There aren’t too many adventures more fun than an upstate New York waterfall hike, but sometimes you’ll have to make a pretty lengthy trip down the trail to find them. But we have great news if you live in New York and you’re wondering, “Are there any easy-access waterfalls near me?” Here are a few of the best waterfalls in the state that are either a short hike away or even visible from the side of the road! You might even be able to pack a few waterfalls into one trip.
- Chittenango Falls
Facebook/Chittenango Falls State Park The 167-foot waterfall at Chittenango Falls in Madison County is one of the prettiest falls in the region and is tucked away in the 193-acre state park of the same name. You’ll feel like a dream in this gorgeous natural haven. For more information, visit the Chittenango Falls State Park website. Chittenango Falls, Cazenovia, NY 13035, USA
- High Falls Gorge
Facebook/High Falls Gorge If you’re further north in the Adirondacks, High Falls Gorge is a popular tourist hiking spot with a series of cascading waterfalls that keeps visitors enthralled for hours. High Falls Gorge, Wilmington, NY 12997, USA
The hikes are easily accessible for people of all levels of hiking experience. These walking trails are some of the most unique you’ll find anywhere in the Northeast!
Facebook/High Gorge Falls For more information, visit the High Falls Gorge website.
- Shequaga Falls
Tripadvisor/Eileen W This 165-foot waterfall is just a short drive from Watkins Glen State Park and is one of the most impressive roadside waterfalls you’ll find in the state. And it still remains largely unknown by many travelers! Visit AllTrails for more information. Shequaga Falls, Montour Falls, NY, USA
- Hector Falls
Tripadvisor/anarquista_cg This is another fantastic cascading waterfall to visit, especially since passersby can actually see it from their cars as they drive by. It’s also only a few miles from the town of Watkins Glen and is a great reason to make the drive up the beautiful Seneca Lake. Hector Falls, Hector, NY 14818, USA
- Ithaca Falls
Tripadvisor/Ciupek Ithaca Falls is an easy walk from Lake Street, and you won’t find many areas upstate more scenic! Ithaca Falls, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
This natural escape in the midst of Ithaca Falls Natural Area is a welcoming spot for visitors to relax and enjoy the incredible view of the falls.
Tripadvisor/Mark H More information about Ithaca Falls can be found on the falls website.
Facebook/Chittenango Falls State Park
The 167-foot waterfall at Chittenango Falls in Madison County is one of the prettiest falls in the region and is tucked away in the 193-acre state park of the same name. You’ll feel like a dream in this gorgeous natural haven. For more information, visit the Chittenango Falls State Park website.
Chittenango Falls, Cazenovia, NY 13035, USA
Facebook/High Falls Gorge
If you’re further north in the Adirondacks, High Falls Gorge is a popular tourist hiking spot with a series of cascading waterfalls that keeps visitors enthralled for hours.
High Falls Gorge, Wilmington, NY 12997, USA
Facebook/High Gorge Falls
For more information, visit the High Falls Gorge website.
Tripadvisor/Eileen W
This 165-foot waterfall is just a short drive from Watkins Glen State Park and is one of the most impressive roadside waterfalls you’ll find in the state. And it still remains largely unknown by many travelers! Visit AllTrails for more information.
Shequaga Falls, Montour Falls, NY, USA
Tripadvisor/anarquista_cg
This is another fantastic cascading waterfall to visit, especially since passersby can actually see it from their cars as they drive by. It’s also only a few miles from the town of Watkins Glen and is a great reason to make the drive up the beautiful Seneca Lake.
Hector Falls, Hector, NY 14818, USA
Tripadvisor/Ciupek
Ithaca Falls is an easy walk from Lake Street, and you won’t find many areas upstate more scenic!
Ithaca Falls, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
Tripadvisor/Mark H
More information about Ithaca Falls can be found on the falls website.
Have you explored any of these waterfalls in New York? We’d love to hear about your experience!
There are many other roadside waterfalls throughout New York, so you feel free to tell us all about your local favorite! To find more waterfall adventures in the Empire State, check out this article. You’ll probably want to check out this cabin and this especially incredible scenic view, too!
