Gorge Trails Near Rochester

The Finger Lakes region is known for waterfalls and the glacially carved gorges surrounding them. Exploring a place with a gorge, gully, or glen in its name often means encountering steep rock walls, stone staircases, substantial elevation changes, and trails wet from waterfall spray. 

Most maintained gorge trails close for the winter. Park managers generally aim to reopen them by Memorial Day, though weather, trail conditions, and necessary repairs may delay access. Even trails that remain open can become hazardous when waterfall spray freezes, including the popular trail to the base of Taughannock Falls. Confirm current conditions before visiting.

A Note About Creek Walks

Many people remember standing beneath Stony Brook’s waterfalls or splashing in the stream at Corbett’s Glen. Although visitors may still enter these waters, doing so is no longer permitted. Only a few places allow creek walking or require hikers to enter the creek to reach waterfalls beyond established trails. These include:

• Barnes Creek Gully, Canandaigua
• Conklin Gully, Naples
• Eternal Flame Falls, Orchard Park
• Grimes Glen, Naples
• Gully Preserve, Dansville
• Havana Glen, Montour Falls
• Royalton Ravine, Gasport

Follow posted regulations and avoid entering restricted waters. Creek walking can disturb habitats, contribute to erosion, and introduce additional risks during high water. Details about permitted routes appear below.

Greater Rochester

Barnes Creek Gully in Canandaigua is accessed from Onanda Park, across West Lake Road from the swimming beach. A moderately challenging two-mile trail combines upland hiking with a creek walk to the first of three cascades. Beyond the first waterfall, the trail becomes more difficult, and many hikers turn back.

Grimes Glen in Naples requires wading through the creek to reach its waterfalls. After a short walk along the creekside trail, wade through the water for half a mile to reach the first 60-foot waterfall. Continue another half mile through the creek to a second 60-foot waterfall before retracing your route.

Letchworth State Park provides access to the Lower Falls in the Genesee River gorge via 127 stone steps leading to the falls and a footbridge. This area is difficult to reach and closed in winter, unlike the Middle and Upper Falls, which are visible from the roadside year-round.

Surrounding Counties

Gully Preserve in Wayland, also known as Whiteman Gully, is a 20-acre nature preserve protecting Little Mill Creek, the drinking water source for more than 5,000 residents of the Town of North Dansville and the Village of Dansville. Short hiking trails lead past waterfalls, chutes, and cascades. Stay on established trails and follow posted safety guidance near the creek and steep gorge walls.

Stony Brook State Park in Dansville features a stream-fed swimming pool at the start of its 0.75-mile gorge trail. Follow the creek across stone bridges and up substantial stone stairways alongside several waterfalls. The shale-and-gravel walkway includes moderately challenging sections.

Watkins Glen State Park features a gorge trail with a 520-foot elevation change, navigated by 800 stone steps that are often wet with spray from Glen Creek’s 19 waterfalls.

Havana Glen in Montour Falls features a 0.75-mile gorge trail that follows McClure Creek to the base of Eagle Cliff Falls. A staircase secured to the gorge’s shale wall provides access to the falls.

Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca features the 0.65-mile Buttermilk Creek Gorge Trail, which includes stairs throughout. At the stone bridge, continue to the upper park, return through the gorge, or cross the creek and follow the Rim Trail back to the parking area, where you can swim in the natural, stream-fed pool beneath Buttermilk Falls.

Cascadilla Gorge in Ithaca is a half-mile trail connecting downtown Ithaca with the Cornell University campus. Cascadilla Creek descends 400 feet through the gorge, creating waterfalls ranging from swift cascades to 80-foot drops. Stone steps and bridges connect Linn Street at the bottom of the gorge with College Avenue at the top.

Robert H. Treman State Park in Ithaca features a 2.5-mile gorge trail connecting the upper and lower parts of the park. From the upper parking area, visit the historic Enfield Falls Mill before hiking to 115-foot Lucifer Falls. From the lower parking area, the trail passes the stream-fed swimming pool and 70-foot Enfield Falls. The gorge trail includes 12 waterfalls and is closed in winter.

Taughannock Falls State Park in Trumansburg features the 215-foot-tall Taughannock Falls, which is taller than Niagara Falls. The 0.75-mile hard-packed gravel gorge trail leads to the base of the falls and is open year-round.

Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia features a 1.3-mile gorge trail that follows Dry Creek across several footbridges to four waterfalls. Before heading into the gorge, take a short detour beyond the stream-fed swimming pool to the base of Cow Shed Falls. The hike begins with 140 stone steps and includes several more staircases and occasionally muddy sections, making it moderately challenging. Water trickling through fractures in the shale walls supports lush mosses, ferns, and other vegetation throughout the gorge. Return to the parking area by retracing your steps through the gorge or following the North Rim Trail.

Akron Falls can be reached from either of two parking areas. From the main lot near the dam, a leisurely walk along Murder Creek through a dense forest ravine leads to the 40-foot waterfall. From the Rock Garden lot above the falls, a paved path descends to a viewing platform overlooking the waterfall, and additional trails continue into the ravine below.

Eternal Flame Falls in Orchard Park is known for a natural gas flame sheltered in a small cave beneath a 30-foot waterfall. Follow the trail from the parking lot to a staircase that descends into the creek bed. From there, head upstream, crossing the creek as needed and navigating around, over, and under fallen logs to find the best route. Most visitors end up walking in the water at some point. Because the flame isn’t truly eternal, consider bringing a lighter in case it has gone out. Retrace your steps to return to the parking lot.

Niagara River Gorge features the Rim Trail, which follows the top of the gorge through Niagara Falls State Park, Whirlpool State Park, and Devil’s Hole State Park, with additional trails continuing toward Artpark in Lewiston. Observation areas overlook the turquoise-colored rapids below. Stone stairways descend to the river at Whirlpool and Devil’s Hole State Parks, while a free elevator at Niagara Falls State Park provides access to the ruins of the Schoellkopf Power Station.

Royalton Ravine Park in Gasport is home to a bouncy 138-foot suspension bridge spanning the ravine three feet above East Branch Eighteen Mile Creek. The Red Trail leads to the bridge before continuing to the ruins of the Belva Lockwood Homestead and Norton’s Falls. The creekside trail is often muddy, especially after heavy rain.

Advanced-Skill Trails

Clark Gully in Middlesex, on the south side of South Hill (also known as Nundawao, meaning “Great Hill”), is the legendary birthplace of the Seneca people. Located in the High Tor Wildlife Management Area, casual hikers can follow the trail for a quarter mile to the first waterfall, but the upper gully becomes significantly more challenging beyond that point. The mouth of the gully overlooks the West River Preserve.

Conklin Gully in Naples’ High Tor Wildlife Management Area is explored by hiking in the creek bed, with the first cascade about a quarter mile from the trailhead. Beyond the first cascade, the route becomes significantly more challenging and includes climbing around waterfalls using ropes. The creek may be dry during periods of low water, so visiting after steady rain offers the best chance to see the waterfalls, though it also makes the hike more difficult.

Google Map of Locations

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Where are your favorite gorge trails?

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