Rim Trail

The Rim Trail at Taughannock Falls State Park traverses the canyon rim above the gorge, delivering elevated perspectives of both the falls and the sweeping blue expanse of Lake Cayuga to the west. The loop climbs from the park entrance along the south rim, passing through mixed hardwood forest where gaps in the canopy provide tantalizing glimpses into the gorge far below. The trail reaches a series of overlooks positioned directly above the falls, where the full 215-foot plunge is visible from a breathtaking aerial vantage point that the gorge trail cannot offer. Continuing along the north rim, hikers encounter additional viewpoints before descending back through forest to the valley floor. Lake Cayuga, the longest of the Finger Lakes at 61 miles, dominates the western horizon from the higher rim sections, with sailboats visible on calm days and the Finger Lakes wine country stretching across the gentle hills beyond. Wildflowers carpet the forest floor in spring, including trillium, wild ginger, and bloodroot. The return along the gorge floor via the Gorge Trail completes an ideal full-park loop experience. Fall foliage transforms the canyon walls and surrounding forest into a vivid tapestry, making September and October especially popular months for this scenic circuit.