After briefly stopping at the [free] overlook to get some photos, we decided it would be nice to do…read morethe walk to the falls too, so we chose the Gorge Trail. It was 1 mile each way (from the parking lot to near the base of the falls). The trail was relatively flat and shaded for parts of it (but not all). There were a few benches along the way to take breaks, and water at the beginning of the trail to fill up your water bottle. It costs $10/car to get into the state park but you can use that ticket to get into other state parks on the same day without paying again, which would be great to visit nearby Buttermilk Falls and other parks.

I visited Taughannock Falls State Park about a week ago when my husband and I were in the Finger…read moreLakes for the 4th of July, and I'm glad we included it in our itinerary for our trip. The highlight of the park - and its namesake - is Taughannock Falls, a 215-foot plunge waterfall. That's what we were there to see, but let me explain more about the park. The park crosses Taughannock Boulevard. On one side of the road, is the park of the park with lots of amenities: the marina, boat launches, a beach, a concession stand, bathrooms, a playground, and more. We were there on the morning of the Fourth of July, so lots of families were setting up for a fun day for the holiday: picnics, beach, boat day, etc. On the other side of Taughannock Boulevard is the waterfall and several trails. There is one parking lot by the trails, which was already full when arrived around 9am on Saturday, which was the Fourth of July, but we parked near the entrance on the other side of the park and walked over to the trail. There is signage requiring cars on Taughannock Boulevard to stop for pedestrians; it felt safe to cross. We took a little walk around the side of the park with the amenities, but we were there for the falls. We walked along the Gorge Trail - a .95 mile trail that is very flat. While not paved, it was a flat, wide dirt path, making it much more of a walk than a hike. Compared to other parks with falls in the area, it really doesn't feel like you're *in* a gorge, but you do walk along Taughannock Creek. But it's not quite as beautiful of a trail as some others in the area. But we were for the waterfall, which is incredible. It's worth a sweaty walk (it was a hot, hot day) to get to. We took a million pictures, watched the hawks flying over the falls, and took in the falls for as long as we could before heading back along the Gorge Trail. (Unlike other parks nearby, the Gorge Trail doesn't connect to the other trails, so you have to return on the same trail.) It might not be my favorite of the state parks we visited during our time in the Finger Lakes, but the waterfall is stunning and well worth a visit. It's also a great option for anyone who wants to visit a waterfall but isn't up for a more challenging hike, as the Gorge Trail is extremely flat and easy!

Had a wonderful chat with volunteer Bob at the visitor center before heading out on the 3+ mile…read morenature drive. He gave us some tips about where we might see certain types of birds and he was absolutely spot on!! We spotted a pair of bald eagles in the tree line and after a 5 minute wait or so, they treated us to a flight right over the car to soar over the water on the other side of the drive. It is absolutely amazing that this wonderful resource is free to enjoy. The visitors center is accessible to those using mobility equipment and the drive is a wonderful way to enjoy the wildlife without a hike.

Very pretty reserve, lots of wildlife. If you like birding this is a good area to be in. This is…read moreonly a drive through trail but there are lots of walking trails nearby!

We stopped here on our way camping a couple weeks ago. The playground was fun, and included a…read morelittle zipline. The splash pad is huge. Staff sprays off everyone's feet so they don't bring in beach debris. The swimming beach is so shallow. My boys walked for the longest time and even when they started to swim, they could still stand if they wanted. Warm, too. Not the softest sand, but the way out into the lake isn't too bad. The way back, it feels a little more prickly. Guess the rocks face away from the beach. Plenty of parking, seating and shade.

Seneca Lake State Park has several good things going for it. It's nice to look at and clean; it's…read morealso a fun place to head for if you want to go jogging or take a walk. Tip: There's a path here which (upon closer examination) is actually an old street that's in a pretty far-gone state of disrepair. It's so far gone that it's actually too rough to ride a bike on :-( I suggest you learn from our mistake - if you're actually intended to go for a bike ride, you should seek out another destination.

Wonderful waterfalls hike and easy. Park in dirt parking area and the falls is in view right away…read more If you follow the water upstream you will come to a bigger falls you can walk behind. There is also an upper trail. Beautiful area. Be careful of poison ivy. Water shoes are recommended. Uneven surface and slippery conditions.

A wonderful place to enjoy. We always take a trash bag to…read moreclean up after those that are inconsiderate.

So so glad my friend found this park! We were staying in the area and hoped to get in a hike while…read morethe Canadian smoke/air quality seemed reasonable. Fortunately because you're hiking in a gorge and in dense woods the air quality didn't bother us. And we were rewarded with a gorgeous hike! The hike was gorgeous, but definitely has lots of steps, so be warned. If you don't feel like hiking, there is a shallow (7ft deep) swimming hole with a lifeguard on duty, clean bathrooms and lots of space for picnics I would come back here again and recommend the park to others.

