Taughannock Falls drops 215 feet in a single, uninterrupted plunge — 33 feet taller than Niagara Falls. The falls land in a natural amphitheater of shale and sandstone walls that rise 400 feet on either side, and the effect is genuinely staggering regardless of how many waterfalls you have seen before.

Two trails reach the base:

• Gorge Trail: 1.5 miles round trip, flat and paved, accessible to strollers and wheelchairs for most of its length. This is the classic approach. The trail follows Taughannock Creek through the gorge and dead-ends at a viewing area about 100 yards from the falls. Easy difficulty.
• North Rim and South Rim Trails: Each about 1.5 miles one way. These trails run along the top of the gorge and offer dramatic overlook views down into the canyon. Moderate difficulty with some elevation change. You can connect them into a 3-mile loop using the Gorge Trail at the bottom.

Taughannock Falls State Park sits on the west shore of Cayuga Lake, about 10 minutes north of Ithaca on Route 89. The park also has a beach, a boat launch, and lakeside campsites.

Buttermilk Falls is not one waterfall but a cascading series of falls and rapids that drops more than 500 feet over about half a mile. The main falls at the base, visible from the parking lot, drops about 165 feet in a dramatic tiered cascade. A trail climbs alongside the falls for 0.75 miles to Pinnacle Rock and Lake Treman at the top. Moderate difficulty with stone steps. A natural swimming pool at the base of the main falls is open for swimming in summer.

The park is on Route 13 at the southern edge of Ithaca, making it one of the easiest waterfall hikes to reach from downtown.

Eagle Cliff Falls drops about 40 feet into a wide, shallow pool at the end of Havana Glen, a short gorge trail maintained by the Village of Montour Falls. The trail is 0.5 miles one way and follows the creek through a narrow gorge with moss-covered walls. Easy to moderate difficulty. Admission is $3 per person (cash only, honor system at the trailhead box). It is far less crowded than the nearby state parks and makes a good stop on the same trip as She-Qua-Ga Falls, which is just down the road.

Cascadilla Gorge Trail runs 1.2 miles from the center of Ithaca (starting near the Ithaca Commons at Court Street) up through a rocky gorge to the Cornell University campus. Along the way, it passes eight distinct waterfalls and cascades. The trail is entirely stone steps and footbridges, climbing about 400 feet in elevation. Moderate to strenuous difficulty. This is not a state park — no entrance fee. The trail is maintained by Cornell and typically opens in mid-May and closes in November.

It is one of the few waterfall hikes in the country that starts in the middle of a downtown and ends on a university campus, which makes it convenient but also means it gets heavy foot traffic on weekends.

She-Qua-Ga Falls drops 156 feet directly into the village of Montour Falls, visible from Main Street. It is one of the tallest roadside waterfalls in the eastern United States. A small park at the base provides benches and a clear view. No hiking required — you park on the street and walk 50 feet. Free. The falls run year-round but are most impressive in spring when snowmelt swells the flow. In winter, the falls often freeze into a dramatic column of ice.

About a quarter mile south of She-Qua-Ga on Route 14, Aunt Sarah’s Falls drops roughly 90 feet down a rock face alongside the road. There is a small pulloff for parking. Free. Combine it with She-Qua-Ga for a two-waterfall stop that takes less than 15 minutes total.

Hector Falls cascades about 165 feet down a series of ledges directly alongside Route 414 on the east side of Seneca Lake, roughly 5 miles north of Watkins Glen. There is a small pulloff on the lake side of the road where you can stop and take photos. You cannot hike to the falls — the land is private — but the view from the road is excellent, and the falls are especially powerful after a rain or in spring. Free.

Deckertown Falls is a broad, photogenic waterfall about 50 feet tall on Catlin Mill Creek, visible from a bridge on Deckertown Road in the town of Montour. Limited roadside parking. Free. It does not attract the crowds of the bigger falls, so you are likely to have it to yourself. Best visited in spring or after heavy rain.

Grimes Glen is a 1-mile gorge hike that requires wading directly through the creek bed for most of its length. There is no maintained trail — the creek is the trail. The reward: two waterfalls, each approximately 60 feet tall, in a narrow gorge with walls layered in Devonian-era shale and fossils. The first falls is about 0.5 miles in. The second, taller falls is another quarter mile beyond.

Practical details:

• Wear water shoes or old sneakers you do not mind getting soaked. The creek bed is slippery and uneven, with water typically knee-deep in summer and waist-deep in spring.
• Do not attempt this hike in spring when water levels are high or after heavy rain. Summer and early fall are the safest times.
• Parking is at a small lot on Vine Street in the village of Naples. No fee.
• The gorge is on town land and is free to access. Moderate difficulty due to the creek walking, but no significant elevation gain.

Naples is at the south end of Canandaigua Lake, and Grimes Glen is walking distance from the village center with its grape pie shops and breweries.