10 Stunning Ithaca Waterfalls To Visit With Kids

Are you looking for a destination that has waterfalls galore? Look no further than Ithaca, New York! With more than 150 waterfalls in Ithaca and the 10 miles surrounding the area, you will find exactly what you are looking for! You will find plenty of Ithaca waterfalls to choose from, from state parks to gorges, to waterfalls located right in the middle of the downtown area.

We have visited Ithaca many times in search of waterfalls, and were never disappointed. While nearby Watkins Glen is one of our favorites, we have come to love many of the Ithaca waterfalls, including Buttermilk Falls, the Cascadilla Gorge falls, and Taughannock Falls. We have made a list of our favorites that we think you should add to your Ithaca itinerary!

10 Ithaca Waterfalls To Visit

Buttermilk Falls

One of our favorite Ithaca waterfalls was Buttermilk Falls, located inside Buttermilk Falls State Park. The falls got its name because of the thick, frothy white foam that is created from the rushing water of the creek. Buttermilk Falls is the main waterfall in the park with a 165 foot cascading drop. The falls drops into a pool at its base, which is open as a swimming area in the summer months.

There is a path that takes you close to the base of the falls and past it along the Buttermilk Creek. The Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail takes you past multiple smaller, cascading waterfalls as you travel up (or down) the gorge. Buttermilk Falls State Park is one of the best places to see waterfalls in Ithaca.

Lucifer Falls

Another one of our favorite Ithaca waterfalls is Lucifer Falls. Located inside Robert H. Treman State Park, it is a 115 foot single drop waterfall that sits in the Enfield Glen Gorge, a gorge marked with shale and sandstone.

Lucifer Falls is reached on the Gorge Trail. Along the trail you will also find multiple smaller waterfalls. You can also view the falls from the Rim Trail, which will give you a view from above.

There is an upper and lower parking area (the upper area is closer to Lucifer Falls). The hike from the upper parking area is about 1 mile round trip, while the hike from the lower parking area is about 2.25 miles one way. Both are good options-choose what works best for your family.

Ithaca Waterfalls: Taughannock Falls

Taughannock Falls is one of the most easily accessible Ithaca waterfalls and in one of the best New York State Parks with waterfalls. It is a single drop, 215 ft. waterfall, making it the tallest single drop waterfall east of the Rockies. It is located within Taughannock Falls State Park and can be viewed from the overlook, at the end of the gorge trail, or from the rim trails.

While Taughannock Falls is the highlight here, there is another waterfall worth visiting. The Upper Falls is located upstream from Taughannock Falls. While there is not a great viewpoint of Upper Falls, you can access a bridge overlooking the falls from a trail off of Jacksonville Road. As the tallest falls in NY State, you won’t want to miss it.

Triphammer Falls

Named after the Triphammer Forge that operated in the area in the 1820’s, Triphammer Falls is another one of the best Ithaca waterfalls to visit. Triphammer Falls is located along the Fall Creek Gorge on the Cornell University Campus. The waterfall has two distinct tiers and drops about 55 feet.

Triphammer falls has an interesting history. The falls were natural, but were altered for the construction of a dam in the 19th century. This led to the formation of Beebe Lake. Triphammer Falls can be viewed from the Triphammer Foot Bridge that crosses over the falls or the East Ave Bridge. No swimming is allowed in the area.

Cascadilla Creek Gorge

The Cascadilla Creek Gorge is one of my favorite hikes in Ithaca and is home to some of my favorite Ithaca waterfalls. The trail follows the Cascadilla Gorge from downtown Ithaca to the Cornell Campus (I could only imagine being able to take this walk to class every day!).

The trail is 1.3 miles round trip with an elevation gain of about 400 feet. It passes by 6 main waterfalls of different sizes, making it an excellent option for those looking for waterfalls! There are a lot of steps along the trail, so if you are climbing up like we did prepare for what I would label as a moderate climb. However, if you allow for rest periods, it is easily doable with children.

Parking for the Cascadilla Gorge Trail at the lower end is street parking. It can get busy in the area, so you may have to park a short distance away. The best parking option at the top of the gorge is the Dryden Road Garage (but it is paid parking). There is a short walk to the gorge from here.

Lick Brook Falls

The Lick Brook Gorge is another excellent hiking trail in Ithaca that takes you through astunning, glacial carved gorge featuring three main waterfalls along the way and several smaller cascades. The gorge is located in the Sweedler and Thayer Preserves. Like many of the other gorges in Ithaca, the stream running through it empties into Cayuga Lake.

The Lick Brook Falls trail is a littl e more strenuous than the other Ithaca waterfalls trails. The trail can be steep in some places and there are no stairs like many of the other gorge trails. If you take the main trail to focus on the waterfalls, it is 1.2 miles round trip with an elevation gain of around 400 feet.

There is a small parking area near the trail head on NY-34. There is a second parking area at the top of the gorge on Town line Road.

Ithaca Waterfalls: Enfield Falls

Enfield Falls, also known as the Lower Falls, is located within Robert H. Treman State Park. Enfield Falls is about 70 feet tall and drops into a natural pool at its base. During the summer months, the pool is open for swimming. There is a 0.5 mile round trip loop along a paved trail to reach Enfield Falls and the swimming area.

You can also choose to do the Gorge Trail when visiting the park. The Gorge Trail in Robert H. Treman State Park will take you past a total of 12 waterfalls, including Lucifer Falls (as discussed above). Combine your trip to the area with multiple waterfall viewing opportunities for an even better experience!

Wells Falls

Wells Falls, also known as Businessman’s Lunch Falls, is another one of the most easily accessible Ithaca waterfalls. The falls is located along Six Mile Creek and drops about 65 feet with a series of 4 cascades. Wells Falls sits beside an abandoned power plant, making for a unique view and photo opportunity.

The trail to reach the falls is short, at 0.3 miles one way. There is about 50 feet of elevation gain. The trail is mostly easy, but there are some steeper areas closer to the base that may be muddy after it rains. Swimming is not allowed at the falls. Parking for the waterfall is at the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve.

Potter’s Falls

Potter’s Falls is located on Six Mile Creek. The Six Mile Creek Nature Area is actually designated as a wildflower preserve due to the abundance and diversity of wildflowers the area sees. The waterfall itself is a 25 foot cascading waterfall surrounded by lush greenery.

To reach Potter’s Falls you will hike upstream on the Greenway Trail and East Gorge Trail. The total out and back distance for the hike is about 3.3 miles with an elevation gain of around 375 feet, making it more of a challenge to access this waterfall than many of the other Ithaca waterfalls.

Parking for Potter’s Falls is at the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve trailhead lot.

Ithaca Falls

Ithaca Falls is one of the most easily accessible Ithaca waterfalls and was one of my favorite! Ithaca Falls sits on Fall Creek, cutting through downtown Ithaca. The falls stands at 150 feet tall and 175 feet wide.

The falls can be viewed from the Lake Street Bridge or by taking a short, easy path down to the base of the falls. Swimming is not allowed near the falls. There is a small parking area near the path to the falls, or you can find street parking.

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