This was a nice walk to see the falls. The path is well marked and clear for walking. There are…read morestairs. We found a 60 year old Chapman slide gate in the closed position. No handwheel at the top. Unlikely to be operational. Picture with red at the bottom. Years of Rust.

Great family camping trip spot! Awesome sites and lots to doing and around the town of Seneca Falls!read more

Nice beach, pretty shallow, small area but has a lifeguard which helps if you want to relax. Beach…read morewas sandy, a little rocky. Volleyball net, seems like a place to boat launch, kayak.

My husband and I visited the Finger Lakes a week or so ago for the Fourth of July. We were there…read morefor hiking, waterfalls, and wine, but I was also very excited to spend a few hours of our Fourth of July at the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls! The NPS park tells the story of the first Women's Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls in July 1848. The park is comprised of several sites in Seneca Falls, and, while a few are centralized, there are a few that require driving. The park includes the visitor center, historic homes, and the Wesleyan Chapel. The visitor center and Wesleyan Chapel are next to each other and should not be missed. The visitor center has a film you can watch (we got lucky on the Fourth of July and got to hear an Elizabeth Cady Stanton impersonator speak in lieu of the film), a museum area upstairs, and a gift shop. On the side of the building is a park area where you can read the text of the Declaration of Sentiments, the document that was drafted at the Convention (it was pouring when we were there, so we weren't able to appreciate this during our visit). Then, next to that, is the Chapel, a partially restored, partially reconstructed chapel building, the site where the Convention took place (when we visited on the Fourth, a Ranger gave a talk inside the Chapel, which made our visit here extra special). The park also includes three historic homes: the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, the M'Clintock House, and the Hunt House. The Hunt House (in Waterloo) is currently (as of July 2026) closed for renovations. We didn't make it to the M'Clintock House (the home of Mary Ann and Thomas M'Clintock, radical Quakers who were involved in the Convention), but we did make it to the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, which is a short drive away from the Visitor Center/Chapel. The Elizabeth Cady Stanton House wasn't my favorite part of our visit; the house is almost entirely empty and a short few-minute self-guided walking tour (with a laminated one page guide available inside the house) is all it takes to see everything there. So it's must visit for anyone wanting to take in every part/site of the park, but I think you could certainly get enough out of your visit by focusing on the Visitor Center/Chapel in downtown Seneca Falls if you don't have time to visit the historic houses. The historic houses are open seasonally, so definitely check the hours on the park's website if you're planning a visit. The ranger programs made our visit extra special, so I would definitely try to take advantage of those free offerings if they overlap with your visit! I was a history major in college, and I do love visiting historic sites. Women's Rights National Historical Park was a special place to visit during our time in the Finger Lakes. I got to refresh my memory of the events that took place there, and it was a wonderful place to be a little patriotic on the Fourth/250th!

My wife, two teenage sons, and I enjoyed a mid-July 2025 visit to the Women's Rights NHP in Seneca…read moreFalls. It has lots of pluses. First, it has a theater which provides a free 23-minute video on the history of the 1848 Seneca Convention and conveys how much opposition there was to the Declaration of Sentiments at the time. Only 100 people (68 women and 32 men) out of a total 300 attendees signed the famous document. Interestingly, no pastors or clergy signed the document (most likely due to fear of losing their congregations). Second, the exhibits on the 2nd floor provide an in-depth historical overview of the suffragist movement. If you're a history fan, this place is awesome! It covers topics which are not extensively discussed in standard US history courses. For example, I had no idea that Frederick Douglas (living in Rochester, NY at the time) attended the 1848 Seneca Convention and signed the Declaration of Sentiments. Also, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton first met in London in 1840 and were prohibited from actively participating in a convention due to their sex. Finally, you can see the historic Wesleyan Methodist Chapel which was the meeting location for the convention. I wish we had more time to explore other buildings in the NHP - but the museum provided a great introduction to a fascinating period in US history.

My wife, two teenage sons, miniature poodle, and I visited this state park on a hot day in July…read more2025. We parked on the East Bay Drive entrance (which has a very steep but short climb to view the bluffs). Please note the east entrance to the Bluff Trail has a limited number of parking spots with two porta-potty units instead of a full restroom. This is NOT the main entrance to the state park (which offers a larger parking lot and picnic benches). Although we did not have enough time to explore the other sections of the park or walk the full 1.3 miles of the Bluff Trail, I think the dramatic view of the drumlins with Lake Ontario in the background was more than worth the 1 hour drive from Penn Yan (on Keuka Lake) where we stayed for vacation. Another benefit of parking on the east end of the Bluff trail is that you have convenient walking access to Dragon View Beach (a popular spot to go swimming in the summer).

Clean restrooms even in the off season. Nice group of trails and some great geological history for…read morethe earth science crowd.

I like coming to this trail, there are a few different waterfalls to see and it's close to the…read morespotted duck!

Any season of the year, the Outlet Trail is a pleasant place to walk, jog or run - or walk your…read moredog. Even better in Spring/Summer/Fall when you can take your boat out. ($2 a day to park - but no overnight parking). Love it here.