Where to have a Waterfall Elopement in Upstate NY

You wouldn’t think of Upstate New Work for some stunning waterfalls, but we’ve got ‘em! And what better place to share your vows with your significant other than underneath a waterfall!?

So if you are looking to have an intimate wedding, or straight up elope, and love water… here are my top 4 waterfalls in western New York to do that in!! These are also great spots to propose or have your engagement photos at as well.

A note before I dive into these locations: All of these are quite popular in the summer months, especially while school is out. This means a whole lot more people will be there. Because of this I HIGHLY recommend if you want to have your elopement at one of these locations to elope during the week! July – August is school break, and even the weekdays get crowded, but not nearly as bad as the weekends. 

Waterfalls if you want to get Wet!

Stony Brook State Park:

If your dream is to be one with the waterfall and get those epic photos of being IN IT, then This. Is. Your. Spot! You can go in the water and INTO the waterfalls, and get as soaked (or not!) as you’d like! This doesn’t mean you have to go deep. There are super shallow sections, and up to your torso sections, so it’s really your preference.

The other super cool thing about this location is that it’s a gorge, so there are multiple layers to the falls. You can get photos in several different types of waterfalls all along one path.

There are a couple of wooden bridges that make a great spot for photos along the hike as well! 

Time of Year

A common theme you will notice is that time of year matters for waterfall elopements, especially if you want to get into the water. For Stony Brook, we highly recommend late summer/fall time. Why? Well the water will be cold, but refreshing at that time of year, instead of freezing. This is a popular park for family reunions and gatherings, so avoiding the summer vacation months (especially weekends) does give you a bit more privacy. Once you get into late fall and the winter months, you can run into a chance of the gorge trail being closed due to unsafe conditions. This can happen at any park at anytime, however for Stony Brook the rangers say the chance increases quite a bit after Columbus Day.

Length of Hike/ accessibility

There are a few different trails you can hike at Stony Brook State Park, but the one with all the waterfalls is the Gorge trail. That trail is about 0.4 miles in each direction. The last small section takes you away from the falls and up a bunch of stairs to a parking lot, which is a section you would not need to hike. A good estimate is to be prepared to hike a little over a half a mile for your photos round trip. The path is well maintained and does involve a lot of stairs. I would recommend close-toed sandals or sneakers, and a pair of shoes to wear into the water!

This is an easy hike you can do with children and pets (dogs are allowed on-leash!). I would not recommend this for elderly that struggle with stairs or wet surfaces.

Surrounding Area

Stony Brook is in the southern tier, right below Dansville, NY. This is an absolutely stunning part of New York State, even more so in the fall. Stony Brook is also a little less than 30 minutes away from Letchworth State Park (also on our waterfall list!), in case you wanted to hit up 2 very different types of waterfalls in the same day!

Cost

This is a state park, so there is a $9 fee per car to enter from 9am to 5pm. In the off season (September through the beginning of June), that fee is either only collected on weekends and holidays, or not at all. There are no permits needed to have an elopement here, however if you are planning on having 25 or more people, you are required to have a permit.  

 

Taughannock Falls State Park

Taughannock falls is literally my FAVORITE waterfall in New York State. To me, this is a waterfall taken straight out of Iceland, and dropped along Cayuga Lake. With a 215 foot plunge past rocky cliffs, this waterfall gives me such a fairytale feel! 

You have the option to view the falls from up above and down below, and can easily do both during your elopement, and I highly recommend it if possible!

Most of this section will be about the falls from down below, since the overlook is one you can drive right up to.

From Below: Along the walk to the main falls, you pass 2 other waterfalls of various sizes, one of which is small enough to get into! Depending on the time of year, the river is very walkable (think giant flat slabs of rock), and makes for a beautiful spot for photos along the way. 

Taughannock is also another waterfall that you can get into, if you don’t mind climbing over the small landing area at the base that says Do Not Enter. Spoiler alert, many people do still enter, but I just like to give you that warning right off the bat! My two cents on this are that if you choose to enter, be respectful of those who are viewing it from the landing, and don’t stand directly in their way of enjoying the falls for more than a few minutes.

