Central New York is home to numerous waterfalls, big and small. Plan your next outdoor adventure with these beautiful Central New York waterfalls, featuring trails, scenic overlooks, and unforgettable spots for families to explore.
Here are 12 that you should check out this summer:
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Begin at the lower entrance – it is a short walk from the 165-foot Buttermilk Falls – then explore one of the park’s six trails, which range in length from .75 miles to 1.5 miles.
📍 112 E. Buttermilk Falls Road, Ithaca, NY
Carpenter Falls Unique Area
View not one, but two, waterfalls on your .59-mile hike. Make sure to also check out the nearby Bahar Preserve.
📍 5986-6062 Appletree Point, Moravia, NY
Chittenango Falls State Park
This state park features 2.5 miles of hiking, including the 0.36-mile Gorge Trail, which offers scenic views of its 167-foot waterfall.
📍 2300 Rathbun Road, Cazenovia, NY
Delphi Falls County Park
The park, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary in August, has two waterfalls (only of them, however, was accessible when this article was written). An expansion is expected to be completed this month, and will add an ADA overlook of the lower falls and a trail to the upper falls, among other things.
📍 2006 Cardner Road, Cazenovia, NY
Labrador Hollow Unique Area
Sitting on the border between Onondaga and Cortland Counties, Labrador Hollow Unique Area is home to Tinker Falls—and nearly five miles of trails.
📍 Labrador Road, Tully, NY
Oxbow Falls Park
Did you know the park is situated on the edge of the Helderberg Escarpment, a geologic formation that dates back 350 million years? Perhaps its most popular feature is a 100-foot waterfall, but its grounds also include three hiking trails and an 18-hole disc golf course.
📍 6919 Oxbow Road, Lincoln, NY
Pixley Falls State Park
Pixley Falls State Park is located about 18 miles north of Rome. Its 50-foot waterfall is just a short walk from the picnic area.
📍 11430 NY-46, Boonville, NY
Pratt’s Falls Park
View the 137-foot waterfall from an observation area near the parking lot or venture down the 0.6-mile Falls Trail — but beware, you must navigate some steps along the way.
📍 7671 Pratt’s Falls Road, Manlius, NY
Salmon River Falls Unique Area
The Salmon River Falls Unique Area stretches across 112 acres, and includes Salmon River Falls, which stands at 110 feet.
📍 Falls Road, Richland, NY
Skaneateles Conservation Area
One of three such areas in Skaneateles, the Skaneateles Conservation Area includes trails, observation decks and, of course, a waterfall.
📍 1898 County Road 133, Marcellus, NY
Taughannock Falls State Park
Located in a state park on the western side of Cayuga Lake, Taughannock Falls is the tallest waterfall on this list, measuring 215 feet (it even towers over Niagara Falls by three stories, according to visitithaca.com).
📍 1740 Taughannock Blvd, Trumansburg, NY
Three Falls Woods
As you may have already guessed, Manlius’ Three Falls Woods features not one, but three waterfalls: Staircase Falls, Tall Twins Falls and Cascades Falls.
📍 4618 Sweet Road, Manlius, NY
Looking for even more ways to enjoy the outdoors this summer? Our CNY Summer Activities Guide has plenty of ideas for family fun across Central New York — from swimming spots, splash pads, u-pick farms, miniature golf, outdoor festivals, and more!
