After briefly stopping at the [free] overlook to get some photos, we decided it would be nice to do the 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. read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - The falls view from Gorge Trail, July 2026. - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

I visited Taughannock Falls State Park about a week ago when my husband and I were in the Finger Lakes 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! read more

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[Tuh-Gan-Ick] Falls state park is one the of most beautiful state park in NY. It has spectacular natural 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. read more

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Arrive early on warm days and holidays because this park gets really crowded. The Gorge Trail is a very easy walk to the beautiful waterfall. It was an added bonus to be able to walk a long way in the water along a long flat area. Water shoes would've made the footing more secure! read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

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I visited here in the winter to see the falls frozen over, and it was such a cool experience! I hadn'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! read more

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We went slightly off season at the end of April, so the visitor centers were closed and there were some areas under renovation. Even so, the main waterfall trail was absolutely worth it. It's an easy to moderate walk that's scenic and a good bit of exercise, and the waterfall itself is beautiful. Parking was $10, and across the street there's another section with boat docks and a kids playground. read more

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Simply beautiful! The hike is very easy. I'd consider it to be more of a stroll. Very flat. The view of the water fall was lovely. However, the foliage along the lake was my favorite. Something dreams are made of... read more

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What a beautiful hike! The falls are absolutely gorgeous and match some of the scenery from places like Iceland. The hike itself is very simple. There's a large wide gravel path. You can bring dogs, children- we even saw someone with a walked. Bring some sandals and you can walk in the water in some of the shallow parts along the way. They have great signs talking about subjects like paper wasps, peregrine falcons, and local geology. It's a great simple hike with beautiful scenery. After the hike, drive up to the overlook to get a nice sweeping view of the falls. You can stop afterwards by the lake to see the water, have a picnic, or just relax. Bring the family! read more

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One of the most beautiful state parks I've ever seen! The natural rock formations and hiking trail was amazing! The view close up to the falls was breathtaking! One of the highlights of the trail is The old bridge on the trail. It's a pretty rickety bridge that other family members in my party were too afraid to cross, but I found the challenge fun! It's a beautiful trail that's definitely worth visiting. read more

This place is incredible, a must stop if you're in the area. Trails were well kept, and the views are out of this world!

One of the best places to see the natural beauty NY has to offer. I have loved coming to see this waterfall for years and even got married at the falls overlook! No matter what season it is or how big or small the falls are, it is always an absolutely stunning view. The park takes my breath away every single time! I love going to the lower falls which is only a 20 minute walk from the parking lot and costs $10. The overlook view is free. Also a great place to view peregrine falcons, they're everywhere! Such a great location with other nearby waterfalls and attractions. Ithaca is such a lovely place to visit. read more

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Not much in life is perfect, but nature and being outside is one of those things that is peaceful...even in small controlled outings. It's always good to unplug and emerce yourself in nature in order to deviant center yourself. Let's be real for a moment...as it's a state park you can only surrender to a total nature experience so far...but with that said it's a well maintained park and the falls are beautiful. It's a great mini centering outing and it was peaceful and relaxing. I'd recommend it as a day trip for anyone. read more

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$9 fee per car to park and then you can walk to the water and explore the park in which it seems people bbq or have picnics. It was a nice clean area. Across the street is the hiking path that takes you to the waterfall. It's mostly flat no real inclines or steps. It was a nice scenic walk to the end where there is a small bridge and then scenic waterfall. The only thing that was a bit odd to me it strictly says do not go in the water or off the trail and it seemed like most parents with smaller children were all letting them play or run barefoot off the trail. Which definitely impacts the nature part of the trail. A very handicapped friendly hike too! read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

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Easy parking, and beautiful easy walk to the waterfall. It's less of a hike and more of a casual stroll. There is a lot to see in addition to the main waterfall too - I wish I'd brought binoculars to watch the many turkey vultures far above the trail! The atmosphere is peaceful, and the trees are lovely. The park itself has large grassy fields, plenty of picnic tables, a play area for the kids, and beautiful views of the lake. read more

The sight of this majesty literally took my breath away. I actually stood with my mouth wide open when I stepped onto the bridge and got my first sight of the Taughannock Falls. My friends and I followed the gorge trail, which is a little under a mile, one way. The trail is lovely and there are several points where you can walk right along the water. The river is shallow and the rock has lots of little pockets that fill with little puddles. It's a really pretty sight. You can take an alternate route to see the falls at the overlook, which you can access via the rim trail. The park is free to enter, but parking is $9. read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

