Right now
Right now as of Oct 27, 2026
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $10 per vehicle.
Status note (Oct 27, 2026): Open year-round, dawn to dusk. NY State Parks said all trails were fully open as of April 17, 2026; call the park at (607) 539-4078 about winter trail status. The 2026 camping season ran May 15 to October 12, and the beach season ended on Labor Day after algal bloom closures. What the status labels mean
Taughannock Falls is a 215-foot plunge in Taughannock Falls State Park near Trumansburg, in the Ithaca area of the Finger Lakes. A wide, nearly flat Gorge Trail runs about 3/4 mile to the base, and an overlook at the Upper Entrance shows the falls from above. The park is open year-round, dawn to dusk. New York State Parks charges a $10 vehicle use fee, which the Empire Pass covers, and the park has a seasonal campground with cabins.
About Taughannock Falls
Taughannock Creek falls 215 feet in a single drop, past gorge walls that rise nearly 400 feet, according to New York State Parks. Wikipedia notes that makes it 33 feet taller than Niagara Falls. Visit Ithaca calls it the tallest single-drop waterfall east of the Rockies, a tourism claim we couldn't confirm from an independent source.
If you're unsure how to say the name, Wikipedia gives the pronunciation as tuh-GAN-uk.
The park covers about 750 acres beside Cayuga Lake. It began in 1925 with a 64-acre parcel, and the Works Progress Administration improved its roads and trails in the 1930s, Wikipedia says. Along with the falls, the park has a campground, a marina, pavilions and a summer swimming beach.
Visit Ithaca counts about 150 waterfalls in the Ithaca area. Cornell lists Taughannock as one of three nearby state parks with lifeguarded swimming, along with Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman. Cornell also says swimming is strictly prohibited in its gorges at all times.
Getting there and parking
The park has two entrances, and the one you choose decides what you see first. The Lower Entrance on Route 89, beside Cayuga Lake, serves the Gorge Trail, beach, marina and pavilions. The Upper Entrance serves the Falls Overlook, visitor center, campground and trail system.
The park address is 1740 Taughannock Blvd, Trumansburg, NY 14886, and the park office phone is (607) 539-4078.
New York State Parks charges a $10 vehicle use fee. It is collected daily from sunup to sundown, and pay stations take over when no attendant is present. If you hold a New York Empire Pass, it covers the day-use vehicle fee here and at other state parks.
For a room instead of a campsite, the Inn at Taughannock Falls is a private inn at 2030 Gorge Rd., Trumansburg, with 26 guest rooms. The inn says the park is directly in front of it and the main falls is a 20-minute walk.
Camping and cabins
The Upper Entrance serves the park's campground. NY State Parks listed the 2026 camping season as May 15 to October 12, with existing reservations only at the time we read the page.
Campsites
In 2026, campsites cost $20 to $27 a night, per NY State Parks. We didn't find an official site count or a list of electric sites, so check the park page when you book.
Cabins
In 2026, cabins started at $59 a night or $266 a week. NY State Parks listed them as available May 15 to October 12, with a week requirement in prime season, June 27 to August 28.
In prime season, cabins rented Saturday to Saturday with a 7-night minimum. The rest of the season had a 2-night minimum.
In 2026, non-New York residents paid $5 more per night for campsites and $7 more per night ($28 per week) for cabins.
The 2026 season has ended. The park page we read listed only 2026 dates, so confirm 2027 dates before you plan a trip.
Map and nearby falls
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The hike
Taughannock Falls has two main viewpoints. The Gorge Trail leads to the base, about 1.5 miles round trip, and the Falls Overlook at the Upper Entrance looks down from the north rim.
Gorge Trail
New York State Parks describes the Gorge Trail as wide, wooded, relatively flat and suitable for all ages. It runs about 3/4 mile each way and ends at the base of the falls, for roughly 1.5 miles round trip.
Falls Overlook
If you'd rather not walk far, the overlook at the Upper Entrance looks down on the falls from the north rim. It is a short walk from the parking area.
Visit Ithaca listings put the overlook visitor center's season at May to October, 10am to 5pm. Sources differ on which days it opens, so call the park before you count on it.
Rim trails
The North Rim and South Rim trails follow the top of the gorge and are rated moderate. The park map puts the North Rim at about 1.4 to 1.5 miles and the South Rim at about 1 1/8 miles, though other sources differ. Combined with the Gorge Trail, they can make a loop.
Accessibility
The Gorge Trail is not officially designated accessible, even though it is wide and fairly flat. The swimming beach is listed as accessible. If you use a wheelchair or stroller, call the park office to ask about current trail conditions.
When to visit
The park is open year-round, dawn to dusk. As of April 17, 2026, all trails had fully reopened, according to New York State Parks.
In winter, call the park about trail status at (607) 539-4078 before you go. Visit Ithaca says the North and South Rim trails close for safety in winter and reopen in spring. The current park page doesn't list which trails close for the season.
For the biggest flow, Visit Ithaca calls spring the surest time to see area waterfalls at full power. Snowmelt and rain in April and early May also make trails muddy, so wear shoes that can handle it.
Summer adds lake activities. In 2026 camping ran May 15 to October 12, and the guarded beach was open June 26 to Labor Day (September 7), 11am to 7pm. The beach closed for harmful algal blooms more than once in summer 2026, including on August 29, per the Community Science Institute. The 2026 beach season has ended.
