Visitors to Watkins Glen State Park will once again have full access to the park’s iconic Gorge Trail beginning Wednesday, as state officials prepare to open the newly constructed Sentry Bridge ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. at the park’s main entrance on North Franklin Street in Watkins Glen.
Among those expected to participate are Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser, Watkins Glen Mayor Peter Cherock, Schuyler County Legislature Chair Carl Blowers, Melissa Schroeder, Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce President Nigar Hale, members of the Schuyler County 4-H Club and other local officials.
Following brief remarks at the staircase leading to the Gorge Trail entrance tunnel, Moser will lead members of the Schuyler County 4-H Club, the public and media across the new bridge for its first official crossing.
Construction on the replacement bridge began in July 2025 after engineers determined the park’s original 126-year-old Sentry Bridge needed to be replaced because of unstable rock conditions.
The former bridge, built of concrete with a stone veneer, has been replaced with a lightweight stainless steel half-arch structure designed to complement the historic appearance of the original while incorporating modern engineering and materials.
State officials said the new bridge is designed to last well into the next century. Unlike its predecessor, the new span is anchored to the stronger rock on the north side of the gorge, providing improved long-term stability while preserving the park’s historic character.
The reopening restores full access to one of New York’s most popular hiking destinations just in time for one of the park’s busiest weekends of the year.