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Taughannock Falls State Park is one of the NY state parks you have to visit should you find yourself in the Ithaca area of the Finger Lakes region. It's a park that can be enjoyed by hikers and non-hikers alike. If you have several hours to kill and/or enjoy hiking, you can spend some time at the beautiful Cayuga Lakefront area and venture to the base of Taughannock Falls. If you are pressed for time or are with people that have limited mobility, you can drive right up to the Taughannock Falls overlook view point which is steps away from a parking lot and gift shop/visitor center. As we went later in the day and were pressed for time, we only got to see the falls from the overlook, but we were highly satisfied with how much we saw in such a small amount of time. At a height greater than Niagara Falls, the flow is constant and sound of the Taughannock Falls is thundering, even from a distance. It's a gem of mother nature that I wouldn't hesitate to visit again and would recommend to others. read more

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What a wonderful hour-long hike, ending with a stunning waterfall. The hike was enjoyable and not too strenuous, with opportunities to explore more depending on the season. With the tides being low, we were able to walk further along the rocks and spot freshwater wildlife. Turkey vultures circled overhead, occasionally perching on the rocky cliffs. We took some time to sit on a rock by the waterfall, soaking in the peaceful sights and sounds of nature. read more

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came here with my friends since it's a short, easy hike. there is a $10/car fee but no one was maintaining the booth while we were there so a lot of cars were just going in and not paying (not ethical). the hike itself really only took about 15-30 minutes to get there but there are so many different aspects of the park (the bottom hike, higher hike, the lookout point, the lake loop, playground, etc) so i can see people spending more time here depending on what you want to do. there are plenty of parking spots and restrooms near the parking lot. overall good experience, definitely recommend if you're in the area read more

Pretty! Easy trail to the falls about. 3/4 mile. Light gravel/dirt. No steps. Trailer bathroom with one stall having a ramp. The lake/park area has a lot of geese. read more

Taughannock Falls is absolutely stunning! And what a dramatic set up - it appears around the final bend of the hike and is so very impressive. The hike is very pleasant - it is well shaded and there were a lot of critters to be seen, including dozens of tiny frogs. Early on in the hike we could check out the riverbed really well too, which was interesting. The final section lets you head up fairly close to the falls, and it's a great place to relax and enjoy the view before you head back - it is an out and back trail. read more

Since it was Juneteenth the modest entree fee was waived. The gorge trail leading to the falls is 0.75 miles long and listed as easy, but there are few easy trails for super seniors. The day of our visit was hot and muggy so we took advantage of a few of the many benches scattered along the trail to catch our breath. Was the walk worth the effort? A definite yes! Each step of the way was scenic with the falls themselves drop dead gorgeous. read more

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Tallest waterfall in New York State. The parking is currently $9 a day. Aside from the waterfall, this place also has a lakeside picnic area, hiking, inn, etc. all in close proximity. The hike to the waterfall can be reached either via land or via river bed. For more of an adventure, I suggest hiking to the waterfall via the river bed barefoot but bring your crocs or slippers with you. Note that one area of the river bed has lots of tadpoles. This place is 23 miles from the finger lake and the bathrooms here are well maintained. The customer service at the recession stand was friendly and they take Apple Pay. If you're ordering ice cream, i recommend raspberry and the staff who work here also concurred. read more

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Nice and easy walk with a lovely view. If you are in the area it's a great stop in between your wine tastings. The entire round trip path is less than 2 miles and is relatively shaded and flat. You can go in and get closer to the water if you want to as you make your way to the waterfall. The waterfall is very pretty! The amount of water will depend on how much rain has fallen when you visit. It's always fun to go back and see it at different times of the year with different water levels. read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

This is a very beautiful park, and a great treasure to have in our area. Tallest waterfall in the northeast, even taller than Niagara Falls! I walked the gorge trail and it was so serene and peaceful. I don't know if you are supposed to, but I walked half of it in the gorge itself, until I saw a sign saying to get out and back on the trail. Cannot wait to come back and explore more! read more

