We love visiting waterfalls and parks, and with all the rain lately, we wanted to check out some large waterfalls. Taughannock Falls is three stories taller than Niagara Falls, and with all the spring rain we have had, we were looking forward to seeing how impressive the falls were.
The falls are easy to find, although Google Maps had the exact entrance off by a mile or so. There are lots of signs along the road, and you can’t miss the entrance (despite Google Maps directing us incorrectly).
It costs $8 per car to enter the park. If you plan on visiting more than one park in a day, hang on to your receipt, as you can use it to get in to the other parks without paying again. There are several other parks nearby, such as Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman State Park, or you could take a trip over to Watkins Glen State Park (which I highly recommend!).
We couldn’t park right next to the trailhead, but it was only a short walk from the parking lot to the trail.
The Gorge Trail is just under a mile, and easy to walk.
The trail is pretty flat and wide, and we saw a lot of people there on a Saturday in June. We wore hiking shoes, but the trail is very leisurely, and you could probably get away with something like flip-flops.
There are some lower falls that we saw right away. With all the rain we have had, there was a lot of water.
It was neat to explore the flat areas, which are an interesting geological feature. This area was all at the bottom of an ancient sea 380 million years ago.
It was fun to explore, and there were some tiny tadpoles as well as some little fish.
The trail continues up to the falls, with scenic views of the gorge.
We crossed a bridge, stopping to take a picture here. You can see up on the right where we were able to get closer.
Taughannock Falls are absolutely beautiful, and powerful too. It was hard to make it to the platform, with a heavy cloud of mist in our faces and wind in our hair. It is quite incredible and I definitely recommend going in the spring when the water levels are like this!
We headed back down the trail, stopping again to look for tiny fish and tadpoles along the way.
After hiking, we walked around the park, got some ice cream at the concession stand, and checked out the waterfront. There is camping, cabinet, a marina, boat launch and beach nearby on Cayuga Lake.
Afterwards, we headed to Robert H. Treman State Park nearby.
Visit Taughannock at https://parks.ny.gov/parks/62
Beautiful falls!
What beautiful scenery! And those waterfalls are amazing. It looks so serene and peaceful and I’d love to visit.
What a fun trail to explore! I know when my son gets older, we will be doing a lot of these adventures by foot!! My husband is going to have so much fun educating him on EVERYTHING!!
What a beautiful way to explore the outdoors during the fun summer months! I would love to plan a mid-summer visit to Taughannock Falls with my husband.
So pretty! I always love when I can see a waterfall. State Parks are always gorgeous. I need to get to one over the summer!
wow this looks like such a great wonderful place to visit, hike and explore. i def need to get around to seeing more state parks with my kids and family!
Wow, I definitely have to make it out there sometime. This looked like such a cool adventure. The flat areas of the falls were crazy!
I love Taughannock Falls. Trumansburg is only like 20 minutes away from us. Have you been to the Gorge in Watkins Glen? If not that should be your next visit. Make sure you do wear good shoes as I tried it in flip flops and didn’t make it all the way up. I enjoyed all of your photos!
We did go to Robert H. Treman and Watkins Glen as well – so pretty!
Now this looks like the perfect way to spend the day. Such beautiful views and that waterfall is amazing!
Uloiks fun! Thanks for the tip on keeping the receipt for the other parks. I hadn’t realized that!
That looks like an awesome place to visit. Such beautiful photos those are too. I love being able to visit parks like these. They’re always a lot of fun.
What a gorgeous park! There’s something so mesmerizing about waterfalls, and this one is so beautiful! If we ever make it to that side of the country, we’ll be sure to go here!
The falls are gorgeous! And it’s always calming to hear the water fall. We also have visited waterfalls around here.We have a few in the area.
Ahh, so beautiful and relaxing! I’d love to go here and experience some the fun activities!
We actually went to a waterfall today. My kids loved looking at it and then splashing around in the water. They thought it was ton of fun!
What a beautiful place! Love places like this for summer!
This place is so gorgeous. My husband and kids really love outdoor activities and nature! I am sure that they would love to visit this place.
Wow, this looks like such a cool and amazing place! Can’t wait to see it myself.
It’s funny how Google maps doesn’t always act like a map— often misdirects. Lol. Thank goodness you found your way. The park is really beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
This is the first time I have heard of this place! How beautiful it is! Nature walks are what I miss most. Hopefully we can visit the place too. The waterfalls are so nice to see.
What a cool trail with a beautiful reward! These falls must be stunning and such a must-see!
Thanks for sharing this. I will definitely visit this when we are around. Wow! That floor is mesmerizing lol
This looks amazingly beautiful! I bet the kiddos had a blast as well. Definitely something I would check out if I were in the area.
I haven’t heard of this place, it’s so beautiful here.. Thanks for sharing your pics. The waterfalls is so amazing..! Love it.
The park looks superb. Not only it is beautiful but it looks like it has a friendly environment and as well as it is perfect for family.
What a beautiful state park! I need to add this to my bucket list for sure!
This is amazing, you manage to find the best places. I don’t think I’ve ever seen falls like this, I do like seeing them even on the internet. Must be extra nice in real life.
What an amazing place to visit. I love the waterfall.