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    Ithaca Falls

    4.7 (68 reviews)

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    Jada C.

    What a beautiful place. Ithaca Falls embraces serenity and calmness. I visited this place about 10 years ago. The beauty never faded. The waterfall melts all the tension away. Something about the water clears the anxiety and makes me feel present. It helps to clear my mind. People can bring their dogs to this waterfall. My dog enjoyed walking around the water. As she gets her little paws wet, she drinks a little bit of the water. Maisie likes walking on the gray rocks. I think she views it as a hike.

    Joe C.

    Gorgeous falls probably the easiest stop off in the area to check out the falls. Ample parking but be warned its lumpy gravel be careful not to bottom out. It's a short hike to the falls. The water was relatively low today which is nice cause we can get substantially closer. There several warnings about swimming and diving dangers. Not the best location for that but buttermilk has swimming.

    Ithaca Falls
    Shelby A.

    Ithaca falls was the start to a long day of state parks and adventure. It is a much smaller park with a small gravel lot which we drove right past at first. Once we parked it's a short bit steep downhill to the flat sidewalk that goes to the park. It's small with seating and a trail that runs down the river to the beautiful waterfall all the way at the end. Maybe a 10-15 minute walk tops. Easy ground there are a few rocky parts that are uneven but most of the ground is flat.

    Ithaca Falls
    Melody N.

    We came here right before the school dorms were opened. There were quite a few people touring and taking pictures, but it wasn't too long until we would be able to get a shot in. The falls were a short walk from the parking lot across the street(which was free)! The kids loved wading through the water nearby but we were careful not to go too close to the middle. There were several signs warning not to swim. The fall was quite stunning to see so close and the pictures really do not do it justice. Would highly recommend to visit and walk around.

    Andrea B.

    Short little walk to beautiful wide falls! There is free parking. Gorgeous, just like all the waterfalls in this area.

    Jessica P.

    Amazing waterfall and rich in history. Loved the sign about how Cornell founded it and the gun factory that used to be there. Great warning signs as well. You could walk right up to the falls. Great scenic spot.

    Ithaca waterfalls
    Samantha R.

    Beautiful place to explore and feel the breeze of the waterfalls. A lot of tourists there.

    Ithaca falls
    Erin T.

    Such a chill place in the middle of Ithaca. It's an easy walk to the waterfall from the parking lot. (Free parking.) Cute little neighborhood across the street to walk around in.

    Hunter S.

    Ithaca Falls (I'm referring to the town and large waterfall proper) is very quirky and pretty, but I enjoyed Robert H. Treman Park (also further out in Ithaca) better. This place, full of nature, Cornell University, little shops and restaurants, is definitely worth a visit, but I think the main falls is overrated. The main trail going to the base of the falls wasn't even open when I went. There is supposed to be a mural project, which I plan to visit later. Definitely a college town as well!

    Amanda K.

    Ithaca falls is a beautiful and fairly easily accessible waterfall to get to. There are a good bit of rocks to navigate your way through but it wasn't too challenging. There is a small parking area a short walk away that holds about 20 cars. We walked down and then over to the falls. We spent about 10-15 minutes here. It's a nice place for a quick photo but not a place for hiking. Dogs welcome and no swimming allowed!

    Win C.

    Soooo pretty. I had no idea Ithaca had so many falls and this was one of my favorites because it's sooo discrete. We parked our car nearby and it took us 5-10 minute walk to get to the falls. We literally walked up to the heart of the waterfall and barely anyone was there at 11am.

    Bill T.

    These falls are beautiful. Although you can see them from the street (bridge) it's worth a five minute walk to the rocks below the waterfall. So amazing that this beautiful scenery is in the heart of a city. It's a little rocky towards the falls but a fairly easy walk over all. Great spot for a picture with your sweetheart!

    Taylor O.

    On our last day of our BabyMoon, we had some time to kill. One of Yelp's top suggestions was Ithaca Falls. It is stuck right in the center of the city, which we did not expect. There are a couple parking options then you walk to the falls off a small trail. Not bad at all. There was a lot of space to sit with your friends or family. It could even be a great spot to do a picnic lunch. The falls were in full action and was a peaceful view. It was definitely a great time killer!

