Discover Catharine Valley

Hidden away in the valley at the end of Seneca Lake, the Catherine Valley Trail is a secret too good to keep silent about.

On a recent family bike ride, this reporter was delighted to discover the beauty of Catharine Valley, just outside of Watkins Glen.
The trail begins off a quiet dead end in the little village of Millport, and continues into the town of Montour. New York State Parks describes it as follows,

"This year round recreation trail provides visitors the opportunity to experience the scenic beauty and historic charm of the glacially-carved valley south of Seneca Lake. Following abandoned railroad and canal towpath corridors, the trail passes through a variety of wildlife habitats. The compact stone-dust trail surface accommodates walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Currently six miles of the trail is available for use. When construction is complete the trail will be twelve miles long and extending from the Village of Watkins Glen to Horseheads."

I found the trails to indeed be good quality for walking and biking, and I loved the woods and wildflowers along the way. Eventually the trail led us to Montour, a town full of history and charm.

Montour Falls has had four names during its lifetime. Initially, it was called Queanettquaga by the Indians, then Catharine’s Town by early visitors to the region, Havana when it was settled in 1788 by non-Native American settlers, and Montour Falls beginning in 1890. One of the main tourist attractions of Montour Falls is the 165-foot Chequagua Falls, which can be viewed from the foot of Main Street.

The Greek Revival Village Hall, with its lighted dome and round brick pillars, is the old Havana Court House from the time when Havana was the county seat of Schuyler County. The New York State Academy of Fire Science, built in 1859 as the "People’s College", trains the firemen of New York State.

Queen Catharine Montour, for whom Catharine’s Town and Montour Falls were named, was a descendant of Madame Montour. She was adopted by Frontenac, the French Governor of Canada and married an Oneida Chief. Her log palace at Catharine’s Town was burned during the Revolutionary War.

Montour Falls was an important hub in its early years. In addition to being the county seat, it was the head of navigation on the Seneca Lake Inlet when the Chemung Canal was built in 1827. The Chemung Canal connected Seneca Lake with the Chemung River and, ultimately, the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers.

Excerpt from Persons, Places and Things In the Finger Lakes Region by Emerson Klee

I was fascinated to read on the historic plaque by the Falls that
Louse Philippe I, future king of France, visited this spot when he was in the stated in the late 1700's and sketched the falls. His sketch is now in the Louvre.

The Falls were breathtaking, and I enjoyed the history surrounding us as we explored this lovely destination in our own backyard. I hope you, too, can visit this beautiful spot. For more information, visit New York State Parks :: Catharine Valley.

-the Backyard Tourist