Taughannock Falls via Gorge Trail is a 1.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Jacksonville, New York that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
This is the quickest trail from the main entrance to the bottom fo Taughannock Falls. It is easy and heavily trafficked. This trail passes by a 20-foot cascade known as the Little or Lower Falls before you reach the main falls. Many people use this area for swimming or jumping into the pool but this is prohibited. Look carefully at the rock layers and you may see some fossils. Some visitors also choose to do the North Rim Trail and the South Rim Trails that circle the upper part of the gorge. You can also find this route on AllTrails. Accessibility: Although this trail is wide, it has a gravel surface and the rocks can be slippery. Most of the trail has a grade of 8% or less making it moderately steep but at about 0.3 miles and from about 0.6 miles to 0.7 miles the grade is estimated to be very steep, above 12% (marked with waypoints). Wheelchair/mobility equipment or stroller users may need assistance navigating this trail due to the gravel surface and steep section, or may need all-terrain tires or motorized equipment. There is also an overlook by the visitor's center for users who do not want to attempt the lower trail.
New York State Division of Tourism, One Commerce Plaza , Albany, NY, 12245, Phone: 518-474-4116
Directions from Ithaca, NY: Travel 8 miles north along SR 89. There is parking by the South Rim
April 20, 2021Beautiful waterfall, the hike in is fun as well with some smaller waterfalls along the way. Great hike for a dog, he loved going into the water to cool off.
April 19, 2021very nice
April 18, 2021very muddy this time of year. be prepared
April 18, 2021Easy walking trail, beautiful scenery, awesome falls surrounded by high rock walls.
April 10, 2021Clean, easy with a stroller and plenty of places to stop and rest or enjoy the view.
April 10, 2021Beautiful reward at the end of a gentle short hike
April 7, 2021My personal favorite. Super easy and well maintained, with beautiful waterfalls at the end.
April 2, 2021Quick and easy. The size of the gorge walls are breathtaking
March 28, 2021My husband and I did this trail with our dog on 3-27-21. We have done this trail before, but the waterfall was just a trickle then, so we wanted to see it at a time when it had more water flowing. It is a very easy, flat walk to the waterfall and back, and more crowded than we like, but I think that's typical here. The scenery is beautiful throughout the walk with some education posted along the way, which is always very interesting. The waterfall was gorgeous, and full of water. I really hate to be around a lot of people in nature and honestly almost rated it a 3 solely for that reason, but we knew what to expect before we came. --Jennifer
March 26, 2021Easy stroll through a beautiful canyon that reminded me a bit of Zion. The trip along the river and the falls at the end are absolutely amazing too. The very end was closed at the end of the bridge, but still cool to get so close to such a tall waterfall!
March 20, 2021Did both loops and saw two beautiful falls.
March 20, 2021Nice short hike withe beautiful views!
March 17, 2021Great short hike
March 17, 2021March 15, 2021A nice easy hike. Great for the family. The falls were beautiful. They are really flowing this time of year. You’ll love the scenery as you walk to the falls as well.
March 14, 2021easy trail/more of a nature walk, gets packed with big groups so that was kind of frustrating. but it's easy enough that it was a nice walk as a blizzard was picking up and the waterfall is beautiful in the winter
March 12, 2021February 28, 2021Trail was a bit icy but really good overall. Not too steep at any spot and wide trail.
February 27, 2021February 24, 2021If you have ever thought about seeing the falls in winter now is the time. Absolutely gorgeous but you can’t go past the end of the bridge near the falls.
February 21, 2021February 21, 2021It was icy but easily walked
February 17, 2021It was cold (20F), but turned out to be a very nice walk back to the falls with my kids. The path was well cleared of snow and wasn’t slippery for the most part.
February 13, 2021February 6, 2021January 29, 2021I went out 2 days ago. The trail to the bottom of the falls was packed, powder snow. It wasn’t icy at all. Beautiful walk.
January 21, 2021January 17, 2021Great little hike to the falls
January 11, 2021Nice Sunday afternoon hike. Water was running great which made beautiful ice structures
