Waterfalls in New York: 197 Photo Spots, Light & Night Sky Guide

Top waterfalls

Waterfall

Niagara FallsNiagara County · 153 m

Waterfall

Horseshoe FallsNiagara County · 157 m

Waterfall

American FallsNiagara County · 154 m

Waterfall

Bridal Veil FallsNiagara County · 154 m

Waterfall

Cohoes FallsSaratoga County · 38 m

Waterfall

Eternal Flame FallsErie County

Waterfall

Kaaterskill FallsGreene County · 585 m

Waterfall

High FallsSt. Lawrence County · 488 m

Waterfall

Ithaca FallsTompkins County · 133 m

Waterfall

Taughannock FallsTompkins County · 206 m

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Limekiln FallsHerkimer County · 482 m

Waterfall

Canajoharie FallsMontgomery County · 132 m

Waterfalls by county

All waterfalls (197)

Name	County	Elevation	Nearest town	Sky
Niagara Falls	Niagara County	153 m	Niagara Falls	7
Horseshoe Falls	Niagara County	157 m	Niagara Falls	7
American Falls	Niagara County	154 m	Niagara Falls	7
Bridal Veil Falls	Niagara County	154 m	Niagara Falls	7
Cohoes Falls	Saratoga County	38 m	Cohoes	7
Eternal Flame Falls	Erie County	—	North Boston	5
Kaaterskill Falls	Greene County	585 m	Palenville	4
High Falls	St. Lawrence County	488 m	Tupper Lake	2
Ithaca Falls	Tompkins County	133 m	Cayuga Heights	7
Taughannock Falls	Tompkins County	206 m	Trumansburg	4
Limekiln Falls	Herkimer County	482 m	Boonville	2
Canajoharie Falls	Montgomery County	132 m	Canajoharie	3
Delphi Falls	Madison County	303 m	Cazenovia	4
Hardenburgh Falls	Delaware County	349 m	Stamford	4
Verkeerder Kill Falls	Ulster County	522 m	Ellenville	5
Salmon River Falls	Oswego County	226 m	Richland	3
High Falls	Monroe County	—	Rochester	7
Rexford Falls	Chenango County	361 m	Sherburne	3
Leatherstocking Falls	Otsego County	414 m	Cooperstown	3
Judds Falls	Otsego County	368 m	Springfield	3
Pixley Falls	Oneida County	256 m	Boonville	3
Barberville Falls	Rensselaer County	—	Poestenkill	5
Glen Falls	Erie County	—	Williamsville	7
Diamond Notch Falls	Greene County	—	Woodstock	4
Trenton Falls	Oneida County	—	Oriskany	3
Triphammer Falls (Ithaca)	Tompkins County	—	Cayuga Heights	7
Plotter Kill Preserve	Schenectady County	—	Scotia	5
Bakers Falls	Washington County	61 m	Hudson Falls	6
Perryville Falls	Madison County	289 m	Chittenango	4
Canada Falls	Delaware County	436 m	Delhi	4
Buttermilk Falls	Otsego County	549 m	Worcester	3
Stockbridge Falls	Madison County	286 m	Morrisville	3
Buttermilk Falls	Montgomery County	249 m	Canajoharie	4
Straton Falls	Delaware County	465 m	Stamford	4
Tompkins Falls	Delaware County	454 m	Livingston Manor	4
Watauga Falls	Delaware County	459 m	Delhi	5
Ord Falls	Essex County	474 m	North Elba	2
Spier Falls	Warren County	110 m	Wilton	5
Stony Kill Falls	Ulster County	382 m	Kerhonkson	5
T Lake Falls	Hamilton County	708 m	Dolgeville	2
Button Falls	Madison County	374 m	Cassville	3
Lucifer Falls	Tompkins County	233 m	South Hill	4
High Falls Gorge	Essex County	411 m	Lake Placid	3
Indian Falls	Genesee County	—	Akron	4
Chittenango Falls	Madison County	247 m	Cazenovia	4
Mine Kill Falls	Schoharie County	314 m	Stamford	4
Bouck's Falls	Schoharie County	—	Middleburgh	4
Creamery Falls	Herkimer County	—	Springfield	3
Van Hornesville Falls	Herkimer County	—	Springfield	3
Bridal Veil Falls	Greene County	—	Palenville	4
Schalks Falls	Ulster County	—	Palenville	4
Fox Falls	Otsego County	—	Richfield Springs	3
Gray Rock Falls	Greene County	—	Palenville	4
Awosting Falls	Ulster County	—	Kerhonkson	5
Lower Falls	Tompkins County	—	South Hill	5
Buttermilk Falls	Tompkins County	—	South Hill	6
Mullet Falls	Sullivan County	—	Rock Hill	5
Wells Falls	Tompkins County	—	Ithaca	7
Hemlock Falls	Richmond County	113 m	South Orange	9
