Visitor's Guide to Famous Falls in New York State

I love the water and I think that waterfalls are the most beautiful things to stop and look at. The effects of watching a waterfall are amazing for the body and soul. While traveling through New York State, you should spend some time looking at some of the many famous falls all over the region.

Ashley Falls is located along a quarter of a mile walk from Mary's Glen Trail, a nice walking trail in the North-South Lake State Campground. There are three main parts to this waterfall. The top of the fall features a high and steep drop off point; water travels down a ledge then to a rock sloping at a sharp angle. The most exciting part of this New York waterfall is that you can easily access and climb to the top of this attraction!

Austin Falls is located right next to Old NY 30, there is no hiking required to reach the base of this site. This is a low to moderate water flow with lots of various shaped and colored rocks all along the formation. There are now real steep drops here, but still a fascinating view of water flow with an amazing display of rock formations all along the way. Be careful when finding this place though, there are no signs telling you the falls are there (I think they are trying to keep this one a secret, shhh!).

The inspiring sixty foot tall Beaver Meadow Falls is an amazing site to behold. This one will require a three mile hike that takes about an hour and a half to complete. The water flow here varies seasonally from rather low to very high, creating an ever-changing view each time you come back to visit this place. From what I have seen in the pictures of this place, I would not recommend attempting to scale this fall regardless of the pressure of the water.

You will not even need to get out of your car to see The Branch Falls! Just stop along the side of the road and watch this seemingly endless stream of steady water flow with a fairly decent drop towards the top of the site. The natural essence of the water flowing over so many smooth drops nestled in between the trees of the forest makes this a simple site that could keep you parked for hours at a time.

I can spend my whole day sitting on the ground at the base of the incredible Ithaca Falls. The simplicity to this New York waterfall is was just amazes me. It has a wide top and cascading drop to the bottom pool of the lake below. The site forms a cut into the landscape that reveal hundreds of levels of rock and soil from the last several centuries all surrounded by a forest landscape of trees and brush. For those just passing through; you can see this fall from the Lake Street bridge.

Waterfalls are just an amazing site to stop and stare at. It can calm anyone in an instant and literally refresh your body and mind by just stopping to watch them for a short time. Enjoy your travels in New York!