The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven lakes located just north of Ithaca, New York. The surrounding area is well known for its wineries, breweries, cute towns, and beautiful hiking trails, making it a great place for a vacation. The Finger Lakes and its nearby gorges were formed by glaciers millions of years ago. These large lakes and gorges also caused hundreds of waterfalls to be formed in this region, and visiting some of them was a major highlight of my visit to the Finger Lakes!
I stayed in the Finger Lakes for four nights, which was the perfect length to be able to fit in visits to a variety of vineyards, breweries, and cute towns. However, I am a waterfall lover and I wanted to visit as many waterfalls as possible during my visit. This was a bit challenging given that many of the Finger Lakes waterfalls require a 1+ hour hike in order to see them, which would have taken up a lot of my vacation time. However, there are many amazing waterfalls in the Finger Lakes that you can see without hiking. These waterfalls without hiking are great to visit if you are short on time or if you don’t feel up to a lengthy hike.
Below is a list of the best waterfalls in the Finger Lakes that you can visit without hiking:
1) Lower Falls at Robert Treman State Park
This was my favorite waterfall in the Finger Lakes! There is a large swimming area beneath the waterfall, equipped with diving boards and life guards. It was a really cool experience to be able to swim in a natural pool beneath a waterfall. Be prepared- the water is VERY cold. We went swimming here labor day weekend and it was FREEZING… but we quickly warmed up afterwards at a local brewery!
2) Taughannock Falls
Taughannock Falls was one of the most beautiful waterfalls that I saw in the Finger Lakes. It is 215 feet tall and flows through a 400 foot cliff and gorge. While there is a really nice hiking trail here, it is not necessary to hike in order to get a view of the waterfall. Be sure to park at the “Overlook Visitors Center” to be able to see the waterfall without entering the hiking trail. At this location there is free one hour parking, as well as facilities with maps, park information, and bathrooms.
3) Seneca Mill Falls
Seneca Mill Falls is located between Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake. The closest parking lot is located off of Outlet Road just a few meters west of the waterfall. Seneca Mill Falls is located on the Seneca Lake Outlet Trail which is a very short and easy hiking trail if you are interested in a short hike. If you find yourself in the area on a Saturday, be sure to also visit The Windmill Farm and Craft Market to pick up snacks for a picnic at the waterfall.
4) Shequaga Falls
Shequaga Falls is located a few miles south of Watkins Glen in the town of Montour Falls. It is a 165 foot waterfall that is visible from the road, making it an easy waterfall to drive to for a quick visit. I recommend visiting this waterfall after heavy rain, as it was quite dry when I saw it.
5) Hector Falls
Hector Falls is located along Route 414 just east of Seneca Lake. The waterfall is visible from the street, or you can walk down a short path to get to the foot of the waterfall. Exercise caution when parking and getting out of your car- route 404 is a busy road! I really enjoyed being able to walk so close to the foot of the waterfall and would definitely consider this one of the best waterfalls in the Finger Lakes that you can see without hiking.
6) Ithaca Falls
Ithaca Falls is located a few minutes north of downtown Ithaca. It is visible from Lake Street Bridge, or you can walk a bit closer to it for an even better view. There is water contamination from local factories, so be sure to avoid going in the water.
Planning a trip to the Finger Lakes? Be sure to also check out the Best Finger Lakes Wineries.
