New York is known for having a plethora of waterfalls, many of which you can view even during our most freezing weather. Don’t let the Empire State’s cold weather stop you from enjoying an adventure! While some of our state parks close for the winter, below you’ll find 14 gorgeous waterfalls that you can still take a trip to during our colder months.
- Taughannock Falls
solarnu/Flickr Go to the south end of Cayuga Lake and you’ll discover several entrances to Taughannock Falls State Park. The main attraction of this state park is Taughannock Falls, a 215-foot waterfall that’s absolutely breathtaking. The park is open all year, including the Gorge Trail that will lead you directly to the falls. If you aren’t interested in hiking you can always enjoy the waterfall from the overlook area within the park.
- Buttermilk Falls
robmadeo/Flickr Considering there are quite a Buttermilk Falls in New York, let me specify that the one you can see above is our Buttermilk Falls of Long Lake. With a parking area right off of North Point Road, you’ll take a roughly five-minute walk to the falls. During the winter the short trail serves as a great place to enjoy a quick hike or you can take an easy snow-shoeing adventure.
- American Falls
CaptMikey9/Flickr Just recently receiving a $4 million dollar makeover to their light display, New York’s American Falls is now more beautiful than ever. Now through January 27th you can see the falls lit up at night along with a firework display every night at 9PM. New York’s side of Niagara Falls can be experienced all year long from Niagara Falls State Park, if you’ve yet to take a trip here during the winter you’ll love seeing the enormous chunks of frozen water that you’ll find at the base of the falls.
- Bridal Veil Falls
Diego Torres Silvestre/Flickr Another piece of New York’s side of Niagara Falls, Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls. Separated from the American Falls by Luna Island, the waterfall is nearly 60-feet wide with over an 180-foot vertical drop. If you decide to take on the adventure of experiencing our Cave of the Winds, the tour will bring you right to the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
- Ithaca Falls
Tim Sackton/Flickr Just one of the many waterfalls you’ll find in the city of Ithaca, Ithaca Falls is the most powerful and spectacular waterfall you’ll find out in this area. 150-feet tall and 175-feet wide, visitors can explore a short trail down to the falls that’s open all year long.
- Mountainside Icicles along the New York State Thruway
Anthony Quintano/Flickr You can find waterfalls all over New York! During the winter those who are traveling along the New York State Thruway can see frozen icicles and waterfalls all on the mountainside.
- Cohoes Falls
Brian P/TripAdvisor While the Cohoes Falls View Park is only open to visitors from May until October, you can still view the falls while you’re driving along North Mohawk Street or from the Overlook Park off of School Street. The falls are 90-feet in height but span across 1,000 feet, making for an unbelievable view. Right on the Mohawk River, the falls are shared by both the city of Cohoes and the town of Waterford.
- Watkins Glen State Park
Harald/Flickr While we frequently feature Watkins Glen State Park’s beautiful Gorge Trail that allows you to see nineteen waterfalls over a 2-mile trail, during the winter this particular trail is closed to visitors. Come during the colder season and you can still adventure through the South Rim and Indian trails that are open and allow you to see the beauty of one of our most popular state parks.
- High Falls Gorge
Jo Amelia Finlay Bever/Flickr A park that’s basically heaven on earth, High Falls Gorge in Wilmington is open during the winter to let you explore this magnificent winter wonderland. The privately owned nature park features bridges with glass platforms that allow you to see what’s right beneath your feet as well as nature trails that you can explore with snow shoes during the winter. High Falls Gorge offers snow shoe rentals and has campfire and marshmallow roastings on the weekends!
- Awosting Falls
Carl Mikoy/Flickr Head down to the Catskills to explore Minnewaska State Park where you can view Awosting Falls. Open every day all year long, you can click here to view the official trail map that will help lead you directly to this 65-foot tall waterfall.
- Chittenango Falls
Doug Letterman/Flickr Another beautiful state park to visit that’s open all year, Chittenango Falls in Cazenovia can be viewed only from the top of the falls during winter. The trail that leads down to the falls’ viewing bridge is closed during the winter because of its icy and unsafe conditions. Those who still want to see the 167-foot waterfall can enjoy the view from the top until things warm up.
- Hector Falls
Seabamirum/Flickr Out on Seneca Lake, Hector Falls cascades down over 250-feet and can be viewed all throughout the year. Just minutes away from Watkins Glen, the extraordinary waterfall is recorded as being a total of 165-feet tall and can be seen from Middle Road in Hector, New York.
- Kaaterskill Falls
Andy Arthur/Flickr Right off of the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway, the trailhead to Kaaterskill Falls can be seen right off of Route 23A. A half-mile hike that begins with the stunning Bastion Falls and follows Kaaterskill Creek, at 260-feet tall you won’t regret taking a trip to one of New York’s largest waterfalls no matter what time of year it is.
