Everyone wants to get out and explore, but that doesn’t always sound appealing when it comes with a long hike attached to it, even if the finale is something completely glorious. We have found some incredible destinations that lead you to stunning places without leaving you exhausted.
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Thunder Rocks
One of my favorite places to visit in New York. The Thunder Rocks is a cluster of giant conglomerate rocks located in Allegany State Park. The drive to this area is a bit tedious on a long dusty dirt road. However, once you reach the parking lot, the trek to the rocks is a piece of cake. My kids absolutely love this place, as they can climb all over these rocks. This is nature’s jungle gym, and it is hard to pull them away once we get here. This spot is pretty popular, and the parking lot can fill up. Fortunately, there are so many giant rock formations the crowds hardly matter.
Buttermilk Falls
If you find yourself in the Adirondacks, you can’t go wrong with this quick stroll to the stunning Buttermilk Falls. And while Buttermilk Falls seems to be the most overused name for a waterfall in the state, this one might just have earned the title. Want to add a bit of color to this beautiful setting? Visit in the Fall when the Adirondacks are bathed in Autumn hues.
Goulds Mill Falls
A quick walk through the woods at this destination will lead you to these breathtaking falls and a lovely stretch of the Moose River. Visitors can get super close to this waterfall, but be careful; it is slippery.
The Jump Off
The Jump Off is a picturesque overlook at Ontario County Park. The trail is extremely short and leads to a lookout with a spectacular view of the Bristol Valley. The raised wooden platform gives you an even better view of the area. This scenic vista is beautiful at any time of year, but honestly, I have to say nothing can compare to the view in autumn when the leaves are at their peak.
Green Lake State Park
Green Lake is a one-of-a-kind destination that provides guests with an up-close view of a meromictic lake. This type of lake is rare, and the intense blue-green color, which is reminiscent of the ocean, is especially bright on sunny days. Green Lake has “reefs” that visitors can view as they walk the trail that circumnavigates the lake. This is a flat trail and not long at all.
Ithaca Falls
Ithaca Falls is one of over 150 waterfalls within a 10-mile radius of the City of Ithaca, and it was the one I was most looking for to seeing. This waterfall is massive and flows nearly full all year round. This is a short walk to a breathtaking waterfall that shouldn’t be missed.
Grimes Glen
Grimes Glen is a favorite place to cool off on a hot day. There are two stunning waterfalls, and people often will swim in the pools under the falls. You don’t have to walk very far to view the waterfalls, but you need to be prepared to get wet if you want to get near them.
Harriett Hollister Spencer
You pretty much don’t even have to get out of your car for this one. That is as long as you don’t visit during the winter when the road is shut. This is probably one of the best views of all the Finger Lakes. Impressive doesn’t begin to cover this peaceful spot.
Canadice Falls
This is a short creek hike to a gorgeous waterfall. Along the way, you are treated to lots of smaller falls. This is a nice hike if you don’t mind getting your feet wet. This waterfall is best in spring when it is full from the melting snow.
Wolcott Falls
Many people don’t realize that there is another place to view Wolcott Falls in addition to the scenic overlook at the entrance to the parking lot. If you walk to the far end of the park, a trail slowly curves down to the bottom of the ravine. The waterfall at the bottom is incredible, and the walk is easy and less than a 1/4 mile.
Taughannock Falls
Taughannock Falls State Park is a gorgeous state park located on the west side of Cayuga Lake. This park has the tallest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains at a height of 215 ft. The walk to the Falls is super quick (and flat). If you visit Falls Overlook, you barely have to walk at all.
Akron Falls
This little hike couldn’t be easier. The waterfall is located at the bottom of a paved path. There is a nice viewing area that puts Akron Falls in right in front of you. The only time this walk is even slightly strenuous is in the winter when it is snow-covered, but even then, it is totally worth the visit. This is a very romantic spot to visit.
Evangola State Park
This is probably one of the most gorgeous beaches on Lake Erie, and it also happens to be one of the easiest to get to. Several trails lead down to the beach, and once there, you can admire the cliffs that the wind and waves have artistically sculpted.