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Must visit State Park with a jaw dropping waterfall and geological landscape surrounding it. I've hiked the Gorge Trail and went on the Taughannock Visitor Vantage Point area. I highly recommend the Gorge Trail for an easy, flat level hike. It takes at most half an hour to get to the pristine waterfall. You can even walk by where Cayuga Lake is to have a nice cookout or picnic. Great place with great views. A Finger Lakes beauty. read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

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Beautiful park with easy trails for anyone. Bring your water shoes and towel to wade in the river bed on warm days. Shady most of the hike up to the upper falls - the view is worth the time to get there. The biggest incline is at the beginning. After that it's easy. Plenty of parking. Bathrooms by the Park office near the bridge. Bring a picnic and stay all day. read more

This is an amazing State Park. The park is huge, with a brand new big playground, a great "beach" area for swimming and tons of picnic tables and space for playing or eating. The trail to the falls (Taughannock Falls), is very flat, big and stroller-friendly. If you want, you can go down in the water and walk as well on the way to the falls, there are some very shallow swimming holes as well that are really fun. The falls are stunning and picture-worthy. Highly recommend this for anyone in the area, with kids or family or just a quick, easy hike! read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - walking to the falls, off the trail in the water. - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

The fam had an amazing time exploring and hiking at Taughannock last weekend! A must-see NY attraction, this state park boasts clearly marked trials, access to Cayuga lake, camp sites, lookouts, and much much more. The park was medium crowded as we arrived before 10am to start our hike, but I was very impressed by nearly 100% of hikers on the North/South loop trail wearing masks during these Coronatimes. We opted for this loop as the gorge trail was simply too crowded. While the gorge trail is the one that provides the most direct access to the falls (and is also more of a walk than a hike if you're skittish about difficulty) the north/south loop takes you through the lookout and allows for some seriously beautiful and heart pumping fun. We did it with our dog without much issue, aside from the very steep/uneven stairs that will end your hike if you do the entire loop - we had to pick her up for those. $8 parking gets you access to any state park for the day (you can make a day of it and do Buttermilk & Taughannock), with open bathrooms on site and plenty of spots to enjoy a picnic post-hike. We look forward to enjoying this spot again soon! read more

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We came here to see the waterfall. It was worth the long walk. Beautiful scenery and great atmosphere. We came and it's cold so we had to wear a jacket. read more

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An excellent park for easy, wide trail down to the waterfall, and in the drier season you can easily walk out onto the riverbed and walk across and play in the water with your feet. Slippery rocks so be careful when walking in the water. A park helper has a cart to drive in case you have someone that was hurt or tired but the path is pretty even and flat compared with most other trails in the area. Parking, several portapotty stalls and some picnic tables up front. Lots of spots to walk down, just be careful when leaving the trail. read more

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Love it here! I've been here several times and it's always really busy. There are lots of events, races, etc. held here so I feel like there's always a lot of people. I've always gone on weekends, maybe it's less crazy during the week. I love the trail to the falls, up the rocky surface and the view from the bridge. There are so many scenic spots in this park. I'd probably come back here again on off hours or when it's not as busy. read more

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Nice area with pretty view of the lakes here! We went on the hike to see the falls. It was a fairly easy hike with a nice viewing area at the end. I would say people of most ages would be able to do it. However, the falls was a little sad looking and disappointing as there was really not much water at all. It was most likely the time we went as I think overall there may have been a dry spell. But I can imagine if the falls are big it would really be pretty cool! read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - Not really any water - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

Gorgeous hike just 20 minutes North of Ithaca! There are two main trails: the upper and lower level. The lower level is the main trail and is only 1.5 miles there and back (all flat). It travels along the river and gives you a gorgeous view at the end of the trail. You get to see the massive waterfall up close. The upper trail is longer 3.5 miles in total and gives you views of the falls from up above. It is less "picture-esque" but still very beautiful. You can see the large rock formations around the river, then a slightly obstructed aerial view of the large waterfall. I chose to hike both trails at a leisure pace and it took me just over 3 hours. There's a large park to hang out in too with views of Cayuga lake. Dogs can play in the grass, or you can have lunch at a picnic table by the water. Definitely one of the prettier hikes in upstate! read more

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Went for the first time last week and I was in awe of the beauty. I don't know why it took me so long to go there being I'm born and raised in Syracuse? I'm so glad I finally went. With all the rain this summer the falls were gushing and the trees were turning (mostly yellow at that time). It was a short walk to the falls from the parking lot and the trail was level with gravel/stone. You pass the lower falls first and then head to the main attraction. We also went to the overlook area to see the falls from above. It was amazing and I think everyone should check it out read more

