Trifter

New York has an abundance of riches when its comes to state parks with waterfalls in them. Many of these waterfalls and state parks are as scenic and beautiful places as you will find just about anywhere in the United States and the World.

Niagara Falls State Park

Niagara Falls State Park was created in 1885 and has the distinction of being the oldest state park in the United States. Contained within the park are the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and part of the Canadian Falls. Niagara Falls State Park was named the 10th most beautiful spot in America by the Today Show in 2007. The Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist Tours get visitors right next to the falls and soaking wet.

Taughannock Falls

Image via Wikipedia

The waterfall this state park is named for is actually 33 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Taughannock Falls is a single drop waterfall that is 215 feet high which makes it the tallest continual single drop waterfall east of the Rockies. Taughannock Falls State Park is located in Ulysses, New York, in the Finger Lakes region northwest of Ithaca along Route 89.

Letchworth State Park

Image via Wikipedia

Contained in Letchworth State Park is the beautiful “Grand Canyon of the East”, where the Genessee River carved out a majestic gorge with cliffs as high as 550 feet. In the canyon are three main waterfalls along the Genessee, with highest one being the Middle Falls. Some 50 minor waterfalls also flow into the canyon from tributaries of the Genessee. Letchworth State Park is located 35 miles south of Rochester and can be reached by taking Exit 7 off I-390.

Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Park is located in the Village of Watkins Glen near the south end of Lake Seneca in the Finger Lakes region. As the river that formed Watkins Glen after the last ice age flows through and around the gorge it gradually drops over 400 feet in spectacular fashion creating 19 waterfalls and exposing beautiful striations in the walls. In the 1930’s during the Great Depression the Civilian Conservation Corps added to the park by building stone walkways and bridges that combined with the natural beauty of Watkins Glen gives the park a fantasy land feel to it.

Minnewaska State Park

Located along Routes 44/55 in Ulster County, Minnewaska State Park Preserve features the 60 foot high Awosting Falls.

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Buttermilk Falls State Park

Buttermilk Falls is located southwest of Ithaca along Route 13. The park is named for its signature feature the Buttermilk Falls which gracefully flow down a gradual 100 foot incline resembling buttermilk.

John Boyd Thacher State Park

John Boyd Thacher State Park is located 15 miles southwest of Albany on Route 157 off Route 85. Situated along the Helderberg Escarpment, one of the richest fossil-bearing formations in the world, this park features six miles of limestone cliff-face and over the face flows Minelot Falls. From the base of the escarpment one can walk under the falls but to get to the base of the escarpment one descends a 60 foot metal ladder along the Indian Ladder trail.

Robert H. Treman State Park

The rugged, deep and narrow 3 mile long Enfield Glen Gorge is the centerpiece of Robert H. Treamn State Park. As the Enfield Creek flows through and down the deep and narrow gorge it forms a dozen lovely waterfalls and many scenic rock formations. Hiking trails through the park take visitors up, down and all around the gorge in often spectacular fashion.

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The park can be reached from route 327, just west of routes 12, 34 and 96 in the towns of Enfield and Newfield, southwest of Ithaca.

Fillmore Glen State Park

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Named for President Millard Fillmore this park features five main waterfalls along Dry Creek as it flows down through the glen. In one section of the park, the water has worn away shale from under a ledge of limestone creating a shed of sorts were a local herd of cows used to gather in summer to escape the sun’s heat. This park is located in the Finger Lakes region just south of Owasco Lake and one mile south of the town of Moravia along Route 38.

Stony Brook State Park

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Stony Brook State Park is located off of NY 36, just off of I-390, 3 miles south of  Dansville. There are three main falls in this park, Upper Falls drop some 45 feet, the Middle Falls drop 25 feet and the Lower Falls drop 40 feet.

Chittenango Falls State Park

The 167 foot Chittenango Falls is the centerpiece of this park. Glacial sculpting over 400 million year-old bedrock is responsible for this scenic feature. The park also contains the endangered Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail, the only place on the planet where live specimens of this snail can be found. The park is located of Route 13 in Madison County, New York.

Pixley Falls State Park

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Pixley Falls State Park features a nice 50 foot high waterfall and assorted smaller falls along a mountain stream. The park is located 6 miles south of Boonville along Route 46.