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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Taughannock Falls

Tompkins County, New York — about 215 ft, taller than most.

At 215 feet, Taughannock Falls is the tallest single-drop waterfall in the northeastern United States, plunging through a Finger Lakes gorge; the flat Gorge Trail leads about three-quarters of a mile to the base viewing area.

Height
215 ft
Type
Plunge
Access
Short Hike
Trail
1.5 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
50 ft
Best season
Spring snowmelt (Apr-Jun)
Land manager
Taughannock Falls State Park (NY State Parks)
Watercourse
Taughannock Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Taughannock Falls State Park (NY State Parks) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Taughannock Falls drops about 215 feet. That makes it the 74th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 89% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Gorge Trail reaches it about 1.5 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 50 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Trumansburg. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Taughannock Falls State Park (NY State Parks) for closures and current conditions.

Spring snowmelt (Apr-Jun). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More New York waterfalls

Sources

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