Hot Springs, Waterfalls and Swimming Holes in New York

New York has 5 waterfalls and 4 swimming holes on record. 1 is closed to swimming or soaking, listed below; each place page has any warning on file.

Where you can't swim or soak

Buttermilk Falls waterfall Seasonal closure: Swimming beach open seasonally (2026 posted schedule from July 3, likely closing mid-August); gorge trails currently open
Enfield Glen Lower Falls swimming hole Seasonal closure: Swimming in the lower park pool when open seasonally (not at waterfall brink)
Kaaterskill Falls waterfall No swimming
Watkins Glen waterfall Seasonal closure: Gorge Trail typically opens mid-late May and closes mid-late October (2026 posted close Oct 25); rim trails open year-round without gorge access Nov-May

Name	Access	Fee	Status
Buttermilk Falls Tompkins County	Development Waterfall	Access paved road	Fee Vehicle entry $10 (bus $35) collected daily April 1 through November 30, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Empire Pass accepted	Status Closure or warning on file
Enfield Glen Lower Falls Tompkins County	Development Swimming hole	Access paved road	Fee Vehicle use fee when the entrance booth is open (Empire Pass accepted)	Status Closure or warning on file
Kaaterskill Falls Greene County	Development Waterfall	Access paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
Lucifer Falls Tompkins County	Development Waterfall	Access paved road	Fee Vehicle use fee when the entrance booth is open (Empire Pass accepted)	Status Closure or warning on file
Taughannock Falls Tompkins County	Development Waterfall	Access paved road	Fee Vehicle use fee when the entrance booth is open (Empire Pass accepted)	Status Closure or warning on file
Watkins Glen Schuyler County	Development Waterfall	Access 1 mi hike, paved road	Fee Vehicle entrance $10 mid-May through mid-October (sunrise to sunset at gates); Empire Pass accepted	Status Closure or warning on file

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