A 215-foot single-drop waterfall, taller than Niagara, with a flat, accessible gorge trail near Ithaca, New York.
Taughannock Falls plunges 215 feet in a single drop inside Taughannock Falls State Park near Ithaca, New York, with the surrounding cliffs rising nearly 400 feet above the gorge. The park has two access points: an upper entrance with the visitor center, overlook, and trail system, and a lower entrance with the marina, swimming area, and campground check-in.
The Gorge Trail is the main route to the base of the falls, a roughly three-quarter-mile, mostly flat path that New York State Parks describes as accessible and suitable for all ages, while rim trails give views from above. As of the state park's April 2026 update, all park trails were fully open. A $10 vehicle day-use fee applied in 2026 (higher for non-commercial buses), swimming runs from late June through Labor Day, and camping runs mid-May through mid-October; confirm current fees and seasonal hours on the official park page before visiting.
Know before you go
Taughannock Falls State Park near Trumansburg/Ithaca, NY; separate upper (visitor center/overlook) and lower (marina/swimming) entrances.
Open year-round; swimming late June through Labor Day; camping mid-May through mid-October.
Gorge Trail: about 0.75 mile, flat and accessible, to the base of the falls; rim trails offer views from above.
2026 day-use vehicle fee $10; non-commercial bus $35; check current rates.
The Gorge Trail is described by the park as accessible and suitable for all ages; verify current conditions.
2026-10-11. Conditions and requirements can change; confirm with the land manager before travelling.
Sources & further reading
- New York State Parks — Taughannock Falls State Park ↗
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ↗
This is a researched visitor guide, not a claim that our editors have personally visited. Trail conditions, permits, and access can change.
