It’s waterfall season! Check out our list of the best waterfalls in New York State.
1. Niagara Falls
Location: Niagara Falls, NY (Western NY)
Description: One of the most famous waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is a massive and powerful trio of falls—Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. It’s a major tourist destination with boat rides (like Maid of the Mist), observation towers, and nighttime light shows.
2. Kaaterskill Falls
Location: Catskill Mountains (Greene County)
Description: One of the tallest waterfalls in New York at 260 feet, Kaaterskill Falls is a dramatic two-tiered cascade surrounded by lush forest. It’s accessible via a moderately difficult hiking trail and is steeped in artistic and literary history.
3. Taughannock Falls
Location: Near Ithaca, Finger Lakes region
Description: This stunning waterfall plunges 215 feet, making it taller than Niagara Falls. Taughannock Falls is the centerpiece of a state park, with a beautiful gorge trail and excellent views from above and below.
4. Buttermilk Falls
Location: Ithaca, Finger Lakes region
Description: This picturesque, cascading waterfall is part of Buttermilk Falls State Park. The park features a series of smaller falls and pools along a scenic gorge trail, great for both hiking and picnicking.
5. Watkins Glen Falls (in Watkins Glen State Park)
Location: Watkins Glen, Finger Lakes region
Description: The Gorge Trail here features 19 waterfalls within two miles, making it one of the most visually stunning hikes in the state. The trail includes stone bridges, tunnels, and winding paths through sheer cliffs.
6. High Falls Conservation Area
Location: Hudson, NY
Description: At the heart of the conservation area is High Falls, a beautiful 25-30 foot waterfall that flows gracefully over a series of rock formations. Unlike larger, more dramatic waterfalls, High Falls offers a more intimate setting, where visitors can take in the beauty of the water cascading over mossy rocks, surrounded by thick woods and wild flora.
7. Eternal Flame Falls
Location: Chestnut Ridge Park, near Buffalo
Description: A small but unique waterfall where a natural gas leak fuels a small flame that flickers right behind the cascade—an incredible natural oddity that’s accessible via a short hike.
8. High Falls Gorge
Location: Wilmington, NY
Description: High Falls Gorge is a stunning natural wonder nestled in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. The gorge is a beautifully scenic area where the AuSable River tumbles dramatically over a series of rocky ledges, creating multiple waterfalls, with the main one—High Falls—plunging around 70 feet.
9. Middle Falls (Letchworth State Park)
Location: Letchworth State Park, Western NY
Description: Letchworth is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” and Middle Falls is its most spectacular waterfall, plunging 107 feet into the Genesee River gorge. The park has excellent trails, scenic overlooks, and even hot-air balloon rides.
10. Chittenango Falls
Location: Chittenango Falls State Park, Central NY
Description: A dramatic 167-foot waterfall over a rugged limestone gorge, surrounded by forest trails and wildlife. There’s a scenic overlook at the top and a path that leads to the base for a closer look.