On the Grid : Taughannock State Park

"Taughannock Falls (Ta-gan-neck for you out-of-towners) is the most striking and accessible of all of the tremendous waterfalls littering the landscape around here. Part of the NY State Park system, it offers a challenging rim trail that takes you around the top of the gorge and along the creekbed before the waters plunge uninterrupted 215 feet into the gorge carved out over thousands of years. The more popular trail option is the flat wide 3/4 mile gorge trail that meanders alongside the creek to the base of the waterfall - this walk is especially pleasant on a hot summer day as it is mostly shaded and allows access to wading in the shallow creek waters. The park acreage sits on a delta that extends out into the lake and offers huge lawns for kite flying and pick up games, as well as a designated swim area and boat launch. Take a picnic in the summer - there are Saturday concerts and open air movies for families. Great to visit year round." - St. John Design Group