“Outdoors & Recreation in Trumansburg, NY”
Taughannock Falls is located in Ulysses, NY, part of the popular Finger Lakes Region of central New York. The falls is part of Taughannock State Park located between the Village of Trumansburg and the city of Ithaca. The falls cataract has an incredible drop of 215 feet (66 meters), and is one of the highest east of the Rocky Mountains. Taughannock State Park also features hiking and nature trails, tent and trailer sites, cabins, picnic areas, beach swimming, fishing, playground areas, a marina launching site, ice-skating, sledding, cross-country skiing and an annual summer concert series.' "The main cataract of the falls is a 215-foot drop (66 m), making it 33 feet (10 m) taller than Niagara Falls. It is one of the largest single-drop waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains.The water flows through a long gorge with cliffs up to 400 ft high (120 m), characteristic of the area's gorges that give rise to the common "Ithaca is Gorges" bumper stickers and t-shirts. The waterfall and gorge comprise an example of a hanging valley that developed in a very similar fashion to the one at nearby Watkins Glen State Park. None of the local gorges were "carved by glaciers." In fact all of the gorges are post-glacial valleys carved by the streams that still run through them. It is the valleys over which the waterfalls hang that were eroded (over-deepened) by the advance of the Pleistocene ice sheets.Visitors can reach an excellent view of the waterfall by walking along a 3/4-mile-long trail (1.2 km). The gorge trail is open all year long, unlike the rim trails which are closed to the public in winter. Visitors in autumn can enjoy the picturesque colors of the surrounding trees. Swimming under the waterfall is hazardous and strictly forbidden."
Reviews of Taughannock Falls State Park Campground
20 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G/5G
Confirmed by 4 users | Last reported on June 05, 2022AT&T 4G
Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on September 18, 2021Reviews
The walk to the falls from the base is less than a mile, but it's worth the walk. The falls are beautiful and taller than Niagara Falls by 33 feet. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash.
This waterfall is absolutely worth the walk! We went when the river was low so we walked along the dry river banks and skipped rocks the whole way. The water fall at the end of the trail is breathtaking! Waterproof boots/shoes would be best but my friends did this in sneakers. We went in the afternoon/evening and there were hardly any people around. I highly recommend taking this hike if you are anywhere in the area
Oh my goodness, this place will hold a special place in my heart forever. I went camping here in May 2017. The main waterfall is a short walk from the campsites, and the rim trails are just as fantastic as the gorge trail, though--perfectly shady with great views. There are shady and sunny campsites, and all the campers were peaceful. Ithaca is a short drive (10 miles?) from the park, and there's so much to do and see there (the farmer's market, all the cool stores, museums, etc.). And the whole area is chock full of other waterfalls within an hour's drive; it really is a gem of an area!
Me and the whole family took the trail at Taughannock Falls State Park and really enjoyed it. The waterfall is massive (I believe it is one of the highest of the area) and it really beautiful to see this scenery.
You need to wear appropriate shoes and clothes in case it gets muddy or wet!
You can get a guide map at the entrance that will let you know which way to go and make sure you pass from the bridge in order to take some wonderful photographs.
Beautiful park with miles of trails and great views of the falls.
Quite beautiful, did a trail here and enjoyed it very much!
It's very easy to drive right past the campground entrance sign in the dusk, since google maps drops you off at the park office down and across the highway. Look for Taughannock Park Road off SR 89, 1/4 mile north of the park office.
The campground was mostly clean and well-maintained. Sites on the electric (first) loop were a bit close together, without adequate greenery between some sites - our picnic table was very close to the water service. There's also noticeable but rarely obnoxious road noise.
The showers on the second/non-electric loop are nicer - that bathroom has an all-new interior, so don't let the "vintage camp" exterior mislead you.
One negative was that after we spent 15 minutes picking cigarette butts off the ground at our site and the vacant one adjacent (hey, we're good neighbors!), the Parks employee who came by shortly afterward to water the newly-planted saplings flicked his butt to the ground - at our campsite, no less.
That said, even in the extreme drought the hikes along Taughannock Gorge to the (3) falls were beautiful. The gorge hike is an easy, mostly level, handicapped-accessible wide path through a mix of woods and open creekside, ending in a scenic lookout at the base of the middle (Taughannock) falls. The rim trails are more difficult, but you can drive halfway up and park at the Visitor's Center to hike just part of the North Rim Trail if preferred. Another substantial trail is under construction and will eventually span 8 miles or so to connect the Upper Falls with Ithaca, NY.
We expect to go back in a year or two. It's the only state park campground near beautiful, lively Ithaca which offers electric hookups.
Cell coverage listed includes w/booster.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 14
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
I stayed here for 2-night layover enroute to my destination campground. I chose Taughannock because of its location and for its trails.
The electric sites are very close together and provide no privacy, the tenting sites are somewhat better in this regard. The Comfort Station in the electric loop is older, but was clean, provided good, hot showers and an indoor wash station.
The rim trails provide fantastic views of the river and the gorge. You can access both the north and south branches of the rim trail from the gorge parking lot. Both branches start with a staircase of about 120 steps--although there is an 'alternate route' around the north rim steps that I did not explore. If this is too daunting for some, you can access the rim trail from the North Rim Visitors' Centre. The gorge trail is flat all the way to the falls. At an easy pace, I hiked both the rim loop and the gorge trail in about 2 1/2 hours, which included many stops for photos and a short delay while a crew was scaling rocks above the gorge trail. I hiked approx. 5 miles in total.
There is a large park along Cayuga Lake by the Park Office. Due to my limited stay, I did not have the opportunity to explore it, I would definitely like to return to hike the trail again and to kayak.
Nightly Rate: $33.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 16
RV Type: Other
While the electric only sites are tiny the amazing hiking makes up for that fact.
Little internet in the campground but plenty at the overlook and beach.
Nightly Rate: $29.00
Days Stayed: 6
Site Number: 14
RV Length: 33 ft
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon
Beautiful park. Shaded sites, some very small with limited privacy. Non electric were better overall.
Nightly Rate: $38.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 75
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
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Taughannock Falls State Park Campground
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Sites Count
- 68
- Last Nightly Rate
- 29.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 25.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 33 ft
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Sites
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Laundry
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Propane
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Showers
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Big Rigs
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Boondock
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Firewood
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Fifty Amp
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Tent Sites
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Cabin Sites
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Full Hookup
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Dump Station
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Mobile Homes
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Public Water
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Pull Through
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Water Hookup
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Potable Water
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Age Restricted
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Rec Facilities
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Dispersed Sites
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Open Seasonally
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Permit Required
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Group Tent Sites
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Fulltime Residents
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Standard Tent Sites
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Outdoor Seating
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