Dionondehowa Falls	Washington County	78 m	Greenwich	4
Saint Marys Falls	Otsego County	355 m	West End	3
Buttermilk Falls (Madison County, New York)	Madison County	213 m	Canastota	4
Falls of Carillon	Essex County	—	Ticonderoga	4
Indian Brook Falls	Putnam County	—	Cold Spring	6
Indian Chimney Falls	Tompkins County	—	Lansing	4
Fall Brook Falls	Livingston County	182 m	Geneseo	5
Lampsons Falls	St. Lawrence County	230 m	Canton	2
Alice Falls	Clinton County	103 m	Keeseville	3
Allen Falls	St. Lawrence County	176 m	Potsdam	3
Angel Falls	Wyoming County	329 m	Holland	4
Arkwright Falls	Chautauqua County	363 m	Fredonia	4
Artists Falls	Essex County	540 m	North Elba	2
Auger Falls	Hamilton County	388 m	Northville	3
Augerhole Falls	Franklin County	462 m	Tupper Lake	2
Aunt Sarahs Falls	Schuyler County	226 m	Montour Falls	3
Austin Falls	Hamilton County	463 m	Northville	2
Basford Falls	St. Lawrence County	261 m	Canton	2
Bear Falls	Steuben County	337 m	Addison	3
Beaver Meadows Falls	Essex County	577 m	North Elba	2
Boucks Falls	Schoharie County	258 m	Middleburgh	4
Bozen Kill Falls	Albany County	208 m	Altamont	4
Brickyard Falls	Onondaga County	186 m	Manlius	5
Bruner Falls	St. Lawrence County	355 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Bucktail Falls	Onondaga County	272 m	Nedrow	4
Bushnell Falls	Essex County	815 m	North Elba	3
Buttermilk Falls	Columbia County	80 m	Philmont	4
Buttermilk Falls	Fulton County	432 m	Gloversville	4
Buttermilk Falls	Genesee County	220 m	Le Roy	5
Buttermilk Falls	Greene County	630 m	Palenville	4
Buttermilk Falls	Hamilton County	504 m	Tupper Lake	2
Buttermilk Falls	Orange County	266 m	Greenwood Lake	6
Buttermilk Falls	Tioga County	284 m	Owego	4
Buttermilk Falls	Washington County	190 m	Queensbury	5
Buttermilk Falls	Essex County	186 m	Keeseville	3
Carpenter Falls	Cayuga County	388 m	Moravia	3
Cascade Falls	Wyoming County	343 m	Warsaw	3
The Cascades	Onondaga County	360 m	Nedrow	4
Christine Falls	Hamilton County	512 m	Northville	2
Clifton Falls	Cayuga County	157 m	Union Springs	3
Clifford Falls	Essex County	409 m	North Elba	3
Copper Rock Falls	St. Lawrence County	378 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Crandall Falls	Oneida County	360 m	Boonville	3
Denton Falls	Sullivan County	285 m	Rock Hill	5
Dickinson Falls	Albany County	201 m	Ravena	4
Edwards Falls	Onondaga County	206 m	Manlius	5
Eggleston Falls	Saratoga County	301 m	Hadley	4
Elmer Falls	Lewis County	336 m	Lowville	2
Fairy Ladder Falls	Essex County	971 m	North Elba	2
The Falls	Essex County	699 m	North Elba	2
Fellows Falls	Onondaga County	262 m	Nedrow	4
Flat Rock Falls	St. Lawrence County	317 m	Hannawa Falls	2
The Flume Fall	Essex County	325 m	Lake Placid	2
Glen Falls	Greene County	191 m	Cairo	4
Glenerie Falls	Ulster County	30 m	Lake Katrine	5
Glenora Falls	Yates County	186 m	Dundee	3
Hanging Rock Falls	Ulster County	241 m	Ellenville	5
Hanging Spear Falls	Essex County	751 m	North Elba	2
Harper Falls	St. Lawrence County	229 m	Canton	2
Hector Falls	Schuyler County	207 m	Watkins Glen	3
High Falls	Columbia County	142 m	Philmont	4
High Falls	Franklin County	435 m	Malone	2
High Falls	Franklin County	290 m	Malone	2
High Falls	Lewis County	327 m	West Carthage	3
High Falls	St. Lawrence County	445 m	Tupper Lake	2
High Falls	Sullivan County	262 m	Rock Hill	5
High Falls	Ulster County	616 m	Brownville	4
Higley Falls	St. Lawrence County	259 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Horton Falls	Albany County	80 m	Voorheesville	6
Hosmer Falls	Seneca County	152 m	Trumansburg	3
Hulls Falls	Essex County	292 m	North Elba	3
Indian Falls	Essex County	1,093 m	North Elba	3
Jacksons Falls	St. Lawrence County	155 m	Canton	2
Jamestown Falls	St. Lawrence County	422 m	Tupper Lake	2
