Fillmore Glen State Park New York, Hiking, Trails, Pictures, Movies and Maps

Water has shaped the natural landscape of the park. During the past million yhears, water in the form of giant mounds of ice, or glaciers, covered New york State several times, dramatically transforming the land in its path. In this region, the most recent glacier moved through shallow river valleys leaving in its place deep, steep-sided throughs. When the glacier receded north about 10,000 years ago, water filled these new troughs, creating the 11 Finger Lakes which include Cayuga Lake. Since them, water in the form of Dry Creek has poured down the glacially-steepened hillside, cutting away its soft sedimentary rock. This on-going process has formed the park's gorge and spectacular waterfalls.

The "Cowsheds" is a huge recess in the cliff next to Lower Falls near the beginning of the glen. There, weak shale has weathered away under a ledge of limestone, It is said that cattle would come up here to excape the summer heat in the days before the State Park.

About a mile up the trail in the glen, the gorge opens up into a rugged area, where store have been eroded in rectangular chunks. You can look up and see the Pinnacle, where a section of the cliff is beginning to separate.

Fillmore Glen is especilly rich in plant life, This varied and abundant flora inspired Dr. Charles Atwood, a local physician and avid amateur botanist, to work hard for the establishment of the public park in the 1920's.

The trails were opened at a ceremony in 1921. In 1925, the 39 acre site was transferred to the State to become Fillmore Glen State Park. The park has grown to 941 acres.

For more information about the Finger Lakes New York State Parks go to Finger Lakes State Parks.

The Finger Lakes State Parks of New York are the most dazzling and mesmerizing series of waterfall bonanzas that I've ever Hiked. I wondered, how could awesome natural beauty like this have been created. Once again the answer came with a little basic Geology. The many waterfalls are left over from the last ice age. Mother Nature sculptured out her master pieces using time, cold weather,heavy ice, water and gravity. I wish I could have been around all those years to witness it.