If you are interested in checking out a slightly hidden, but absolutely gorgeous waterfall near Watkins Glen, New York, I highly recommend a visit to the Templar Falls (also known as Twin Falls.) If you are traveling from Watkins Glen, it is less then a ten minute drive. There is not an admission fee, which is wonderful if you are visiting the Finger Lake region.

When you are driving to the waterfall from Watkins Glen, you will start on Route 14 to Bath Street (you will turn left on Bath Street.) Bath Street will become County Line Road, and you will continue it for two and a half miles to Van Zandt Hollow Road. After that, you will cross a creek and the merge onto Templar Road. You will know you are close to the waterfall once you see the Finger Lakes Trail sign, and the falls are on the right. When you park, you will be on the side of the road, so be careful getting out of you car! It was not super busy when we went, but it is always a good idea to be safe.

We definitely heard the waterfall before we saw it, and it is not too far off from the road. There was a slight path to get down to the area, so just be careful hiking it. I did not think it was extremely steep, however, there is a hill there.

I feel like the Templar Falls area definitely has a hidden forest whimsical feel. It is a very quiet and peaceful, and we were the only people there at the time that we checked it out. This is one of those stops where you can relax a bit, and just take in the beautiful nature views around you.

I think it is pretty neat that these falls are also connected in a way to the Watkins Glen State Park. The same Glen Creek flows through both of them. Eventually the creek continues into the beautiful Seneca Lake, which is the largest of all the Finger Lakes.

It is really important that as we visit these more remote nature areas, we leave it the way we found it, or even better. If you take snacks with you, make sure that you are not leaving anything behind. It is really is up to us as a community to keep these special places clean and healthy for all of the amazing creatures that reside there. I love sharing these not as well known spots, and we have to work together as a team to ensure that they are around for many future generations. In addition to the beauty these regions have,  we do have to care for and protect them.

I highly recommend visiting the Templar Falls, and you really are transported into a relaxing nature area when you are there. Let me know in the comments if you have ever traveled here as well, and what you thought of it! I hope that 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/492ltPv

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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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