Taughannock Falls State Park
Trumansburg, New York · on Taughannock Creek · Taughannock Falls State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10 per vehicle
- SEASON
- June
About Taughannock Falls State Park
Taughannock Falls State Park, near Trumansburg, NY, is a Finger Lakes state park famous for its 215-foot waterfall (taller than Niagara Falls) at the head of a deep gorge on Taughannock Creek. The park's swimming hole is a designated beach on Cayuga Lake at the creek's mouth, an official lake to swim in; the falls and gorge themselves are closed to swimming for safety.
The park centers on a steep gorge with cliffs up to 400 feet high, cut by Taughannock Creek as it drops 215 feet over the main falls (plus a 100-foot Upper Falls and 20-foot Lower Falls) before reaching Cayuga Lake. The lower park area, where the designated beach sits, is flat shoreline along Cayuga Lake with a marina, boat launch, and campground overlooking the lake.
Swimming at Taughannock Falls State Park
Official swimming takes place at a supervised sandy beach on Cayuga Lake, open seasonally (late June through Labor Day) during posted daytime hours. Swimming in the gorge or at the base of the waterfall itself is explicitly prohibited due to rockfall hazard from freeze-thaw cliff instability; the creek/gorge area is for hiking and viewing only, not swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: Park day-use vehicle parking available on-site (standard state park entrance fee applies).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. The designated swim beach sits on Cayuga Lake near the Lower Entrance parking area and boat launch/marina, reached by a short walk from parking, not a hike. The park's named hiking trails (Gorge Trail, Rim Trail, etc.) lead through the waterfall gorge, which is a separate area where swimming is explicitly prohibited due to rockfall hazard.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Official designated swimming beach is on Cayuga Lake, not the creek/gorge (the gorge and base of the waterfall are closed to swimming due to rockfall risk, so kids won't be near that hazard). No official source confirms lifeguard staffing, roped shallow area, or exact depth at the beach, so treat as a standard supervised lake beach rather than assuming lifeguards are present.
Parking
Paid, $10 per vehicle (day-use, 2026 season)
Two park entrances: the Lower Entrance serves the boat launch/marina and swimming beach, the Upper Entrance serves the campground and gorge overlook/trails. Non-commercial bus entry is $35. An additional $5 vehicle fee applies 5:30-10pm on concert/movie event nights. Exact lot capacity not published.
Restrooms
Yes
Showers are listed as an on-site amenity by NY State Parks; exact restroom/bathhouse building location relative to the beach is not specified in official materials.
Hours
Swimming beach: 6/26 through Labor Day, 11:00am-7:00pm daily (2026 season). Park overall: open year-round, dawn to dusk.
On the water
Restrictions: Boat launch site is not suitable for any type of sailboat. Transient and seasonal marina slips available mid-April through mid-October (transient ~$15/night non-electric; seasonal ~$50/ft for boats 19ft+). No explicit no-wake-zone documentation found.
Boat launch and marina are at the Lower Entrance, the same area as the swimming beach.
Rentals nearby
Paddles-N-More
Kayak and paddleboard rental/lessons, plus seasonal canoe/kayak rack rental, operating out of nearby Myers Park on Cayuga Lake (Lansing, NY), per NY State Parks' official partner listing for Taughannock Falls SP
Prices: Kayaking lesson ~$35; paddleboarding lesson ~$55; canoe/kayak rack rental ~$100 per slot (March 1-November 30 season)
Myers Park, Lansing, NY, on Cayuga Lake, a short drive north of Taughannock Falls State Park; phone (607) 349-4767 per official park page
Backstory
The area was originally home to the Cayuga people and became a 19th-century tourism destination with Victorian-era hotels; New York State began acquiring land in 1925 to establish the park amid declining local tourism.
Taughannock Falls State Park: FAQ
Does Taughannock Falls State Park charge a fee?
$10 per vehicle for day-use entrance; additional $5 vehicle fee on concert/movie event nights (5:30-10pm). Camping $20-27/night, cabins from $59/night or $266/week, $7.25 reservation fee for first night; out-of-state surcharge $5-7/night.
Is Taughannock Falls State Park kid friendly?
Official designated swimming beach is on Cayuga Lake, not the creek/gorge (the gorge and base of the waterfall are closed to swimming due to rockfall risk, so kids won't be near that hazard). No official source confirms lifeguard staffing, roped shallow area, or exact depth at the beach, so treat as a standard supervised lake beach rather than assuming lifeguards are present.
Do I need to hike to reach Taughannock Falls State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Taughannock Falls State Park?
Two park entrances: the Lower Entrance serves the boat launch/marina and swimming beach, the Upper Entrance serves the campground and gorge overlook/trails. Non-commercial bus entry is $35. An additional $5 vehicle fee applies 5:30-10pm on concert/movie event nights. Exact lot capacity not published.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Taughannock Falls State Park?
Boat launch and marina are at the Lower Entrance, the same area as the swimming beach.
When is the best time to visit Taughannock Falls State Park?
Beach open late June through Labor Day; gorge/hiking trails and falls viewing accessible year-round (subject to seasonal trail closures/reopenings, e.g. trails reopened April 17, 2026).
What are the rules at Taughannock Falls State Park?
Swimming under/near the waterfall and in the gorge is strictly forbidden due to rockfall danger. Pets (max two, leashed) are prohibited from the beach, playground, and buildings. Sailboats not permitted at the boat launch.
What water body is Taughannock Falls State Park on?
Taughannock Falls State Park is on Taughannock Creek, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
