Waterfalls around Albany at a glance
There are 127 named waterfalls within 50 miles of downtown Albany. The nearest is Corning Cascade Falls, about 4.8 mi NE in a straight line. Most of the falls around the city lie to the south: 53 of the 127. The radius reaches into 4 states, led by New York (101), Massachusetts (23) and Connecticut (2).
Distances here are straight lines from the city centre. Roads bend around ridges and rivers, so a fall 20 miles out can take an hour to reach. Search your own street or tap Find falls near me above to measure from where you are.
How far you have to drive
| Within | Named waterfalls |
|---|---|
| 10 miles of Albany | 10 |
| 25 miles of Albany | 40 |
| 50 miles of Albany | 127 |
Well-known falls within reach of Albany
Middle Falls (33 miNNE) and Kaaterskill Falls (35 miSSW) are among the best-known waterfalls within 50 miles. Each is described on its state page: waterfalls in New York.
The 15 nearest waterfalls to Albany
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corning Cascade Falls | 4.8 mi NE | not recorded | New York |
| Lower Burden Falls | 4.8 mi NE | not recorded | New York |
| Smart's Cascade | 5.4 mi NE | not recorded | New York |
| Upper Burden Falls | 5.5 mi NE | 26 ft | New York |
| Poesten Kill Falls | 6.2 mi NE | not recorded | New York |
| Vloman Kill Falls | 7.3 mi S | 13 ft | New York |
| Horton Falls | 7.6 mi W | 82 ft | Albany County, New York |
| Piscawen Falls | 8.1 mi NE | not recorded | New York |
| Buttermilk Falls | 9.2 mi NNE | not recorded | Albany County, New York |
| Cohoes Falls | 9.7 mi NNE | 89 ft | Saratoga County, New York |
| Wynants Kill Falls | 10 mi E | not recorded | New York |
| French Hollow Falls | 11 mi WNW | not recorded | New York |
| Barberville Falls | 11 mi ENE | not recorded | New York |
| Mine Lot Falls | 13 mi W | not recorded | Albany County, New York |
| Minelot Falls | 13 mi W | 98 ft | New York |
Tallest recorded waterfalls near Albany
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 47 of the 127 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Rock Falls | 299 ft | 44 mi SSE |
| Kaaterskill Falls | 148 ft | 35 mi SSW |
| Black Chasm Falls | 131 ft | 40 mi SSW |
| Minelot Falls | 98 ft | 13 mi W |
| Wildcat Falls | 98 ft | 37 mi SSW |
| Cohoes Falls | 89 ft | 9.7 mi NNE |
| Bridal Veil Falls | 89 ft | 40 mi SSW |
| Horton Falls | 82 ft | 7.6 mi W |
| Buttermilk Falls | 75 ft | 37 mi SSW |
| Plattekill Falls | 75 ft | 40 mi SSW |
Counties with the most falls near Albany
Berkshire County, MA (12), Albany County, NY (6), Greene County, NY (4), Columbia County, NY (3) and Schoharie County, NY (3). County is from the USGS record, so falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap are not counted here.
Before you go
The map shows where falls are, not whether a trail reaches them or the land is open. Check the land manager for closures, fees and parking, and stay on the trail near the water. See waterfall safety, waterfall hikes near me and the best time to see waterfalls.
Waterfalls near other cities: Hartford, Burlington, New York City, Boston, Ithaca.