This month I recommend to you a trip to the waterfalls of Central New York. Earlier this year, I ordered a book called 200 Waterfalls in Central and Western New York, by Richard and Sue Freeman (It can be ordered at http://www.footprintpress.com).
I used this book on a recent vacation and visited at least 50 of the waterfalls. Rather than running a series of articles on this area, I am devoting this article to highlight falls which are easily accessible to the physically challenged. In much of the United States, waterfalls are only accessible by a long hike, or over rugged terrain. The ones I cite here can be viewed near a parking lot, along a roadside, a longer hike on flat terrain, or a crest top view. Keep in mind that many of these dry up during the summer.
Also avoid mid-May if you need motel accommodations.
Chittengo Falls. Cazenovi, NY. 167 ft. Crest overlook.
Pratt's Falls. Manlius, NY. 137 ft. Close to parking lot.
Bucktail Falls. Spafford, NY. 35 ft with 45 degree turn. Near parking lot.
Fellow Falls. Tully, NY. 40 ft. Roadside.
Eagle CliffFalls. Montour Falls, NY. 41 ft. in a deep gorge. See from parking lot.
Shequaga Falls. Montour Falls, NY. 156 ft. See from parking lot.
Aunt Sarah Falls. Montour Falls, NY. 90 ft. Roadside view.
Watkins Glen State Park. Watkins Glen, NY. Deep gorge with waterfall. close to parking lot.
Hector Falls. Watkins Glen, NY. 165 ft. Roadside view.
Taughannock Falls. Trumansburg, NY. 215 ft. The gorge walls are 400 ft high. The falls trail is 0.75 mile on level terrain, suitable for an electric wheelchair.
Treman State Park (lower falls). Ithaca, NY. 70 ft.. Take a level 0.25 mile trail in a deep gorge.
Buttermilk Falls. Ithaca, NY. 180 ft. View from parking lot.
Ithaca Falls. Ithaca, NY. 150 ft. Close to parking lot.
Ludlowville Falls. Ludlowville, NY. 36 ft tall and 100 ft. wide. Close to parking lot.
New Hope Falls. New Hope, NY. The flour mill has two drops. Each is 25 ft.
Wolcott Falls, Wolcott, NY. 50 ft. Crest view from a park fence.
Seneca Mill and Cascade Mill Falls. Penn Yam, NY. Both are along a 6 mile bicycle trail running through a deep canyon: 45 and 20 ft, respectably. Both are within a mile of a parking area.
Honeoye Falls. Honeoye, NY. 30 ft view from parking lot.
Letchworth State Park. Portageville, NY. The park is 15 miles long with a 400 ft. deep gorge which divides this park into a west and east side. I suggest level trail #7 on the east side to take in several falls. The west side has a few with parking lot views. Waterfall heights vary from 30 to 350 ft.
For additional information on these or other outing locations, call Bob Tyson at 684-5643, or, mailto:robkay43@webtv.net ■