Here's The Perfect Weekend Itinerary If You Love Exploring Buffalo's Waterfalls
By Samantha Gill|Updated on February 03, 2023(Originally published January 29, 2023)
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Samantha Gill
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Samantha Jo is a freelance copywriter, proofreader, and social media manager. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys drinking coffee, crafting, camping, blogging at kinandkindling.com, and sipping only the finest of boxed wines – not necessarily in that order.
If you’re feeling the need to experience the great outdoors and searching for the best waterfalls near Buffalo, do exactly the opposite of what TLC (tender loving care, in case you missed that one) would suggest and set aside a weekend to go chasing waterfalls! Fill your tank, lace up your hiking boots, and pack your bags for this mini sightseeing road trip through Western New York.
Check out this interactive and adjustable map of our waterfall itinerary so you know just where to go.
Hit eight impressive waterfalls in one adventure-packed Western New York weekend.
The waterfalls at Letchworth State Park are second only to the "real deal" up north at Niagara, with water cascading down close to 600 feet. Letchworth is a great park to visit any time of year, and these falls near Buffalo are easily accessible in the winter months. Take a look at this stunning tour of the park!
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2. Head west to Emery Park Falls.
Emery Park, 2084 Emery Rd, South Wales, NY 14139, USA
Emery Falls is located in South Wales, just outside the village of East Aurora. There are two waterfalls within the park, each about 25 feet tall. Bonus for winter exploring: both of the waterfalls can be viewed without even leaving your car!
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3. Continue on to witness the Eternal Flame.
Eternal Flame Falls, Eternal Flame Hiking Trail, Orchard Park, NY 14127, USA
You'll need your hiking boots for these Buffalo waterfalls, but the end result is well worth the work. The Eternal Flame Falls
is located in Orchard Park within Chestnut Ridge Park. A relatively easy one-mile hike will lead you down to the falls, where you can view the natural gas spring flame behind the water flow. Once here you'll understand why this is one of the best waterfall hikes in New York State.
This footage of the falls is oh so soothing!
Glen Falls is located in the heart of Williamsville. The park features a 27-foot-tall waterfall that flows from Ellicott Creek. While the waterfall is technically visible from the road, a short walk through the park to get an up-close-and-personal look is highly recommended!
5. Take a slight detour to see Akron Falls Park.
Akron Falls Park, 44 Parkview Dr, Akron, NY 14001, USA
Akron Falls is located in the Village of Akron within Akron Park, a 284-acre Erie County park. The park boasts a 40-foot waterfall on Murder Creek surrounded by beautiful scenery!
And you can't beat the calming sound of the falls!
Of course, you'd have to visit the world-renowned Niagara Falls! Most people come to ride the boats that glide close to the cascades, but is not as widely known that you can hike here as well. Taking in the spectacular views on both sides of the border is an extra special treat.
Gushing from a height of approximately 181 feet, Bridal Veil Falls definitely lives up to its name—the shape of the water as it cascades down looking like a bridal veil. These falls are one of the three waterfalls that together make up what is commonly simply called Niagara Falls. It is also sometimes referred to as the Iris Falls or the Luna Falls.
American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls will be your final three on this weekend tour. I think it goes without saying that we saved the best (or at least biggest!) for last. If you haven't experienced Niagara Falls firsthand, you've been missing out! An interesting fact is that between Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls there is a large island sitting in the middle of the Niagara River called Goat Island. This is also a wonderful place to explore and offers spectacular views and is arguably one of the best waterfalls around Buffalo
Have you visited any of the best waterfalls near Buffalo before? Are there any others you’ve been dying to see? Let us know in the comment section below, and happy adventuring!
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More to Explore
Buffalo Waterfall Weekend Itinerary
Lysa Allman-Baldwin|June 16, 2022
Where can I find hiking trails with waterfalls in New York State?
Are there any family-friendly waterfall hikes in New York State?
Like hiking trails with waterfalls, there are numerous family-friendly waterfall hikes in New York as well. One of them is:
Awosting Falls. Located in the far eastern part of the state off Highway 209 and Interstate 87 in Minnewaska State Park,the hike is a little over a mile long but the scenery in the park and the gushing 60 feet tall waterfall make it a great place to enjoy the entire day.
Why is Letchworth State Park called the “Grand Canyon of the East?”
Letchworth State Park, located about an hour east and a little south of downtown Buffalo, is called the “Grand Canyon of the East” because of its size and magnificent natural beauty. Like its “sister canyon” in Arizona it is massive, encompassing some 14,350 acres. Within that expanse, there are amazing waterfalls, jaw-dropping gorges, some of the best waterfall hikes in New York, and miles and miles of trails for all kinds of recreational activities year-round. This park should be on every travel bucket list!
