Taughannock Falls
- Height
- 215 ft
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
Taughannock Falls drops about 215 ft on Taughannock Creek in Tompkins County, New York.
Closures and warnings
Stay on marked trails. Gorge walls shed rock; swimming at the waterfall base is not a designated swim area. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 215 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | About 215 ft single drop in a gorge wider than Niagara; park swimming is at the Cayuga Lake beach, not the falls plunge pool |
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Current | None |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Taughannock Falls State Park on Cayuga Lake near Trumansburg. Gorge Trail to the base and Rim Trails to overlooks. |
| Parking | Main park and overlook lots |
| Fee | Vehicle use fee when the entrance booth is open (Empire Pass accepted) |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (Taughannock Falls State Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Cayuga Lake swimming beach (seasonal), marina, camping, and picnic areas in addition to waterfall trails |
Rules
| Camping | Allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Taughannock Falls open?
Stay on marked trails. Gorge walls shed rock; swimming at the waterfall base is not a designated swim area. As of September 28, 2026.
How tall is Taughannock Falls?
Taughannock Falls drops about 215 ft.
Can you swim at Taughannock Falls?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Taughannock Falls. No current is reported here.
How do you get to Taughannock Falls?
The road in is paved. Taughannock Falls State Park on Cayuga Lake near Trumansburg. Gorge Trail to the base and Rim Trails to overlooks. Parking: Main park and overlook lots.
Do you need a reservation for Taughannock Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Taughannock Falls?
The fee is Vehicle use fee when the entrance booth is open (Empire Pass accepted).
When is Taughannock Falls flowing?
About 215 ft single drop in a gorge wider than Niagara; park swimming is at the Cayuga Lake beach, not the falls plunge pool.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Fishing nearby
Public land
Taughannock Falls is inside Taughannock Falls State Park .
Sources
1
- https://parks.ny.gov/parks/taughannockfalls (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / waterfall.heightFt / waterfall.flowNote / access.amenities / rules.camping, access.fee / access.permitRequired / access.parking / access.roadNote, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / waterType / hazardNote, waterbodyName, waterfall.ephemeral, swimmerNotes.current / entryType)
More: New York waterfalls