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Address: Chittenango Falls State Park, 2300 Rathbun Rd, Cazenovia, NY 13035, USAAddress: 4761 NY-86, Wilmington, NY 12997, USAAddress: Shequaga Falls, Montour Falls, NY, USAAddress: Hector Falls, Hector, NY 14818, USAAddress: Ithaca Falls, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Waterfalls Near Me March 05, 2022 Meghan Byers Are there any other hiking trails with waterfalls in New York? If you’re looking for the best waterfall hikes in New York, there are so many trails to choose from! One truly unique trail is located in Orchard Park, in the Shale Creek Preserve. There you’ll find the Eternal Flame Falls Trail, which leads to a flame flickering behind a cascading waterfall. The flame is caused by a natural gas spring, and though it sometimes burns out, hikers can relight the flame, which can burn about 4 to 8 inches high. To see one of the tallest waterfalls in the Adirondacks, take the relatively easy, 3-mile Ok Slip Falls Trail in the Adirondack Park. This popular trail leads to a beautiful view of the stunning Ok Slip Falls. Looking for waterfalls near Syracuse? Visit Pratt’s Falls County Park and take the Pratt’s Falls Overlook Loop to see the spectacular, 137-foot tall Pratt’s Falls, a cascading waterfall surrounded by thick greenery. It’s absolutely worth the easy, 1.2-mile trek. And Letchworth State Park, known as the “Grand Canyon of the east,” is absolutely worth a visit if you love chasing waterfalls. This park is home to over a dozen waterfalls, with three major falls along the Genesee River – Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls. What are some other outdoor adventures in New York? From zipline tours to scuba diving, there’s so much outdoor adventure to be found in the Empire State. Go rock climbing at the Shawangunk Ridge, or whitewater rafting in the Adirondacks. Visit an open air museum, or even visit waterfalls on horseback. In the winter, when the snow is thick on the ground, experience the magic of a lantern-lit sleigh ride. And of course, you can always visit one of New York’s stunning state parks, where you’ll find gorgeous scenery year-round.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Waterfalls Near Me
March 05, 2022
Meghan Byers
Are there any other hiking trails with waterfalls in New York? If you’re looking for the best waterfall hikes in New York, there are so many trails to choose from! One truly unique trail is located in Orchard Park, in the Shale Creek Preserve. There you’ll find the Eternal Flame Falls Trail, which leads to a flame flickering behind a cascading waterfall. The flame is caused by a natural gas spring, and though it sometimes burns out, hikers can relight the flame, which can burn about 4 to 8 inches high. To see one of the tallest waterfalls in the Adirondacks, take the relatively easy, 3-mile Ok Slip Falls Trail in the Adirondack Park. This popular trail leads to a beautiful view of the stunning Ok Slip Falls. Looking for waterfalls near Syracuse? Visit Pratt’s Falls County Park and take the Pratt’s Falls Overlook Loop to see the spectacular, 137-foot tall Pratt’s Falls, a cascading waterfall surrounded by thick greenery. It’s absolutely worth the easy, 1.2-mile trek. And Letchworth State Park, known as the “Grand Canyon of the east,” is absolutely worth a visit if you love chasing waterfalls. This park is home to over a dozen waterfalls, with three major falls along the Genesee River – Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls. What are some other outdoor adventures in New York? From zipline tours to scuba diving, there’s so much outdoor adventure to be found in the Empire State. Go rock climbing at the Shawangunk Ridge, or whitewater rafting in the Adirondacks. Visit an open air museum, or even visit waterfalls on horseback. In the winter, when the snow is thick on the ground, experience the magic of a lantern-lit sleigh ride. And of course, you can always visit one of New York’s stunning state parks, where you’ll find gorgeous scenery year-round.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
If you’re looking for the best waterfall hikes in New York, there are so many trails to choose from! One truly unique trail is located in Orchard Park, in the Shale Creek Preserve. There you’ll find the Eternal Flame Falls Trail, which leads to a flame flickering behind a cascading waterfall. The flame is caused by a natural gas spring, and though it sometimes burns out, hikers can relight the flame, which can burn about 4 to 8 inches high.
To see one of the tallest waterfalls in the Adirondacks, take the relatively easy, 3-mile Ok Slip Falls Trail in the Adirondack Park. This popular trail leads to a beautiful view of the stunning Ok Slip Falls.
Looking for waterfalls near Syracuse? Visit Pratt’s Falls County Park and take the Pratt’s Falls Overlook Loop to see the spectacular, 137-foot tall Pratt’s Falls, a cascading waterfall surrounded by thick greenery. It’s absolutely worth the easy, 1.2-mile trek.
And Letchworth State Park, known as the “Grand Canyon of the east,” is absolutely worth a visit if you love chasing waterfalls. This park is home to over a dozen waterfalls, with three major falls along the Genesee River – Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls.
What are some other outdoor adventures in New York?
From zipline tours to scuba diving, there’s so much outdoor adventure to be found in the Empire State. Go rock climbing at the Shawangunk Ridge, or whitewater rafting in the Adirondacks. Visit an open air museum, or even visit waterfalls on horseback. In the winter, when the snow is thick on the ground, experience the magic of a lantern-lit sleigh ride. And of course, you can always visit one of New York’s stunning state parks, where you’ll find gorgeous scenery year-round.
