Two Gorges, Very Different Experiences

Taughannock Falls State Park and Watkins Glen State Park are the two most visited natural attractions in the Finger Lakes. They sit 45 minutes apart by car — Taughannock on the west shore of Cayuga Lake, 10 miles north of Ithaca, and Watkins Glen at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. Visitors with limited time often ask which one to choose. The answer depends on what kind of experience you want, who is in your group, and how much physical effort you are willing to invest.

They are not interchangeable. The two parks deliver fundamentally different payoffs, and understanding those differences before you arrive prevents the disappointment that comes from expecting one and getting the other.

The Side-by-Side Comparison

Taughannock Falls: One Massive Payoff

The trail: The Gorge Trail at Taughannock is a flat, three-quarter-mile walk from the parking area to the base of the falls. The path follows Taughannock Creek through a widening shale gorge with walls that rise to 400 feet. The surface is crushed gravel and packed earth — stroller-friendly, wheelchair-accessible with assistance for most of the route. There are no stairs. Elevation gain is negligible.

The waterfall: Taughannock Falls drops 215 feet in a single, unbroken plunge — 33 feet taller than Niagara Falls, though far narrower. The falls land in a plunge pool at the base of a natural amphitheater carved from Devonian-era shale. In spring and early summer, when snowmelt feeds the creek, the water volume is dramatic. By late August in a dry year, the falls thin to a veil, though the gorge itself remains striking regardless of water flow.

The experience: Taughannock is about the destination, not the journey. The walk is pleasant but unremarkable until the gorge opens up and the falls appear. Then you stand at the base, look up 215 feet, and absorb the scale. The round trip — walking in, spending time at the falls, walking back — takes 30 to 45 minutes for most visitors. The North and South Rim Trails (1.5 miles each, with moderate elevation change) offer overlook views down into the gorge for those wanting a longer hike.

Difficulty: Easy. One of the most accessible major waterfall trails in the Northeast. Suitable for toddlers in strollers, elderly visitors, and anyone who can walk three-quarters of a mile on flat ground.

Watkins Glen: A Continuous Spectacle

The trail: The Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen runs 1.5 miles one way from the main entrance at the south end to the upper entrance near the campground. The trail climbs approximately 400 feet via 832 stone steps cut into the gorge walls and creek bed. The gorge narrows to barely wider than the trail in several sections, with walls rising 200 feet on either side. The stone steps are perpetually damp from waterfall spray and seepage.

The waterfalls: Nineteen waterfalls appear along the 1.5-mile route. They range from curtain falls you walk behind (Cavern Cascade, about a quarter mile from the entrance) to tiered cascades that tumble alongside the trail. No single falls approaches Taughannock’s height — the tallest is about 60 feet — but the cumulative effect of 19 falls in close succession, viewed from inside the gorge rather than from a distance, creates a sensory experience that Taughannock’s single payoff cannot match.

The experience: Watkins Glen is about the journey. Every turn in the gorge reveals a new waterfall, a new rock formation, a new angle of light filtering through the narrow canyon. The trail itself is the attraction — the stone steps winding behind falls, the spray hitting your face, the walls closing in and opening up. The hike demands engagement from start to finish. Most visitors take 60 to 90 minutes one way, with a $5 shuttle ride from the top back to the entrance. For the full trail breakdown, see our Watkins Glen Gorge Trail length and timing guide.

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. The 832 stone steps are uneven and often wet. Proper footwear with rubber tread is essential. Not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Children aged 6 and up handle the trail regularly, but the footing demands attention. The climb is sustained — equivalent to roughly 60 to 80 flights of stairs spread over 1.5 miles. For the detailed trail guide, see our Watkins Glen Gorge Trail guide.

Crowds and Timing

Watkins Glen draws significantly more visitors than Taughannock, particularly on summer weekends. The parking lot fills by 10 a.m. on July and August Saturdays, and the trail develops bottlenecks at Cavern Cascade and other narrow points where photographers cluster. Arriving before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. reduces congestion dramatically. Weekday visits are noticeably less crowded. Vehicle entrance fee: $10 on summer weekends.

Taughannock Falls sees fewer crowds because the experience is shorter and the park is less well-known outside the region. The parking lot fills on peak weekends but rarely before 11 a.m. The trail itself is wide enough that congestion is not an issue even at busy times. Vehicle fee: $8 to $10 on summer weekends, often waived on weekdays and in the off-season.

Best time for both: Late May through June for peak water flow. September through mid-October for fall foliage and smaller crowds. Early morning (before 9 a.m.) for the fewest people and the best gorge light.

Which Is Better For…

Families with Strollers or Young Children

Taughannock wins decisively. The flat, stroller-friendly trail and single dramatic waterfall payoff deliver a complete experience in under an hour without requiring small children to navigate wet stone steps.

Hikers and Active Visitors

Watkins Glen. The trail offers a genuine physical challenge with constant visual reward. The 832 steps, the narrow canyon, and the 19 waterfalls make for a hike that earns every step. Taughannock’s flat trail does not deliver the same sense of accomplishment.

Photographers

Both, but for different shots. Watkins Glen produces more varied images — Cavern Cascade with the trail passing behind the falls, the narrow canyon walls with sunbeams filtering through, Rainbow Falls in morning light. Taughannock delivers one iconic shot: the full 215-foot falls framed by the shale amphitheater, which is particularly striking during fall foliage in mid-October or after spring snowmelt when the flow is heavy. Serious photographers should visit both.

Visitors with Limited Mobility

Taughannock. The gorge trail is flat and mostly smooth. The overlook off Route 89, accessible from the parking area without any trail walking, provides a distant but clear view of the falls. Watkins Glen has no accessible option for the gorge floor — the overlook at the main entrance offers a glimpse into the gorge, but the dramatic views require descending the stone steps.

First-Time Finger Lakes Visitors

Watkins Glen, if you can manage the stairs. It is the more dramatic and memorable experience, and it delivers the Finger Lakes gorge landscape at its most intense. But if your group includes anyone who cannot handle 832 wet stone steps, Taughannock provides a stunning waterfall with none of the physical demands.

Can You Do Both in a Day?

Yes, and many visitors do. The two parks are 45 minutes apart by car via Route 79 and Route 89 through Ithaca, or about an hour via the more direct Route 228 to Route 96. A practical plan:

• 8:30 a.m.: Arrive at Watkins Glen. Hike the Gorge Trail (60 to 90 minutes). Take the shuttle back to the entrance.
• 10:30 a.m.: Drive to Taughannock Falls (45 minutes via Ithaca on Route 79 East to Route 89 North).
• 11:30 a.m.: Walk the Taughannock Gorge Trail (30 to 45 minutes round trip).
• 12:30 p.m.: Lunch in Ithaca (10 minutes south) or at Taughannock Park’s picnic area.

Total active time: about 2.5 to 3 hours of hiking plus 45 minutes of driving. You are done by early afternoon with the rest of the day open for wine tasting, swimming, or a restaurant meal. This itinerary works best on a weekday or early-morning weekend start, when parking and trail congestion are minimal at both parks.

For a broader look at all the waterfalls near Ithaca, including Buttermilk Falls and Lucifer Falls at Robert H. Treman, see our guide to the best waterfalls near Ithaca.