One big thing to note that there are no weddings allowed at the overlook between 10am and 3pm, and no weddings allowed at the base on holidays and weekends, so make sure to plan accordingly!

 

Time of Year

The answer here heavily depends on how much of a flow you want the waterfall to have! I recommend Fall or spring, as these are the seasons where the water flows the most, and also there are less people. The summer is great if you want to get in the water without freezing, however it is important to note that in the summer the falls can often be a small trickle, sometimes even completely dry (all dependent on how much rainfall we are having that year).

So if you don’t want to risk the chance of the falls being all dried up, avoiding the summer months will be your best bet. If you love the look of a 215ft trickle (still beautiful I promise!) and are a bit of a gambler, the summer is the season for you!

I will also market this as a stunning location for a winter elopement (just maybe without getting in the water haha). Imagine the winter wonderland view you have of a 215ft tall waterfall, and everything around it frozen! It adds a whole different fairytale vibe to your photos.

Length of Hike/ accessibility

Taughannock Falls is one of the most accessible falls on this list. The path to the falls is mostly a smooth gravel path and wide enough for wheelchair access. The landing platform below the falls also easily fits a wheelchair. There are no stairs along the path! Round trip to the bottom of the falls and back, you are looking at about 1.5 miles. It usually takes us about 15 minutes to walk there, 20, if we have a lot to carry. 

The overlook is literally a few steps from the parking lot, however the overlook does have stairs that lead down to it, making this section the shortest, but not wheelchair accessible. 

This is one of the easiest falls to get to and is super kid, dog, and elderly friendly! Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash.

Surrounding Area

This waterfall is less than 20 minutes outside of Ithaca, along Cayuga Lake. Ithaca is a beautiful town with a great food scene. Starlight by Ithaca is a beautiful glamping location and a great place to stay the night before or after your elopement! There is also another set of falls – Buttermilk Falls – right in Ithaca, if one set of falls isn’t enough for you!

Cost

The fee is $7 per vehicle for the bottom of the falls, while the overlook is free. There is a permit required for elopements that costs $50 and is good for up to 50 people. Even with the permit, no areas are closed to the public, meaning people can be there while you are getting married. For these reasons we recommend going during the quiet times of week/year.

 

Waterfalls as Backdrops

Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East, and the name definitely fits! Letchworth is also the first on my list for falls that create a stunning backdrop for your elopement, but ones that you cannot go into (and honestly wouldn’t want to even if you could!). There are several falls along the canyon, with the most iconic being the Middle falls. These are the falls with the railway bridge high above them. For me, Letchworth gives me those heavy romance vibes, especially if you are a fan of black and white photography!

If you are looking for a location with a grandiose feel, that reminds you how big and beautiful nature is, and that you really don’t have to hike to see, this is your spot! Although Letchworth has many hiking trails, most of the waterfalls views it has to offer are right off the road, or only a short walk in. 

This is a stunning location for your elopement, with so many photo options throughout the whole place! The park itself has over 60 miles of hiking trails, and too many overlooks of the canyon to count. It also offers up a few adventures for those adrenaline seekers, such as white water rafting and hot air balloon rides over the falls. Can you imagine eloping IN A HOT AIR BALLOON, over the grand canyon of the east!? I seriously can’t think of a more stunning way to do it! (and YES! We will 100% plan your hot air balloon elopement, photograph it, AND officiate the ceremony up there!).  

This park is also a great location if you are looking to have an intimate or micro wedding instead of an elopement, as they have an actual wedding venue for those who are interested. Iris Glen Inn offers a few Victorian feeling rooms to stay at, and a ceremony location that overlooks the falls. They also have a large tent for weddings of 100 people or less.  

 

Time of Year

My absolute favorite is autumn, with winter a close second! The fall colors in this park are breathtaking and add a hint of magic to each photo. In the winter, the ice and snow make a majestic backdrop as well, one that you can’t get anywhere else in New Work! But honestly, you can’t go wrong any time of year. Unlike some of the waterfalls on our list, these bad boys always have water flowing, and always look majestic!

