Cliff Diving & Jumping in New York
15 spots across 14 areas. Pick a town to explore, or get the app for the full map.
→ The best cliff jumping spots in New York, ranked
New York is one of the best cliff jumping states in the Northeast, with three distinct regions. The Finger Lakes gorges around Ithaca — Buttermilk Falls and Potter's Falls on Six Mile Creek — are iconic. The Catskills hold a deep tradition: Fawns Leap in Kaaterskill Clove, the Plattekill (Platte Clove), and the famous Peekamoose Blue Hole on Rondout Creek. Up north, the Adirondacks offer the Ausable River, Bluff Island on Saranac Lake, Split Rock Falls, and Pharaoh Lake, plus Lake George and Lake Champlain. Water is cold, many gorge spots are officially closed after fatalities, and Peekamoose requires a summer permit — so know the rules before you go.
Altmar1 spot
Cadyville1 spot
Canajoharie1 spot
Cortlandt Manor1 spot
Essex1 spot
Haines Falls1 spot
High Falls1 spot
Highland Falls1 spot
Ithaca2 spots
Keene Valley1 spot
New Russia1 spot
Newfield1 spot
Saranac Lake1 spot
Sundown1 spot
Cliff jumping in New York — FAQ
Where can you cliff jump in New York?
Around Ithaca: Buttermilk Falls and Potter's Falls. In the Catskills: Fawns Leap, Platte Clove, and Peekamoose Blue Hole. In the Adirondacks: the Ausable River, Bluff Island (Saranac Lake), Split Rock Falls, and Lake George.
Is cliff jumping legal in New York?
Many of the gorge and waterfall spots are officially prohibited and patrolled, especially after drownings, and the Peekamoose Blue Hole requires a permit on summer weekends. Jumping is widespread but often illegal — check local rules and signs.
Is the water cold at New York cliff jumping spots?
Yes. Adirondack and Catskill water is cold even in midsummer, and the deep gorge pools (like Peekamoose) stay frigid — cold-water shock is a real risk.