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    2 years ago

    Stunning view with a short walk to access. The falls are located inside of a city park that offers a small parking area. Lovely waterfall!

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    3 years ago

    Easy access and a very very short walk to see the beauty of the falls. Perfect if you need a low energy but high reward walk.

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    You can find this waterfall at a small recreational area at the intersection of Lake and Falls Streets.

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    Buttermilk Falls State Park

    Buttermilk Falls State Park

    4.5
    (132 reviews)
    4.5 km

    Great short walk along the buttermilk falls. There are quite a number of stairs involved as well as…read morerelatively steep paths. Overall the hike should be like an hour from lower falls to upper falls (taking photos and enjoying the view along the way), and half hour on the way back if walking straight no side tracking. You'll know you're at the end of you see the massive stone bridge. Restrooms available at lower falls and upper falls entrances. Ten dollar admission for the day, same ticket can be used for other state parks in the area

    My husband and I visited Buttermilk Falls State Park last week, when we were in the Finger Lakes…read morefor the Fourth of July. We arrived in the afternoon, paid the vehicle entry fee, and parked in the parking lot. After taking a look at the falls, which has a swimming area (open for swimming on summer weekends - check their website), and using the bathrooms by the falls, we started up the Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail. The trail ascends about 600 feet from Buttermilk Falls, following Buttermilk Creek past pools, rocks, and smaller waterfalls. Around Pinnacle Rock (a 42-foot rock along the creek), you can turn back and head back down the same trail or cross the bridge over the creek and take the Rim Trail back to the falls/parking area. It was almost 100 degrees when we visited, so we opted to take the Gorge Trail back down as it appeared more shaded than the Rim Trail, which was getting a lot of afternoon sun. The trail was really beautiful and a great start for our holiday weekend in the Finger Lakes. I'd certainly love to return, hopefully next time wearing a swim suit so I can take dip in the pool at the base of the falls after a hike!

    Photos
    Buttermilk Falls State Park
    First test spot on the walls
    First test spot on the walls
    The bridge to cross the falls on the top

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    The bridge to cross the falls on the top
    Taughannock Falls State Park

    Taughannock Falls State Park

    4.6
    (165 reviews)
    13.5 km

    [Tuh-Gan-Ick] Falls state park is one the of most beautiful state park in NY. It has spectacular…read morenatural attractions of waterfalls, and a lake front on the other side of the road The Gorge Trail to the waterfall is very easy to access. I visited in the winter to see the falls frozen over, and the park rangers had done an excellent job keeping the trail well maintained. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the waterfall, and there's very little elevation change along the way. North Rim trail entrance was close during winter due to ice and snow. But you can skip the dangerous part of the trail by parking at the Taughannock Falls overlook point and start hiking from there. Then you will reach the upper falls. Parking is only $10. lot is small so warmer weather probably will fill up pretty quickly.

    I visited here in the winter to see the falls frozen over, and it was such a cool experience! I…read morehadn't seen a frozen waterfall before, so it was really special to experience. I thought it was a fairly easy 1 mile hike out to the falls (though my coworker vehemently disagrees that 1 mile and easy belong in the same sentence - sorry Miss Sheila!), and there were some falcons swooping around. There is a fee to park, but were still spots remaining when we arrived. We should have received discounted parking with a Military ID, but the booth was unmanned that day, so we paid anyway. There is a restroom facility at the parking lot, and it wasn't bad. I actually think it was heated, so that was nice. I'd be interested in seeing the falls and hiking the upper trail when the weather is better!

