Waterfalls around Rochester at a glance
There are 30 named waterfalls within 50 miles of downtown Rochester. The nearest is Upper Falls, about 0.3 mi S in a straight line. Most of the falls around the city lie to the south: 12 of the 30. 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 Rochester | 8 |
| 25 miles of Rochester | 13 |
| 50 miles of Rochester | 30 |
Well-known falls within reach of Rochester
Middle Falls (1.7 miNW) is among the best-known waterfalls within 50 miles. Each is described on its state page: waterfalls in New York.
The 15 nearest waterfalls to Rochester
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Falls | 0.3 mi S | not recorded | New York |
| High Falls | 0.4 mi NW | 95 ft | Monroe County, New York |
| Middle Falls | 1.7 mi NW | not recorded | Monroe County, New York |
| Lower Falls | 1.9 mi NNW | not recorded | Monroe County, New York |
| Norton’s Falls | 2.4 mi NNW | not recorded | New York |
| Densmore Falls | 3.8 mi NE | not recorded | New York |
| Postcard Falls | 4.9 mi ESE | 3 ft | New York |
| Turning Point Falls | 5.2 mi N | not recorded | New York |
| Honeoye Falls | 14 mi S | not recorded | Monroe County, New York |
| Buttermilk Falls | 21 mi WSW | not recorded | Genesee County, New York |
| Holly Falls | 21 mi WNW | not recorded | New York |
| Triphammer Falls | 22 mi SSW | not recorded | Livingston County, New York |
| Clarendon Falls | 23 mi W | not recorded | New York |
| Fall Brook Falls | 29 mi SSW | not recorded | Livingston County, New York |
| Upper Falls | 30 mi SSE | not recorded | New York |
Tallest recorded waterfalls near Rochester
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 2 of the 30 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| High Falls | 95 ft | 0.4 mi NW |
| Postcard Falls | 3 ft | 4.9 mi ESE |
Counties with the most falls near Rochester
Livingston County, NY (6), Monroe County, NY (4), Wyoming County, NY (2) and Genesee County, NY (1). 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: Buffalo, Ithaca, Albany, Pittsburgh, Burlington.