Taughannock Falls Gorge Trail

Taughannock Falls State Park,
Tompkins Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Gorge Trail

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2 Miles

Pros: Walking along stream bed, large waterfall
Cons: Very busy hike
Hike Type: In and out

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/ggCgW5CaRaaKQ5WF8

Continuing on our camping trip to Taughannock Falls, I went with my younger children on this short hike through the base of the gorge to the foot of the waterfalls. We parked at the lower parking area on Cayuga Lake, and took the Gorge Trail past the lower falls. The bed of the creek was mostly dry and created a fascinating flat rocky area that you could walk along. We walked along the dry creek bed for most of the way until the falls, through the deep gorge, with steep cliff walls on both sides.

My footing was not good and I wasn't wearing my typical footwear with a good grip, and actually fell into the water. So my advice is to make sure to wear good footwear. The falls were quite dry but they were flowing. The previous day at the lookout from the top they were almost completely dry. So we were glad to see the actual falls flowing. We then returned back along the Gorge Trail, which is a wide and well-traversed trail.

Map of the Route

Map of the Route

Information Plaque at the Beginning of the Gorge Trail

Lower Falls at the Beginning of the Hike

Plaque at the Small Waterfalls

Another View of the Small Falls with a Pool Below

Rock Fave of the Mostly Dry Stream Bed Looking into the Gorge

Another View of the Rocky Floor Looking out to the Gorge Exit

Looking into the Gorge

Small Cascade in the Creek

Partially Dry Rocky Stream Bed

View of the Creek Bed and the Gorge

Cliff Wall at the Edge of the Stream

Along the Creek Bed and High Cliffs on the Side

Bridge Across the Creek with the Falls in the Distance

Plaque Before the Falls

Taughannock Falls Main Cascade

Taughannock Falls Tumbling Over the Gorge Walls

Me at Taughannock Falls at the End of the Gorge Trail

Taughannock Falls and Outlet

Plauque at Big Bend in the Gorge