2.5 miles | 217 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★★

On our way up to the Finger Lakes for a long weekend, we stopped at Taughannock Falls. At 400 feet in height, Taughannock falls is more than double the height of Niagara Falls, though not nearly as wide. Best of all, the hike is relatively accessible for all skill levels and just 20 minutes north of Ithaca.

Since we didn’t have too much time, we opted for the lower rim trail. With more time, we probably would have hiked up along the upper rim and back down to make it a loop. Next time. The trail was more of a wide carriage road, accessible for most. We strolled along the creek the whole way.

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The creek was surprisingly fast flowing, though extremely shallow. The water seemed to skim only a foot or two above the stone, and in many points you could walk right out to the middle of the creek.

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With the waterfall in full view, we didn’t quite anticipate the ambient spray. We were soaked in minutes. The last time we were that close to such a large waterfall was Hanakapiai Falls in Kauai. However, it rained the majority of our hike so by the time we got to the falls, the spray didn’t even resonate.

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Definitely a spot to explore next time you’re near Ithaca!