Taughannock Falls State Park

Taughannock Falls State Park covers 750 acres of land with a 215-foot waterfall, making it the highest single-drop cascade east of the Rocky Mountains.

The park land belonged to the Cayuga people until their displacement after the American Revolutionary War, later becoming a tourist destination with steamboats and hotels.

The naming of Taughannock originates from Native American languages, referring to the presence of a large waterfall within dense woodland areas.

The park features multiple trails, including the 1.5-mile Gorge Trail leading to the waterfall base and rim trails providing alternative viewing perspectives.

In 1879, workers discovered what appeared to be a petrified seven-foot-tall human figure near the Taughannock House Hotel, which turned out to be fabricated.

Location: Tompkins County

Inception: 1925

Operator: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Phone: +16073876739

Website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/taughannockfalls/details.aspx

GPS coordinates: 42.54687,-76.59947

Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:49