The good thing about visiting the Finger Lakes region of New York at the start of May is that there are often no day-use fees at State Parks. The bad thing is, of course, the weather. Taughannock Falls is simply breathtaking. However, viewing it in a downpour can be a bit uncomfortable and hard on the camera equipment.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Taughannock Falls State Park is located a short drive north of Ithaca, New York along the scenic highway 89. Highway 89 runs along the coast of Cayuga Lake from Ithaca on the southern tip to Seneca Falls on the northern tip. Officially, the park is located in Ulysses, New York, a part of Tompkins County.
At 215 feet or 66 metres, Taughannock Falls is over 30 feet higher than Niagara Falls. The waterfall lays claim as the tallest single drop east of the Rocky Mountains. Along the Taughannock Gorge, the cliffs rise to as high as 400 feet above Taughannock Creek as it winds its way towards Cayuga Lake.
Interestingly, there is technically a much taller waterfall in the state of New York. Inspiration Falls is located within Letchworth State Park and is measured at 350 feet. However, the ‘waterfall’ is nothing more than a garden hose worth of water that falls only after heavy rains. It appears as a wet stain on the side of the cliff. Letchworth is located at the far western reaches of the Finger Lakes Region and does contain some pretty impressive cascades that are definitely worth the visit.
Despite the height, the water is not overly dangerous, except maybe during the spring melt or during a heavy downpour. Getting to the base of the waterfall is not recommended, though. The water isn’t so much the hazard as the falling rocks.
Below the main waterfall, Taughannock Creek is pretty tame. Keep in mind, the image above is in early May after an exceptionally cold winter with heavy snowfall. Weeks earlier, it probably was quite a sight as the flood banks of the creek are quite a bit wider to allow a considerably higher volume of water.
The trail runs along the south side of the creek on a well developed single lane road. This trail ends at the main waterfall. There are many other trails within Taughannock Falls State Park, including one that runs along both sides of the rim of the gorge, crossing the water a distance upstream from the main waterfall at the ‘upper falls’. There is parking and access near the upper falls for those who don’t want to make the long trek.
The lower falls is close to highway 89 and is quite picturesque, despite being considerably shorter. This is close to the entrance and although the waterfall is inviting to swimmers, warning signs abound telling visitors the area is off-limits for bathers.
We arrived when the gates were not manned and did not have to pay a day-use fee. During the summer months, it costs $7 per vehicle to park for the day. Camping is available at the park and is very reasonable (if you’re used to the prices of Ontario’s Provincial Parks) at $15 per night or $19 per night with electricity. The park also has cabins at very reasonable prices – $215 per week during the prime season.
Interestingly, there is an additional out-of-state resident fee for those of us who don’t live in New York. It does not apply to day-use but does apply to camping and cabin rentals. The fee is an additional $5 per night for camping and $25 per night for the cabins. I’m not a big fan of this descriminating money grab but ‘it is what it is’.
The below map shows Taughannock Falls – right under the ‘A’. Depending on the wait crossing the border, folks from the Greater Toronto Area can be at Taughannock Falls in as little as three hours. If camping is not your gig, the Finger Lakes region as a whole has been catering to tourists for a very long time and there are many options when it comes to accommodations. We spent two nights at Hope Lake Lodge near Cortland, New York and a night in Bath, New York.
The below video was taken the same day as the images above. Despite the weather, the quality is quite good and definitely worth a look. Please be sure to give the video a thumbs up!
Taughannock Falls Video
