When we traveled up to Watkins Glen, New York, we were amazed at the wealth of beautiful waterfalls that were in the area. A really alluring roadside waterfall that we happened to encounter was Hector Falls. Hector Falls is located on Route 414 on the east side of the Seneca Lake. If you are in Watkins Glen, it is 3.3 miles (about 5.3 km) north, and as you drive up, you will pretty much hug Seneca Lake. At times you will be able to see the lake from the road. When you cross a bridge, you will see Hector Falls to your right.

I must give you a safety precaution if you want to see this waterfall, because it does reside on a major highway in the area. Please be careful if you are slowing down, or walking up to it. It is one of the main travel ways, and there are many restaurants and shops on this road in addition to the beautiful waterfall, so there are always people driving around, and sometimes vehicles can come up pretty fast. (I would use your car blinkers, even if you are slowing down just a little.) We did notice that there were large gravel areas along the area as you continue north that you can stop your car at, but please use caution. I would not take photos here at night, and would recommend only if it is bright and sunny outside.

Similar to many other waterfalls in the Finger Lake region, Hector Falls is made out of limestone and shale rock. You will only see the top portion of it from the bridge. This is due to the fact that the lower areas of it are close to the Seneca Lake on private property. It is possible to see more of the formation from on the lake itself if you decide to rent a boat or do a boat tour on the water.

When we drove up to Watkins Glen, it was in the middle of October, and the temperatures did fluctuate a bit. Typically, in the Northeastern region of the United States, autumn can be quite chilly. On sunny days, it may be possible for it be a nice 60 degrees (about 15.5 Celsius), but at night time it in not uncommon for temperatures to drop below freezing. You will want to be prepared for this before you make a trip to the area.

Personally, we packed warm long shirts, jackets, long pants, wool socks, hats, and of course hiking boots. The days will range from sunny, rainy, or even snowy towards the later part of autumn. Luckily, when we went, it was a little chilly, but we had pretty temperate weather conditions.

I highly recommend checking out the gorgeous Hector Falls, but please, make sure that you are taking safety measures when you do see it. The Finger Lake region of New York is the perfect place to visit if you want to enjoy some of the most spectacular nature settings, and is such a great spot to check out. Let me know in the comments if you have ever traveled here as well, and what you thought of it. I hope you are having a wonderful day, and remember to click the like and subscribe button!

If you are planning a trip to the New York area, and are interested in hiking or viewing spectacular waterfalls, a book that I would highly recommend and also own myself is “Hiking Waterfalls New York.” This literature reviews a variety of hikes, from the famous Niagara Falls, to even more less known hikes, but spots that you will not want to miss! At the beginning of the book, I really like that the author categorized the trails from her favorites, best waterfalls for fall foliage, best gorge hikes, roadside waterfalls, best historical falls, and even waterfalls that may draw in more crowds versus less crowded waterfalls. There is also a very nice map that lays out where the locations of them are, and that can be an amazing tool when you are planning your trip. This is great so that you know how far of a distance you can expect to travel from where you are lodging, and you can really make the most out of your time and itinerary. With each hike and waterfall listed there is a full color photo, trail distance, difficulty, and even information about the actual surface that the trail is made out of in addition to so much more!

For more information regarding this book, check out the Amazon Affiliate link below.

https://amzn.to/4cskzP2

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NortheastAllie

For generations, my family has lived in the Philadelphia area, and my writing reflects these influences. This blog explores perspectives on life, encouragement, travel, health, and local living.

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