For some dog friendly hiking in the Finger Lakes we headed to Taughannock Falls over Memorial Day weekend. This, of course, was in additional to all the other activities like brewery hopping and hanging out at the lake front cabin we rented on Seneca Lake. Taughannock Falls is located in Taughannock Falls State Park on Cayuga Lake. The full trail we opted to hike is called the Taughannock Falls via North Rim and Gorge Trail and is rated as an easy 3.5 mile trail with about 600 ft of elevation change.
Taughannock Falls Overlook and North Rim Trail
The trail had us start at the iconic Taughannock Falls Overlook. We got a full view of the falls and the end of the trail from the overlook. After a quick photo op, we headed down the North Rim Trail following Taughannock Creek toward the lake.
The North Rim Trail was well shaded by trees and from the overlook to the lake was all downhill. Sadly, what goes down must come up on trails, so on the way back from the waterfall we had to hike back up the hill. The North Rim section of the trail ends with a set of stairs down to an open field next to the lake, and you pass by a campsite along the way.
Gorge Trail to Taughannock Falls
Arguably my favorite part of this short hike was the Gorge Trail. The trail follows along Taughannock Creek with lots of spots to actually walk in the creek bed. We were able to find a few secluded spots and let the dogs go for a swim, which they both LOVED. The Gorge Trail is wide and very accessible for all. The trees along the creek provided tons of shade which was perfect for the warm day.
The trail ends at a paved viewing platform near the base of the Taughannock Falls. Which of course meant a great spot for even more photos. By this point Winter was very over my photo taking shenanigans. But I still love her.
Before you go
Taughannock Falls State Park was located about 40 minutes from our cabin on Seneca Lake. Even though the distance was not very far, the speed limits in this part of New York are all under 55 MPH. The area also has a large population of Amish, so we did drive behind several horse and buggy set ups.
The state park is completely free, and so was the parking at Taughannock Falls Overlook. The parking lot is large but when we got back from our hike it had filled up. They did have a 2 hour parking limit at the overlook parking lot, so we were mindful to not spend too long on the trail.
There were restrooms at the overlook and at the start of the Gorge Trail. All of Taughannock Falls State Park was dog friendly and on leash rules applied. However, there were several other groups that also found secluded areas along Taughannock Creek for their dogs to run around and swim. The park is definitely busy so you will not be alone on the trails.
Check out more of our adventures on the blog archives page! Looking to go somewhere specific? Use the menu at the top to search by state or topic.