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Taughannock Falls is probably my favorite waterfall in NYS. The scenic overlook always provides a fantastic view. There is also a flat, easy trail through the lower gorge that provides a wonderful view from below. Sometimes in the summer it can be just a trickle, but often in the spring it roars. read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - The falls in the winter. - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York

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Ah my first ever park review and which better place to start with than a local gem I've been frequenting for quite some time now. Taughannock falls is a very underrated park that makes for a nice day trip from Buffalo. The falls are taller than Niagara Falls and are nested between a beautiful heart shaped rock. The area around it is pretty and serene too. The thing that I like the most about it is that it's ideal for a picnic, a short hike or a long hike. The park has a nice picnic area with shelters facing Cayuga lake. This area is perfect to have a nice day out with families or friends. On the opposite side of the road, a 0.75 mile trail leads to the base of the taughannock falls. This is a short flat hiking trail for people who just want to see the falls up close. There is also a falls overlook that you can get to by driving up the road that gives beautiful views of the falls as well. The trail for more avid hikers is the rim trail that's a combination of north rim and south rim trails. It climbs up from the side of the parking lot and makes a loop around the top of the falls and leads back to the same parking lot. It gives gorgeous gorge views from around the entire area and is pretty rewarding. It climbs all the way up to the top of the falls so only take up this trail if you are feeling up to the challenge. But no matter what your fitness level is, I'm sure taughannock will always have something great to offer! read more

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Lovely park just wrong time to visit. No water flowing so we will have to come back after at least some rain!!! But the park is beautiful!!! read more

I love camping and every year I try to camp at a state park that I haven't tried before. This years choice was Taughannock Falls State park near Ithaca NY. I have stayed at many state parks in NYS and I will say this park needs some NYS funding to improve the worn out look and feel. At entering the campground, the roads were in bad shape. A complete paving job is needed. The electric sites are on top on each other and there was no privacy. The primitive sites were good size and nice areas to pitch a tent. The restrooms need a total gut job. 2 showers does not cut it for the amount of people staying. I can honestly say these bathrooms were a disgrace. They were not clean, sinks were dirty, cracked and floors looked like they hadn't seen a mop for weeks. I was only there a weekend but the toilets bowls were filthy the entire time. The good side of this stay was the staff were pleasant to deal with. The grass was pretty tall and I asked a man that was trimming if he could use the weed wacker to cut the grass down. He did with no issue. The office staff was also accommodating. The falls are beautiful and the walk seems to be good that even wheelchairs can use it. Be aware that Route 89 is loud and you can hear the road noise all the time. I hope NYS will find the funding to make this park better. The finger lakes have a lot of trails and I don't mean just hiking. read more

Really enjoyed our day out here! Taughannock Falls State Park is beautiful. My boyfriend and I came here on a weekend in the summer. We try to do some road trips on our weekends off together in the Oneonta area. This seemed close enough and had great photo reviews. It was a bit confusing trying to find a place to park that was near the base of the falls. Initially, we had parked at the top (free 30 minute parking) and took photos looking down at the falls. There was a gift shop up there so we asked the man who was working there how to get to the bottom of the falls so that we could be closer to it. Eventually, we found it and paid to park. One side of the street was for people that wanted to swim in the falls with lifeguards on standby. The side that we went to was for hiking and to see the beautiful falls up close. I really enjoyed the hike up to it. Taking photos from the bridge is nice to get the falls in the distance. Trying to get photos up close is pretty hard since the water gets on your camera lens/phone. I would recommend bringing sunglasses to be able to see without constantly wiping the water off your eyelashes. The hike in is also very beautiful, despite it being very humid that day I would recommend water shoes if you want to walk and also be able to splash around in the water. There is also a bunch of signs around with the history of the falls. A great experience. Get out there and enjoy the falls! Great for family, pets, dates, all of it! read more

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Easy trail and fun for everyone! Unfortunately for us, there was no rainfall prior to our visit so we saw more of a trickle and less of a waterfall. Even so, the walk leading up to it was scenic and made it and worth it! The park across the street is a great place to have a picnic after your hike, with breathtaking views of the lake. Highly recommend visiting in Fall to see the foliage! read more

Taughannock Falls State Park - Hiking Near Me - Trumansburg, New York