Waterfalls around Ithaca at a glance
There are 51 named waterfalls within 50 miles of downtown Ithaca. The nearest is Ithaca Falls, about 0.8 mi NE in a straight line. Most of the falls around the city lie to the north: 24 of the 51. All of them are in New York.
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 Ithaca | 12 |
| 25 miles of Ithaca | 30 |
| 50 miles of Ithaca | 51 |
Well-known falls within reach of Ithaca
Lucifer Falls (5.2 miSW), Taughannock Falls (8.4 miNW) and Rainbow Falls (20 miWSW) 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 Ithaca
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca Falls | 0.8 mi NE | not recorded | Tompkins County, New York |
| Horseshoe Falls | 1.0 mi NE | not recorded | New York |
| Rocky Falls | 1.0 mi ENE | not recorded | New York |
| Triphammer Falls | 1.3 mi ENE | not recorded | New York |
| Buttermilk Falls | 2.2 mi SSW | not recorded | New York |
| Potter's Falls | 2.7 mi SE | not recorded | New York |
| Lower Falls | 4.4 mi SW | not recorded | New York |
| Lucifer Falls | 5.2 mi SW | not recorded | Tompkins County, New York |
| Emilie Jonas Falls | 5.5 mi N | not recorded | New York |
| Pocket Falls | 5.6 mi N | not recorded | New York |
| Ludlowville Falls | 7.9 mi NNW | 33 ft | New York |
| Taughannock Falls | 8.4 mi NW | 217 ft | Tompkins County, New York |
| Frontenac Falls | 10 mi NW | 95 ft | New York |
| Deckertown Falls | 18 mi WSW | not recorded | New York |
| Hector Falls | 19 mi W | not recorded | Schuyler County, New York |
Tallest recorded waterfalls near Ithaca
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 9 of the 51 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Taughannock Falls | 217 ft | 8.4 mi NW |
| Chittenango Falls | 167 ft | 50 mi NE |
| Pratts Falls | 138 ft | 42 mi NE |
| Frontenac Falls | 95 ft | 10 mi NW |
| Upper Carpenter Falls | 90 ft | 27 mi NNE |
| Delphi Falls Lower | 65 ft | 42 mi NE |
| Delphi Falls Upper | 52 ft | 42 mi NE |
| Tinker Falls | 50 ft | 33 mi NE |
| Ludlowville Falls | 33 ft | 7.9 mi NNW |
Counties with the most falls near Ithaca
Onondaga County, NY (6), Cayuga County, NY (5), Tompkins County, NY (3), Schuyler County, NY (3) and Seneca 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: Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia.