07-26-2019: Taughannock Falls State Park

Last week I made a post with the same date, showing images and descriptions of my experience at Buttermilk Falls State Park. However, I didn't drive all the way out to Ithaca for just one park. After spending the morning at Buttermilk, I headed approximately ten miles north and spent the afternoon hiking in Taughannock Falls State Park in Ulysses NY.

Situated on the western shore of Cayuga Lake, the Taughannock Falls area series of massive waterfalls that drop several hundred feet from highlands along the Taughannock Creek. At 215 feet, the main fall is not only the highest waterfall in New York, but also the highest single-drop fall east of the Rockies. A paved trail through a 400 foot deep gorge follows the creek from the lakeside to the bottom of the main falls. Additional hiking paths pass over the 100-foot Upper Falls above the gorge, which though dwarfed by the main falls is impressive in its own right.

The 20-foot Lower Falls are located near the start of the Gorge Trail, where the river is shallow and wide.

The Taughannock Creek carves a very straight pathway towards Cayuga Lake.

A series of small falls and cascades characterize the lower river near the gorge's end.

A view up the shallow rocky creekbed shows how imposing the gorge's walls are.

Looking down the creek, stands of hemlock can be seen clinging to the cliff walls.

This shows only the upper half of the gorge wall, visible in the distance through the trees.

Looking downstream from the shade. Equally impressive cliffs on the other side are obscured by creekside forest.

Near the main falls is an area along the river with dozens, perhaps hundreds, of rock cairns.

More views of the imposing cliffs that enclose the deep gorge.

Walking through the bottom of the canyon was just as impressive an experience as seeing the falls.

Light pink morning glories grow on the rocks near the base of the falls.

A shot of the middle of the falls; they were too large to easily fit in one picture.

Water impacts the pool at the falls' base at over 70 miles an hour.

A close-up of the top of the falls, where water drops suddenly from an otherwise uninteresting creek.

From some distance back I was able to fit the whole waterfall in one shot. Note the people standing at the lower right; they are about 300 feet nearer than the waterfall.

Dark beech forest along the cliffs traps the falls' moisture, allowing moss to grow on the barren cliff walls.

An overlook atop the gorge offers impressive views of the falls and surrounding canyon.

Afternoon sunlight casts a shadow on the greenish pool beneath the falls.

An aerial view of the creek directly above the falls reveals an environment similar to that at Buttermilk.

The base of the falls, seen from a much greater distance.

Creeping flora covers the scree towards the bottom of the cliffs, but their sheer rock faces are uninhabitable for any plant life.

A young forest along the Black Diamond Trail on the far side of the park.

View of the Upper Falls from the Black Diamond Trail.

A footbridge over the Upper Falls provides excellent views of the gorge downstream, about a half mile above the main falls.

The bridge's positioning made getting a good shot of the Upper Falls difficult; after numerous attempts, this sideways view was the best I could come up with.