Fall color
FingerLakes1 reported on Oct 22, 2026 that Ithaca and Trumansburg were at 95% color change, citing I LOVE NY. Color changes week to week, so check a current foliage report before you go.
Adding a second stop in town? Our Ithaca Falls guide covers a wide falls on Fall Creek inside the city of Ithaca.
| Height | 215 ftNote: single plunge, 33 ft taller than Niagara Falls per Wikipedia; gorge walls rise nearly 400 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Gorge Trail: about 3/4 mi each way (about 1.5 mi round trip), wide and nearly flat, to the base of the falls. Rim trails are about 1 to 1.5 mi each; call the park about winter trail status. |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Entry fee | $10 vehicle use fee (2026), collected sunup to sundown; covered by the Empire Pass |
| Permit / reservation | No permit; $10 vehicle use fee (Empire Pass accepted) |
| Parking | Lower Entrance for the Gorge Trail; Upper Entrance for the overlook ($10 vehicle fee) |
| Hours / season | Dawn to dusk, year-round (NY State Parks) |
| Dogs | Up to 2 pets on a leash of 6 ft or less in day-use areas; not in buildings, playgrounds, boardwalks or guarded beaches |
| Swimming | Prohibited under the waterfall (Wikipedia). Swimming only at the guarded Cayuga Lake beach in season (June 26 to Labor Day in 2026). |
| Wheelchair / stroller | The swimming beach is listed as accessible. The Gorge Trail is wide and fairly flat but not officially designated accessible; call the park. |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Best time to visit | Spring for the highest flow (Visit Ithaca) |
| Managed by | New York State Parks (OPRHP), Finger Lakes Region |
Safety and swimming
Swimming under the waterfall is hazardous and prohibited, Wikipedia notes. Stay on the Gorge Trail and view the plunge pool from the trail, not from the water. In this park, swimming is limited to the guarded Cayuga Lake beach during its summer season.
Lake water can turn unsafe too. Harmful algal blooms closed the beach more than once in summer 2026, including on August 29, per the Community Science Institute. The Community Science Institute listed the swimming area as closed until further notice after that bloom. Follow posted beach notices.
The rim trails run along the top of a gorge nearly 400 feet deep. Stay on marked trails, keep children close, and keep pets on a leash of 6 feet or less, as park rules require. Spring mud can make trail surfaces slick.
Conditions change: confirm with New York State Parks before you go. For general tips, read our waterfall safety guide.
Where to stay near Taughannock Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Trumansburg.
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Photos
Taughannock Falls FAQ
How much does it cost to visit Taughannock Falls?
New York State Parks charges a $10 vehicle use fee, collected daily from sunup to sundown, with pay stations when no attendant is on duty. A New York Empire Pass covers it. No separate ticket is needed.
How long is the Taughannock Falls gorge trail?
About 3/4 mile each way, so roughly 1.5 miles round trip, according to the park. It's wide and nearly flat, and it ends at the base of the falls.
Can you camp at Taughannock Falls State Park?
Yes, in season. In 2026 the campground and cabins ran May 15 to October 12. Campsites were $20 to $27 a night, and cabins started at $59 a night, per NY State Parks. Confirm 2027 dates with the park.
Can you swim at Taughannock Falls?
Not at the falls. Wikipedia notes that swimming under the waterfall is prohibited. The park has a guarded beach on Cayuga Lake in summer, open June 26 to Labor Day in 2026. It closed more than once that summer because of harmful algal blooms.
Can you see Taughannock Falls without hiking?
Yes. The Falls Overlook at the Upper Entrance looks down on the falls from the north rim, a short walk from the parking area.
Are dogs allowed at Taughannock Falls State Park?
Yes, up to two pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet, or crated, in day-use areas. Pets are not allowed in buildings, playgrounds, boardwalks or guarded beaches, and the park may ask for proof of rabies vaccination.
Is Taughannock Falls open in winter?
Yes. The park is open year-round, dawn to dusk. Call the park at (607) 539-4078 about winter trail status before you go.
How do you pronounce Taughannock?
Wikipedia gives the pronunciation as tuh-GAN-uk.
Nearby waterfalls
Ithaca Falls8 mi straight-lineOpen150FT
Lucifer Falls9 mi straight-lineOpen115FT
Buttermilk Falls9 mi straight-lineOpen
On these lists: Dog-friendly waterfalls · Easy waterfall hikes
Sources
- NY State Parks: Taughannock Falls State Park (read Oct 27, 2026)
- NY State Parks: Taughannock park page (fees, alerts, cabin minimums)
- NY State Parks: Taughannock Falls park map (PDF, 2026)
- NY State Parks: 2026 Empire Pass now available
- Inn at Taughannock Falls (rooms and walk to the falls)
- Visit Ithaca: Taughannock Falls State Park
- Visit Ithaca: Mud season and spring waterfalls
- Cornell University Gorge Safety: homepage (gorge swimming strictly prohibited)
- Cornell University Gorge Safety: Safe swimming options (lifeguarded state park swimming)
- Community Science Institute: HAB report, Taughannock (2026)
- Wikipedia: Taughannock Falls State Park (history, pronunciation)
- FingerLakes1: Peak fall colors spread across Finger Lakes (Oct 22, 2026)
Last verified Oct 27, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with New York State Parks (OPRHP), Finger Lakes Region before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.