Length of Hike/ accessibility

Almost all the best views are ones that you can drive to, and the ones you can’t have paved paths leading to them. This makes the perfect location for those of you who want stunning views without the hike! Most of the areas are wheelchair accessible, however a few of my favorites do have some stairs leading down/up to the overlook. The paid ceremony location does not have any stairs.

This is a great spot for kids, dogs (on leash), and the elderly!

Surrounding Area

Letchworth spans a large area, from Mt. Morris, NY all the way down to Portageville, NY, and takes a good half hour to drive through from one end to the other. It is located in the southern tier. Portageville is pretty tiny and doesn’t really have much to offer in terms of food. Mt. Morris is a few minutes off the I390 exit and has a bit more going on than Portageville, though it is still a small town. Letchworth is a little over an hour drive from Rochester, NY, and the next bigger town near it is Geneseo, your closest place for hotels and most other amenities you may need.

Cost

Entrance into the park is $10/ vehicle, and is collected 9am to 5pm daily from 5/11 to 10/20. Outside of those times entrance into the park is free! Any type of elopement or photography session within the park does require a $50 permit, and is pretty simple to acquire. This permit covers weddings up to 50 guests. If you’d like drone footage, that is an additional $25 permit. For both permits your vendors are required to be insured, and for the drone the operator must have their commercial FAA drone license.  If you are looking to have a wedding of up to 50 guests, the ceremony site has a $200 rental fee.

Honorable Mentions

Seneca Mills Falls

I couldn’t finish off this list without mentioning Seneca Mills Falls! These are a bit more off the beaten path and maybe not as grand as the ones above, but it is just as worthy of being mentioned! These falls offer a decent size cascade a short walk from the parking lot. Since this isn’t a state park, you can get away with having up to 15 people attend your ceremony, although it is important to note that the parking lot for the trail is small and holds about 10 cars.

I wanted to mainly add these falls because they are one of those hidden gems you would never know are in your backyard, and have so many photo opportunities surrounding them! This is a great option if you want to feel like you are in the middle of nowhere for your ceremony, but like the idea of then having a fancy dinner in town to celebrate.

Seneca Mills Falls can act well as just a backdrop, or ones that you do into, if that is your preference! You would have to do a little bit of climbing to get down to the falls, and the accessibility would be highly dependent on how high the water is at that point/ the rainfall that season. If you have an adventure side to you, you will have no issued getting into these falls!

Time of Year

These falls are good to visit year round, and are the one place you really don’t have to worry about crowds. I would, however suggest going in the fall when the colors are fully in swing and the bugs have settled (yes, the bugs here are pretty bad, bug spray is highly recommended!)

Length of Hike/ accessibility

The hike from the parking lot is only 0.3 miles on a flat, wide path. Easily wheelchair accessible, though once at the falls you do have to walk down a hill that is on the steeper side. It’s super short, but just a heads up! This is a dog, kid, and elder friendly trail!

Surrounding Area

These falls are off of route 14, along Seneca Lake, and are only 22 minutes away from Geneva. The road heading up to Geneva offers various beautiful backdrops, such as farms and fields, and views of the lake. If you elope at the waterfalls, I highly suggest pulling off on the side of the road and grabbing some photos at sunset!

Geneva offers a variety of restaurants, places to stay, and small shops. FLX Table is a perfect spot to celebrate with loved ones around a family style table and delicious farm-to-table foods. They provide a private dining area that is super welcoming and gives off the best vibes! If you have a specific type of food or vibe in mind, just ask and we will help you find the best spot for you!

Cost

There are no fees to have a wedding at Seneca Mills Falls!

Final Thoughts

New York State has some stunning waterfalls and scenery that would be a shame to not take advantage of for your elopement! These are just my favorites, however that is not to say there aren’t so many other options, especially in the Adirondack and Catskill regions. Part of our photography services includes helping you plan your entire elopement, from where to stay, to your timeline, to scouting locations, to marrying you, to the photography, of course. If you are contemplating eloping and wondering if it is the right move for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out; we will be happy to answer any questions you have and help you make the right decision for you!

Also, let us know what your favorite waterfall is, and if it made this list!