Cavern Cascade is a 52-foot waterfall on Glen Creek in Watkins Glen State Park, Schuyler County, New York, where the Gorge Trail passes behind the falls and into the Spiral Tunnel.
The falls
The creek drops in a single plunge over an overhang, runoff-fed, with the trail cut behind the curtain of water on its way into the Spiral Tunnel's winding staircase. A survey posted to the World Waterfall Database, done in person, puts the height at 52 feet.
Getting there
The main entrance is at 1009 North Franklin Street in Watkins Glen, and the park is open during daylight hours. A $10 vehicle entrance fee applies during the seasonal collection period; the Empire Pass is accepted. From the entrance it is about a quarter mile one way to the cascade, a much shorter walk than the full 1.5-mile Gorge Trail that runs the length of the park. The gorge reopened for the season on May 9, 2026, and the park's Sentry Bridge reopened on July 1, 2026, restoring full access to the Gorge and Southern Rim trails. A seasonal shuttle runs weekends from September 8 through late October, at $6 one way.
When to go
Flow is perennial, though it drops in summer and early autumn. The Gorge Trail typically closes for the season around mid-October, though the exact 2026 closing date was not available.
On site
Pets are not allowed on the Gorge Trail, and swimming or entering the gorge stream is prohibited; visitors are asked to stay on designated trails. The park's own trail map warns of fatal accidents and seasonal rockfall in the gorge.
Nearby
Entrance Cascade is about 0.1 mile away, Central Cascade about 0.3 mile, and Rainbow Falls about 0.4 mile.
Distances are straight-line.