Eternal Flame
There is more than one way to reach this natural wonder. The main, easily traveled trail is no more than a mile, and it is more than worth the trip, especially if you can catch this waterfall early in the day when the crowds are at a minimum.
Delphi Falls
Delphi Falls is not only a beautiful destination, but it is about the easiest walk to a waterfall that you will ever find. The path from the parking lot is less than 1/4 of a mile long and perfectly flat. This park is one of the most lovely parks that we have found and one of the quietest. The place was almost completely deserted when we visited.
Chittenango Falls
Now keep in mind, we said short hikes; we never said easy hikes. While this may not be a long hike to the bottom of the gorge to see this spectacular waterfall, it can be somewhat precarious. The steps on this trail are clearly on the older side and not all even or close together, for that matter, making this trail a little more difficult than the others on the list. However, comparing it to other waterfalls, the trek down to the bottom is short and easily accomplished.
Moose River
This is another one of those cool places that we happened to stumble upon. During the Spring, Summer, and Fall, Moose River is one of those incredible places that you feel like you only see in pictures. You can walk out into the river and climb all over the rocks that seem just to fill the river.
Great Gully
This hike is ridiculously short; you can almost see this waterfall from the parking lot. This is a popular swimming hole with the locals and a great place to visit on a hot summer day.
Salmon River Falls
This is a popular waterfall and does attract large crowds. We visited in the winter, so the anticipated crowds weren’t as intense as they are in the warm weather months. The trail that runs along the rim is handicap accessible with flat, hard-packed ground and a guardrail that runs the length of the trail. The two observation areas also have handrails. This trail is relatively short, so it’s perfect for almost everyone to get out and view this gorgeous waterfall.
Atwater Meadow Park
Hidden away in the City of Canandaigua is an 18-acre parcel of land that leads visitors to stretches of beach on Canandaigua Lake. This is a quick walk with minimal elevation, and you get a great view of Canandaigua Lake and Squaw Island.
Scenic View Park
This small park has a beautiful boardwalk on the St. Lawrence River that leads out to Casino Island. This park has the most incredible view of not just the river but Boldt Castle in the distance.
Vanriper Conservation Area & Whitlock Nature Preserve
Enjoy a stunning view of Cayuga from the stretch of pristine, untouched beach at this nature preserve. There are two trails to the shore, and each is under 1/4 of a mile long. This is a nice place for solitude seekers.
Rock City State Forest
Rock City State Forest might take some getting to by vehicle, but once you reach the parking area, the walk to the rocks is minimal. You can hike further into the forest, but you really don’t have to, as the most impressive formations are near the top of the trail.
Emery Park
This is an incredible park with four waterfalls that has four easy to reach waterfalls that are all rather splendid in their own ways. However, it isn’t just the waterfalls that make this park beautiful; it is the park’s own natural beauty that makes a visit here totally worth it.
JP Nicely
It is hard to believe that this beautiful stretch of creek with a waterfall is hidden in this run of the mill park when you first arrive. Take a walk into woods, and you’ll discover that this park is more than it appears and quite beautiful at that.
Labrador Hollow
Labrador Hollow lives up to its name as a Unique Area. There are several short hikes here (in addition to some incredible long ones.) that lead to some stunning scenery. There is a handicap accessible boardwalk that weaves through the wetlands and gives visitors a fantastic view of the pond. Another short hike at Labrador Hollow is Tinker Falls. Visitors can climb right up behind the falls, which in itself is pretty cool. Tinker Falls is seasonal and can slow to a trickle in the dry weather. The best time to visit is after a good heavy rain or in the early spring.
Caywood Point
You probably already know that New York State only has one national forest, The Finger Lakes National Forest. What you might find surprising is that this national forest has a small parcel of land that sits on Seneca Lake, and it is spectacular with waterfalls, a historic building, and a beautiful section of lakeshore. The hike down to the lake is only 1/4 mile, and if you visit in early spring or after a heavy rain, there are a few small waterfalls to see. It’s the hike back up that can be difficult for some folks since the trail incline is about 20%.
