Waterfalls of New York State

Eternal Flame Falls

Orchars Park
Like most waterfalls, this one located in Erie County’s Chestnut Ridge Park consists of, er, falling water -- 30 feet of it, to be exact -- but it’s also home to a small grotto behind the cascading water with an active “eternal flame,” or natural gas spring that’s usually burning. Though the flow of the waterfall is subject to the rain and the seasons, the gas from the eternal flame never stops flowing.

Robert H. Treman State Park Lower Falls

Ithaca
When it’s 80+ degrees out, any swimmable body of water will do -- but why settle for the basics when Ithaca is home to a swimming hole with cascading waterfalls and a diving board? Robert H. Treman State Park offers 9 miles of hiking trails and 12 waterfalls -- Lower Falls claims the diving board and most popular swimming hole -- making it an easy place to get some exercise before cooling off.

Indian Brook Falls

Just outside Coldspring, New York (yes, that’s a convenient stop on the Metro North!) at the Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary bird-haven is this natural beauty. While it’s technically illegal to swim here, in the warmer months you wouldn’t be alone splashing around in the pristine water.

Split Rock Falls

Near what was once the American/Canadian border in the 18th century, fall in the Adirondacks is beautiful and dangerous. The cold water rushing down the jagged rocks might give that babbling, siren call to those wishing to swim, but if there's been a heavy rain recently visitors would be better of looks and not touching—about a dozen years ago a few teenagers drowned because of the water's force. Still, the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains and its rivers and lakes make Northern New York a destination for foliage-loving travelers each year.