    Photos
    Cayuga lake
    Cayuga lake
    Taughannock Falls State Park
    Taughannock Falls State Park

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    Watkins Glen State Park

    Watkins Glen State Park

    4.7
    (498 reviews)
    32.4 km

    Wow. You know when you've had a place on your list to visit for a while and then you start to…read morewonder if you've built it up too much? If it can't possibly live up to your expectations after years of wanting to visit? That was not my experience at Watkins Glen State Park. I'd wanted to visit for years and finally made it about a week ago when I spent the Fourth of July in the Finger Lakes. It was everything I'd heard about it, everything I hoped it would be. Watkins Glen State Park has four trails, but the reason you're there (at least on a first visit) is the Gorge Trail. It's a paved trail along/in the Glen Creek gorge. I've only hiked one other gorge that felt like you walk in and through and along water in this way. It was stunning. Bridges, lookouts, waterfalls, rock cliffs... I was constantly stunned by the beauty of this trail. I took about a million pictures. This park and this trail are worth planning a trip around. And being anywhere near the Finger Lakes and not visiting this park would be a real shame. It's that incredible. So here are some details that you need to know now that I've totally convinced you of the need to visit. The Gorge Trail is not a loop. At one end of the trail is the Main Entrance, and at the other end of the trail is the Upper Entrance. Both entrances have parking. The park offers a shuttle that takes you from one entrance to another for $6, so you have a lot of options. (FYI: The maps says this shuttle service is available July-August, so if you want to use this service, make sure to visit in those summer months.) You can hike just the Gorge Trail (either way) and then take the shuttle back to the entrance where you parked. Or you can hike the Gorge Trail (either way) and then hike back to where you parked (repeating the Gorge Trail or hiking back on the North Rim Trail). You can do the Gorge Trail in either direction; the views are great either way. We parked and started at the Upper Entrance, which I may prefer as the Upper Entrance is a few minutes outside town, so I think the parking may not get as full as early in the day. We hiked the Gorge Trail from the Upper Entrance to the Main Entrance and then hiked back to the start on the North Rim Trail. I'd do this way again. The best advice I can give is to start as early as you want/can. We arrived at the parking around 7:45am on a Friday morning (it was the Fourth of July weekend so we worried about holiday and weekend crowds), and it wasn't too crowded when we started. That meant a less crowded Gorge Trail, better pictures, and cooler temps. When we were making our way back just an hour or so later, the trail was much more crowded. I also recommend you wear hiking boots, water shoes, or some other waterproof shoes, because you will be walking through wet areas, mud, etc. I saw some girls dressed up for cute photos under waterfalls; they looked adorable, but I was trudging around in the mud in my hiking boots and sweating sunscreen. Neither trail was very difficult, and I think most people can and should do at least the Gorge Trail. (The Upper Rim Trail is a little bit of a bummer after the gorgeous views on the Gorge Trail, but I appreciated that there was a way to hike back to our car without returning on the Gorge Trail, because then it would have been so crowded!) Watkins Glen State Park was one of the highlights of our four or so days in the Finger Lakes. It's really stunning. I look forward to hiking the Gorge Trail again the future.

    Beautiful campground and area. Made reservations in advance for a cabin. It is very rustic. The…read morecabins do not have electric or water. They have bunk beds with very thin cushions. Bring your own sleeping bag, blankets, sheets, pillows, lantern, and water. There is a small shelf, no other shelves. Or table inside the cabin. There is a picnic table in the concrete slab outside the cabin. One fire ring, bring your own grill. The office closes early. We got to the campsite after 7pm and there was no way to check in and get the key. We had to wait until the next day. They sell ice and firewood at the office. Bring cash. You out the cash in the box grab the key go out and unlock the shed for wood. Same for ice but out of the cooler. The staff seemed friendly, bathrooms were clean, sites were tidy. You can hike to the gorge from the campground very well marked. They have a pool, however it was not open when I went so I cannot review that. Quick ride into town where there are restaurants, breweries, more falls, the lake, and much more.

    Photos
    Ode to the Indians who made this area home long before the European settlers came here.
    Ode to the Indians who made this area home long before the European settlers came here.
    Tiny Toads... maybe the size of Quarter
    Tiny Toads... maybe the size of Quarter
    Little Salamander trying to catch some rays

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    Little Salamander trying to catch some rays

    Ithaca Falls - hiking - Updated July 2026

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