Tags
adventure trips, biking, Buttemilk Falls State Park, family travel, Finger Lakes, hiking, Robert H. Treman State Park, Taughannock Falls State Park, waterfalls
Who would of thought that such a small area tucked away in New York State could offer so much beauty. One of the reasons I was drawn to the Finger Lakes region was the fact that there was so many beautiful waterfalls to see. In fact, there are so many waterfalls in this area, that a brochure was created to showcase them all.
The one that really caught my eye, was Taughannock Falls. As I was turning pages through the brochure, I noticed that this 215ft plunge fall was three stories taller than Niagara Falls and was a sight that I could not miss. Once the bed of an ancient sea, the falls carve a 400ft deep gorge that is easily accessed by foot by hiking the gorge when the water levels are low or hiking the upper or lower trail. The views are amazing from the look-out point but they cannot be fully enjoyed unless you go right to the bottom of the gorge to the base of the waterfall. Less than a mile walk from the entrance of the park where the Lower Falls are located, as you hike the gorge, you cannot help but stop and look at the size of the rock formations that were created 10,000 years ago and be completely stunned when you hit the base of the falls.
There is a little ‘oasis’ to go for a swim in the small lagoon surrounding the falls. If you are looking to hike directly on the river, best to visit when the water levels are low in the summer months, otherwise if you would like to see more a ‘water effect’, then visit in the spring after the winter thaw.
Taughannock Falls has more to offer than just a spectacular waterfall, it’s a nature lover’s paradise with so many things to do. Taughannock Falls State Park offers anything from hiking trails, boat rentals, camping, to beautiful beaches to go for a swim. The vehicle use fee costs $7 per/day that allows you in/out privileges all day long. A great place to bring your boat and launch it for the day or sit by the water at one of the many picnic areas to enjoy your lunch by the water and let me tell you, the scenery is beautiful. My husband and I spent most of the day here relaxing by the beach to enjoy a great picnic lunch, hike the gorge, bike the trails and view the magnificent waterfalls. If you’re looking to spend a day on a budget with lots of adventure and activity, this is the place.
If you stay in the city of Ithica, you can actually bike or walk to Ithica Falls and many
other like it in the surrounding area. This 150ft cascading fall actually plunges to a pool of water below that is famous for anglers for lake-run trout and salmon. The water finishes its journey to Cayuga Lake. You can actually view the falls from the bridge on Lake Street or there is a footpath adjacent to the creek which is very accessible to walk on. Certainly worth taking the time out of your schedule to visit this gem tucked away in the city of Ithica. From these falls, you can make your way up to Foaming Falls (15ft cascading waterfall) which can be viewed from the suspension bridge 140ft above the creek level which is only a few minutes away. This area alone (Cornell University) sports so many amazing waterfalls. Cascadilla Falls which has a 20ft cascade is located on the Cascadilla Creek Trail and drops 400ft past nine waterfalls. Triphammer Falls is the center of the Cornell Campus and is a 55ft multiple cascading fall.
My favourite waterfall on this journey was Buttermilk Falls and not because of its size, but it’s one of the 10 falls along Buttermilk creek and it offers so much beauty if you hike the stairs on the gorge trail. As soon as you hit the entrance of the Buttermilk Falls State Park, the first thing you notice is the waterfall. With a swimming area just below the falls, this is another state park that I highly recommend on visiting. As we began our hike and turned another corner, there was always another waterfall or swimming hole. The beauty and serenity of this trail was so breathtaking that I didn’t want to leave. The weather that day started off sunny but as the day progressed, the weather changed but not enough to depart our journey on this trail. As the rain pelted down on us, we took shelter under a rock
formation almost like an opening to a cave. We decided to break open a bottle of wine that we brought with us until the rain subsided. As I sipped my wine, I could not help but look around me to notice how peaceful this area was with not a person in sight and to be surrounded by waterfalls, flowing creeks, watering holes, and a lush forest. At that moment in time, I could not think of any other place I would rather be. However, the day was pressing on, the weather was breaking and there was so much more to discover.
As we departed one state park, we decided to bike to another park that was not too far away and also enjoyed a little beer sampling on the way (next week’s blog post). As we entered Robert Treman State Park, we had not idea of what we were about to embark upon. Of course, when biking into a state park, the fee is waived so it saved us a little money again. We noticed a sign for ‘swimming area’ so we decided to check it out as it was a hot day and we required a little cooling off. As we approached the swimming area, we couldn’t believe our eyes; another waterfall. Enfield Falls is a 70ft pulpit-type fall and a popular spot for waterfall swimming. A great choice for families as the swimming area is lifeguarded and you also have the opportunity to try and walk across the falls which I’ve been told is not an easy task to perform. A spring diving board is the main attraction here next to the scenery of the waterfall. Again, a very inexpensive day for the family as you pay a $7 park fee for the entire day which provides your family with a full packed day of entertainment and active living.
With all the waterfalls aside, there is so much scenery here in the Finger Lakes region from rolling pastoral lands, state parks, wineries, but most of all, the stunning 11 Finger Lakes. Discover your next adventure in a place off the beaten path.
