No matter where you live in New York, all of our residents can agree that we love to boast about our waterfalls. To us, there’s nothing better than sneaking off to one of our favorite serene getaways and enjoying the relaxing gift Mother Nature gave us. Often we forget that within our state lies some truly hidden gems. Why you might ask? These incredible waterfalls tend to go unnoticed because they’re man-made! Refreshing and unique, here are 9 enchanting urban waterfalls in our state that you MUST visit if you’re wondering, “where are the best waterfalls near me?”

  1. New Croton Dam, Croton-On-Hudson

Matthew and Heather/Flickr

June Marie/Flickr Part of New York City’s water supply system, this incredibly scenic waterway stretches across the Croton River! Technically this “waterfall” is half man-made and half natural, but either way, this was too remarkable to not make our list. With a spillway that stretches across a thousand feet, this place is really somewhere you’ll want to spend a day exploring for yourself! If you like hiking trails with waterfalls in New York, you’ll love the dam too!

Read more about New Croten Dam. New Croton Dam, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520, USA

  1. The 9/11 Memorial, New York City

David Farquhar/Flickr

Stephen Weppler/Flickr Created to honor all the loved ones who were lost in the attacks on 9/11 and the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center, the two pools are now where the towers once remained. Each one acre in size, these pools are the largest man-made waterfalls in all of the United States.

Learn more about the 9/11 Memorial. 180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007, USA

  1. 50th Street Commons, New York City

Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York/Flickr

Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York/Flickr One of the most unique urban waterfalls on our list, this 2,400 square-foot park not only has a glass waterfall but it also changes colors! When life in the city gets too chaotic and you need a place to put yourself in time out, come and check out this peaceful park between East 50th Street and Madison Avenue.

See more about 50th Street Commons. 50th Street Commons, 48 E 50th St, New York, NY 10022, USA

  1. Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, Buffalo

Jane B./Yelp

Michael S/Flickr The focal point of the Ancient Rainforest exhibit, this beautiful waterfall can be found surrounded by koi fish, incredible greenery and even banana plants. Although it’s not technically a hike, you might want to add it to your list of the best hiking trails with waterfalls in New York anyway!

Learn more about Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. 2655 South Park Ave, Buffalo, NY 14218, USA

  1. Paley Park, New York City

C T./Yelp

Alyssa P./Yelp Another one of New York’s hidden pocket parks, this gorgeous sight before your eyes opened back in 1967! Known to be one of New York’s absolute favorite urban parks, this stunning waterfall will ease the pain of any bad day.

Read more about Paley Park. 3 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022, USA

  1. Greenacre Park, New York City

arwcheek/Flickr This 25-foot high waterfall will give you a relaxing mist and was created in 1971. Your favorite part about visiting this waterfall will be that it completely drowns out the loud noises of the city!

See more about Greenacre Park. 217 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022, USA

  1. Businessman’s Lunch AKA Wells Falls, Ithaca

A.D. Wheeler/The Explorographer Flowing next to an old power plant, this waterfall is a sort of strange sight to see! While this picturesque waterfall may look like the perfect place to take a dive, the creek the falls flows into is actually off limits for swimming!

Learn more about Businessman’s Lunch/Wells Falls. Finger Lakes, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

  1. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn

Laura_Soledad/TripAdvisor This beautiful and historic garden, which began its creation back in the early 1900s, is more than worth the visit. With a mission to bring the relationship people and plants have closer together, you’ll love taking a stroll by this urban waterfall. This might beat even the best waterfall hikes in New York!

Read more about Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225, USA

  1. The Chelsea Market Waterfall, New York City

Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/Flickr Once you lay your eyes on this simple but mesmerizing waterfall inside New York’s Chelsea Market, you won’t be able to take your eyes off of it! Pouring out of a considerable size pipe and into the ground with color changing lights set behind it, this waterfall can be found surrounded by tourists all year long. Add the Chelsea Market Waterfall in New York to your must-see list!

Learn more about the Chelsea Market. 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA

Have you ever taken the time to unwind by one of these urban waterfalls? Share with us your favorite man-made waterfalls hiding around New York!

Matthew and Heather/Flickr

June Marie/Flickr

Part of New York City’s water supply system, this incredibly scenic waterway stretches across the Croton River! Technically this “waterfall” is half man-made and half natural, but either way, this was too remarkable to not make our list. With a spillway that stretches across a thousand feet, this place is really somewhere you’ll want to spend a day exploring for yourself! If you like hiking trails with waterfalls in New York, you’ll love the dam too!

Read more about New Croten Dam.

New Croton Dam, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520, USA

David Farquhar/Flickr

Stephen Weppler/Flickr

Created to honor all the loved ones who were lost in the attacks on 9/11 and the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center, the two pools are now where the towers once remained. Each one acre in size, these pools are the largest man-made waterfalls in all of the United States.

Learn more about the 9/11 Memorial.

180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007, USA

Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York/Flickr

One of the most unique urban waterfalls on our list, this 2,400 square-foot park not only has a glass waterfall but it also changes colors! When life in the city gets too chaotic and you need a place to put yourself in time out, come and check out this peaceful park between East 50th Street and Madison Avenue.

