New York’s weather is growing warmer and with the amount of rain the state has seen in recent weeks, it may be perfect timing for a waterfall hike.
While Niagara Falls is New York’s most famous waterfall, smaller and lesser known cascades throughout the state are worth a visit. Some are well known and others are located off the beaten path. Here’s a list of 13 waterfalls to seek out in New York:
Letchworth State Park
With 14,350 acres and roughly 17 miles that span Livingston and Wyoming counties, this popular state park is home to three major waterfalls. The Genesee River runs through a 550-foot-tall gorge that cuts through the park. The popular state park is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East” and features 66 miles of hiking trails. The popular mile-long Autism Nature Trail, nestled in the woods near the park’s Humphrey Nature Center, is also a huge hit with families and folks with sensory sensitivities.
Chittenango Falls State Park
Glacial sculpting of over 400 million-year-old bedrock has created a 167-foot waterfall inside this Madison County state park. Located in Cazenovia, you can view the falls from the top, traverse a winding trail into the gorge and view the falls from a footbridge and then return to the top by way of a small trail on the opposite side of the gorge.
Watkins Glen State Park
Dark and damp, a cavernous 1.5 mile-long trail leads hikers through a 400-foot-deep gorge along Glen Creek in Watkins Glen State Park. A walk along a stone pathway, through chiseled tunnels, spiraled steps and stone bridges transports visitors into the unmistakable landscape, a world of natural stone, flowing water and misty spray. The gorge follows the path of Glen Creek and features 832 stone steps. On the trail, you’ll walk under two waterfalls: Cavern Cascade and the iconic Rainbow Falls. The 778-acre park is located near the southern end of Seneca Lake, in Schuyler County.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Located in Tompkins County, Taughannock Falls State Park has the tallest free-standing waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains at 215 feet, which is easily the focal point of the park. That spot alone is a huge draw for tourists and locals. Nestled along Cayuga Lake near Ithaca, the small but mighty state park is known best for its famous cascade but also has eight miles of trails. You can also swim in the chilly waters of the longest Finger Lake or follow the creek bed through a 400-foot-deep gorge.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Located in Ulster County, the Minnewaska State Park Preserve is home to many waterfalls, including Awosting Falls, a 65-foot-tall cascade in the northern part of the park. The preserve features a variety of trail levels for hikers of all abilities, including the ever-popular “strenuous” 6.7-mile loop of Gertrude’s Nose, which includes clifftop trails and vertigo-inducing perches with spectacular views.
Kaaterskill Falls
Located in the Catskills in Greene County, Kaaterskill Falls drops in two tiers over 260 feet and includes a 1.4-mile round-trip hike. Located within Kaaterskill Wild Forest in the town of Hunter, the falls are within the Hudson River Valley. Swimming in not permitted in the water near the falls, and hikers should stick to the Department of Environmental Conservation-blazed trail as rocks that double as stairs in the area can become slippery when wet.
Grimes Glen Park
Ontario County’s newest addition to their park system, the 32-acre Grimes Glen Park in Naples, is known for its waterfalls. Here, where hikers can navigate a shallow (and often chilly) creek to two 60-foot-tall waterfalls. Yes, hikers may need to walk in the water so be sure to wear proper footwear. Grimes Glen is also known for being the source of the oldest fossilized tree in New York.
Chestnut Ridge Park
The Eternal Flame Falls Trail near Orchard Park in Erie County leads hikers 1.2 miles out and back to a 35-foot waterfall and a small flickering flame at Chestnut Ridge Park. The Eternal Flame tucked within the falls is a small natural gas spring that burns roughly 8 inches high. (Note: Bring a lighter in case wind has blown the flame out.)
Salmon River Falls
Located in Oswego County, 110-foot Salmon River Falls features several trails, including a 600-foot Gorge Trail that leads from the Falls Trail to the bottom of the gorge. The 1-mile-long Upper Falls Trail takes you from the Falls Trail to Dam Road along the north side of the river. And the River Bed Trail starts at the end of the Falls Trail and leads you to the riverbed upstream of the falls.
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Buttermilk Falls, located southwest of Ithaca in Tompkins County, is named for the foaming cascade formed by Buttermilk Creek as it flows toward Cayuga Lake. The upper park features a small lake, hiking trails through woodlands and along the gorge and rim, while the lower park has a natural swimming pool and nearby wetland area with a nature trail. The gorge and rim trail loop is the most popular and takes visitors through the gorge, past deep pools, sculpted rocks and numerous cascades. The trail includes many stone steps, which makes for strenuous effort for some visitors.
Mine Kill State Park
Mine Kill Falls in Schoharie County cascades 80 feet with a three-tiered drop and features overlook viewing platforms and the Long Path hiking trail, which brings you to the lower falls. The trail is considered relatively easy but is also steep in parts.
Tinker Falls
Fifty-foot Tinker Falls is located within the Labrador Hollow nature preserve in Cortland County and includes a short, accessible trail which follows along Tinker Falls Creek on the right. The accessible part of the trail ends a quarter-mile in with a partial view of the falls. The trail continues to the top of the cascade.
Robert H. Treman State Park
Located several miles west of Ithaca in Tompkins County, the 1,072-acre state park boasts nine miles of hiking trails and many waterfalls, including the 115-foot cascade – Lucifer Falls – in the upper park. The 2-mile-long Gorge Trail easily gets the most foot traffic and is a moderate-level trail has loads of stairs, but also hugs Enfield Creek. You can also swim at the base of Lucifer Falls in a natural pool with a diving board.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 13 stunning NY waterfalls to explore this summer: See the list
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