- Middle Falls
Jamie E./Yelp Letchworth State Park features three major waterfalls, the largest one being Middle Falls. In the town of Castile, Middle Falls can be found along the Genesee River coming in at just over 100-feet tall.
Do you have a favorite frozen waterfall to visit during our frigid season? If you love taking adventures to scenic places like this, then you’ll absolutely enjoy this Amazing Park In New York That You’ll Want To Visit This Winter!
solarnu/Flickr
Go to the south end of Cayuga Lake and you’ll discover several entrances to Taughannock Falls State Park. The main attraction of this state park is Taughannock Falls, a 215-foot waterfall that’s absolutely breathtaking. The park is open all year, including the Gorge Trail that will lead you directly to the falls. If you aren’t interested in hiking you can always enjoy the waterfall from the overlook area within the park.
robmadeo/Flickr
Considering there are quite a Buttermilk Falls in New York, let me specify that the one you can see above is our Buttermilk Falls of Long Lake. With a parking area right off of North Point Road, you’ll take a roughly five-minute walk to the falls. During the winter the short trail serves as a great place to enjoy a quick hike or you can take an easy snow-shoeing adventure.
CaptMikey9/Flickr
Just recently receiving a $4 million dollar makeover to their light display, New York’s American Falls is now more beautiful than ever. Now through January 27th you can see the falls lit up at night along with a firework display every night at 9PM. New York’s side of Niagara Falls can be experienced all year long from Niagara Falls State Park, if you’ve yet to take a trip here during the winter you’ll love seeing the enormous chunks of frozen water that you’ll find at the base of the falls.
Diego Torres Silvestre/Flickr
Another piece of New York’s side of Niagara Falls, Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls. Separated from the American Falls by Luna Island, the waterfall is nearly 60-feet wide with over an 180-foot vertical drop. If you decide to take on the adventure of experiencing our Cave of the Winds, the tour will bring you right to the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
Tim Sackton/Flickr
Just one of the many waterfalls you’ll find in the city of Ithaca, Ithaca Falls is the most powerful and spectacular waterfall you’ll find out in this area. 150-feet tall and 175-feet wide, visitors can explore a short trail down to the falls that’s open all year long.
Anthony Quintano/Flickr
You can find waterfalls all over New York! During the winter those who are traveling along the New York State Thruway can see frozen icicles and waterfalls all on the mountainside.
Brian P/TripAdvisor
While the Cohoes Falls View Park is only open to visitors from May until October, you can still view the falls while you’re driving along North Mohawk Street or from the Overlook Park off of School Street. The falls are 90-feet in height but span across 1,000 feet, making for an unbelievable view. Right on the Mohawk River, the falls are shared by both the city of Cohoes and the town of Waterford.
Harald/Flickr
While we frequently feature Watkins Glen State Park’s beautiful Gorge Trail that allows you to see nineteen waterfalls over a 2-mile trail, during the winter this particular trail is closed to visitors. Come during the colder season and you can still adventure through the South Rim and Indian trails that are open and allow you to see the beauty of one of our most popular state parks.
Jo Amelia Finlay Bever/Flickr
A park that’s basically heaven on earth, High Falls Gorge in Wilmington is open during the winter to let you explore this magnificent winter wonderland. The privately owned nature park features bridges with glass platforms that allow you to see what’s right beneath your feet as well as nature trails that you can explore with snow shoes during the winter. High Falls Gorge offers snow shoe rentals and has campfire and marshmallow roastings on the weekends!
Carl Mikoy/Flickr
Head down to the Catskills to explore Minnewaska State Park where you can view Awosting Falls. Open every day all year long, you can click here to view the official trail map that will help lead you directly to this 65-foot tall waterfall.
Doug Letterman/Flickr
Another beautiful state park to visit that’s open all year, Chittenango Falls in Cazenovia can be viewed only from the top of the falls during winter. The trail that leads down to the falls’ viewing bridge is closed during the winter because of its icy and unsafe conditions. Those who still want to see the 167-foot waterfall can enjoy the view from the top until things warm up.
Seabamirum/Flickr
Out on Seneca Lake, Hector Falls cascades down over 250-feet and can be viewed all throughout the year. Just minutes away from Watkins Glen, the extraordinary waterfall is recorded as being a total of 165-feet tall and can be seen from Middle Road in Hector, New York.
Andy Arthur/Flickr
Right off of the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway, the trailhead to Kaaterskill Falls can be seen right off of Route 23A. A half-mile hike that begins with the stunning Bastion Falls and follows Kaaterskill Creek, at 260-feet tall you won’t regret taking a trip to one of New York’s largest waterfalls no matter what time of year it is.
Jamie E./Yelp
Letchworth State Park features three major waterfalls, the largest one being Middle Falls. In the town of Castile, Middle Falls can be found along the Genesee River coming in at just over 100-feet tall.
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