East Shore Preserve at Bare Hill
The hike down to the lake isn’t long at all, but it is quite steep. There are numerous steps leading down to the lake, which help to get down to the water and back up again. There are breaks in the trees, in spots, as you descend, providing spectacular views of Canandaigua Lake. We couldn’t help but stop and just take in the view. Although it is a small parcel of land, the pristine view of Canandaigua Lake is just magnificent.
Havana Glen
This beautiful gorge trail is short and sweet at only 1/4 mile long. The magnificent Eagle Cliff Falls awaits hikers at the very end of the gorge. The area around Eagle Cliff Falls is a fantastic place to cool off on a hot day.
Keuka Lake Outlet Trail
The Keuka Lake Outlet Trail is a neat feature in the Finger Lakes. The 7-mile trail runs between Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake. There are several waterfalls along the trail, but don’t worry about having to hike all seven miles to see them. Seneca Mill Falls has its own parking lot, and the falls are a short walk from there.
Ludlowville Falls
This massive waterfall is hidden just behind a small town park. The hike down to the falls isn’t easy, but it is quite short. If you aren’t up for the hike down, you can get a great view of the falls from the back of the park.
Otisco Shore Conservation Area
I never get tired of visiting lakeshore preserves like the Otisco Lake Conservation Area. They are a little piece of heaven for nature lovers. This preserve has mowed grass trails that lead down to the lake. We visited in the fall, and the colors were out of this world. The hillside on the opposite side of Otisco Lake was afire with brilliant autumn colors.
Kring Point
Morgan Island is a stunning part of Kring Point State Park. The island is connected to the park by a pedestrian bridge, and a hiking trail runs the island’s length with little offshoots that lead down to the water. The island isn’t huge, but it really is peaceful and lovely. I could have sat beside the St. Lawrence River forever. The water was crystal clear. What I think I like the most about this park, this area of New York is the huge rocks. The rocks stretch out into the water, adding incredible rustic beauty to the Island.
Austin Falls
Austin Falls is a beautiful long sliding waterfall that literally takes almost no effort to reach on foot anyway. Driving there is another matter. This waterfall was a bit of a wild goose chase, driving down a pothole filled road (ones that could swallow my car) and patches of heaved pavement (that acted like speed bumps.) If you can brave the drive, this really is a peaceful and serene place, probably because of the aforementioned road.
Blue Ridge Falls
While this waterfall can be seen from the parking area above, a trail leads down to the water, where they can be seen up close. I promise this is an incredible waterfall to see up close. The river is filled with massive rocks, directing and redirecting the water into a multitude of splendid rapids.
Death Brook Falls
As Adirondack trails go, this one is super easy! (actually, as any trail goes, really.) It is less than 1/2 a mile from the trailhead to the falls, with a wide trail through the woods. It is a really pretty walk and as flat as can be. Death Brook is a stunning 70-foot waterfall. Unfortunately, we visited during a drought, and they were not much more than a trickle. However, I have seen photos of the falls when they are full, and they are impressive as well as exquisite.
Shelving Rock Falls
The hike to the top of Shelving Rock Falls couldn’t be any easier to hike. The trail is less than 1/2 mile and almost completely flat (minus the section of field stone.) The hike down to the bottom of the falls is another story. It still isn’t long, just a little more strenuous.
Buttermilk Falls at Hobuck Flats
The hike to the falls isn’t very far at all, about a 1-mile round trip. Head over the bridge (Make sure you stop and enjoy the view, it is fantastic from here) and hike along the creek. The trail will split not far from the bridge. The trail to the left will take you to the top of the falls, while the trail to the right (following the creek) leads to the bottom of the falls. Walk along the creek a little way and keep your eyes peeled for a small trail that leads off to the left, which will take you to the base of Buttermilk Falls.
Do you have a favorite destination that isn’t on our list? We’d love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.