See more about 50th Street Commons.

50th Street Commons, 48 E 50th St, New York, NY 10022, USA

Jane B./Yelp

Michael S/Flickr

The focal point of the Ancient Rainforest exhibit, this beautiful waterfall can be found surrounded by koi fish, incredible greenery and even banana plants. Although it’s not technically a hike, you might want to add it to your list of the best hiking trails with waterfalls in New York anyway!

Learn more about Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.

2655 South Park Ave, Buffalo, NY 14218, USA

C T./Yelp

Alyssa P./Yelp

Another one of New York’s hidden pocket parks, this gorgeous sight before your eyes opened back in 1967! Known to be one of New York’s absolute favorite urban parks, this stunning waterfall will ease the pain of any bad day.

Read more about Paley Park.

3 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022, USA

arwcheek/Flickr

This 25-foot high waterfall will give you a relaxing mist and was created in 1971. Your favorite part about visiting this waterfall will be that it completely drowns out the loud noises of the city!

See more about Greenacre Park.

217 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022, USA

A.D. Wheeler/The Explorographer

Flowing next to an old power plant, this waterfall is a sort of strange sight to see! While this picturesque waterfall may look like the perfect place to take a dive, the creek the falls flows into is actually off limits for swimming!

Learn more about Businessman’s Lunch/Wells Falls.

Finger Lakes, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

Laura_Soledad/TripAdvisor

This beautiful and historic garden, which began its creation back in the early 1900s, is more than worth the visit. With a mission to bring the relationship people and plants have closer together, you’ll love taking a stroll by this urban waterfall. This might beat even the best waterfall hikes in New York!

Read more about Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225, USA

Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/Flickr

Once you lay your eyes on this simple but mesmerizing waterfall inside New York’s Chelsea Market, you won’t be able to take your eyes off of it! Pouring out of a considerable size pipe and into the ground with color changing lights set behind it, this waterfall can be found surrounded by tourists all year long. Add the Chelsea Market Waterfall in New York to your must-see list!

Learn more about the Chelsea Market.

75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Waterfalls Near Me April 25, 2022 Danielle Schwartz Where can I find the bluest water in New York? The beautiful Skaneateles Lake is known for having the bluest water in New York. The water is a stunning color of blue, and interestingly, it is because the lake doesn’t have as many biological systems as darker and murkier water. The lake is 16 miles long, and there are plenty of fun activities to keep you busy in between times spent gazing at the gorgeous Skaneateles Lake’s impressively blue water. Where can I go tubing in New York? Some of the best places to go tubing in New York are on its peaceful lazy rivers. Sacandaga River, Delaware River, and Hudson River are just a few of the best choices you can make for places to go tubing. Enjoy a relaxing ride while taking a look around at the surrounding greenery and wide open sky. You’ll feel worlds away from the bustling city life you might be used to experiencing. What is the hottest month of the year in New York? The hottest month of the year in New York is July. The middle of the summer has an average high of 77 degrees, so if you’re going to head out to a waterfall in the summer heat, make sure you bring your sunscreen and lots of water in order to properly enjoy your lovely day outdoors.  

The OIYS Visitor Center

Waterfalls Near Me

April 25, 2022

Danielle Schwartz

Where can I find the bluest water in New York? The beautiful Skaneateles Lake is known for having the bluest water in New York. The water is a stunning color of blue, and interestingly, it is because the lake doesn’t have as many biological systems as darker and murkier water. The lake is 16 miles long, and there are plenty of fun activities to keep you busy in between times spent gazing at the gorgeous Skaneateles Lake’s impressively blue water. Where can I go tubing in New York? Some of the best places to go tubing in New York are on its peaceful lazy rivers. Sacandaga River, Delaware River, and Hudson River are just a few of the best choices you can make for places to go tubing. Enjoy a relaxing ride while taking a look around at the surrounding greenery and wide open sky. You’ll feel worlds away from the bustling city life you might be used to experiencing. What is the hottest month of the year in New York? The hottest month of the year in New York is July. The middle of the summer has an average high of 77 degrees, so if you’re going to head out to a waterfall in the summer heat, make sure you bring your sunscreen and lots of water in order to properly enjoy your lovely day outdoors.  

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

The beautiful Skaneateles Lake is known for having the bluest water in New York. The water is a stunning color of blue, and interestingly, it is because the lake doesn’t have as many biological systems as darker and murkier water. The lake is 16 miles long, and there are plenty of fun activities to keep you busy in between times spent gazing at the gorgeous Skaneateles Lake’s impressively blue water.

Where can I go tubing in New York?

Some of the best places to go tubing in New York are on its peaceful lazy rivers. Sacandaga River, Delaware River, and Hudson River are just a few of the best choices you can make for places to go tubing. Enjoy a relaxing ride while taking a look around at the surrounding greenery and wide open sky. You’ll feel worlds away from the bustling city life you might be used to experiencing.

What is the hottest month of the year in New York?

The hottest month of the year in New York is July. The middle of the summer has an average high of 77 degrees, so if you’re going to head out to a waterfall in the summer heat, make sure you bring your sunscreen and lots of water in order to properly enjoy your lovely day outdoors.