Johnson Falls	Wyoming County	351 m	Holland	4
Johnson Falls	Wyoming County	374 m	Attica	4
Kane Falls	Washington County	52 m	Hartford	4
Katrina Falls	Sullivan County	351 m	Rock Hill	5
Kent Falls	Clinton County	143 m	Morrisonville	3
Kings Falls	Lewis County	258 m	West Carthage	3
Kingsley Falls	St. Lawrence County	353 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Linsey Falls	Essex County	256 m	Crown Point	2
Lower Falls	Franklin County	476 m	Tupper Lake	2
Lower Falls	Livingston County	250 m	Nunda	3
Mad River Falls	Oswego County	378 m	Richland	3
Manorkill Falls	Schoharie County	369 m	Stamford	4
Meadow Falls	Greene County	96 m	Ravena	5
Middle Falls	Livingston County	285 m	Nunda	3
Millers Falls	Essex County	549 m	Tupper Lake	2
Mine Lot Falls	Albany County	236 m	Altamont	5
Montville Falls	Cayuga County	236 m	Moravia	3
Monument Falls	Essex County	492 m	Lake Placid	3
Moody Falls	St. Lawrence County	427 m	Tupper Lake	2
Moonshine Falls	Cayuga County	139 m	Union Springs	3
Nevele Falls	Ulster County	163 m	Ellenville	5
Oak Tree Falls	Seneca County	141 m	Trumansburg	3
Oskonsa Falls	Steuben County	396 m	Addison	3
Parson Falls	Cayuga County	300 m	Moravia	3
Pelkys Falls	St. Lawrence County	273 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Phelps Falls	Essex County	349 m	North Elba	2
Pratts Falls	Onondaga County	373 m	Manlius	4
Rainbow Falls	Clinton County	78 m	Keeseville	3
Rainbow Falls	St. Lawrence County	356 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Rainbow Falls	St. Lawrence County	328 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Rainbow Falls	Essex County	598 m	North Elba	2
Raquette Falls	Franklin County	479 m	Tupper Lake	2
Rensselaerville Falls	Albany County	450 m	Berne	4
Rocky Falls	Essex County	633 m	North Elba	3
Rossman Falls	Columbia County	23 m	Stottville	4
Rushton Falls	St. Lawrence County	98 m	Canton	5
Russell Falls	Essex County	400 m	North Elba	2
Shequaga Falls	Schuyler County	150 m	Montour Falls	3
Shumla Falls	Chautauqua County	303 m	Fredonia	4
Silver Thread Falls	Seneca County	180 m	Dundee	3
Sinclair Falls	St. Lawrence County	277 m	Canton	2
Sliding Falls	Herkimer County	561 m	Tupper Lake	2
Spicer Falls	Cortland County	398 m	McGraw	3
Split Rock Falls	Essex County	203 m	Mineville	2
Stone Falls	Livingston County	286 m	Dansville	4
Stoney Pitcher Falls	Cattaraugus County	479 m	Little Valley	3
Sylvan Falls	St. Lawrence County	342 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Talcott Falls	Jefferson County	191 m	Adams Center	3
Tinker Falls	Cortland County	426 m	Homer	3
Touey Falls	Hamilton County	540 m	Tupper Lake	2
Triphammer Falls	Livingston County	214 m	Avon	4
Twin Falls	St. Lawrence County	292 m	Canton	2
Upper Falls	Franklin County	489 m	Tupper Lake	2
Upper Falls	Livingston County	303 m	Nunda	3
Vernooy Falls	Ulster County	502 m	Brownville	4
Wanika Falls	Essex County	694 m	North Elba	3
White Store Falls	Chenango County	365 m	Norwich	4
Three Falls	St. Lawrence County	268 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Five Falls (historical)	St. Lawrence County	328 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Gain Twist Falls (historical)	St. Lawrence County	360 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Little Falls (historical)	St. Lawrence County	362 m	Hannawa Falls	2
Buttermilk Falls	Orange County	16 m	Highland Falls	6
Buttermilk Falls	Albany County	6 m	Cohoes	7
Honeoye Falls	Monroe County	198 m	Honeoye Falls	5

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph waterfalls

Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.

Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.

Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.