing without my better half with me 😁