Some places earn their reputation the moment you round the last bend. Eagle Cliff Falls at Havana Glen Park is one of them. A short walk leads through a narrow shale passage, up a flight of metal stairs, and into a natural amphitheater where a clean ribbon of water drops the full height of the cliff face into a shallow, quiet pool. It’s one of the most striking short waterfall walks in the area — and at roughly a minute from Goldenrod Preserve, one of the easiest to fit into any day.
Why We Recommend It
The geometry of the place is what gets you. The trail narrows between two layered shale walls, opens to a short flight of metal stairs, and delivers you into a natural amphitheater where Eagle Cliff Falls drops a single clean line of water into a shallow, gravel-bottom pool. Smaller seeps and drips run down the surrounding rock all summer, so the whole basin feels alive — water on every surface, moss and ferns filling every crack of stone.
What makes it worth recommending isn’t only the falls itself, though it’s a good one. It’s how much scenery you get for how little walking. Short enough that it’s an easy add to any day in the area; striking enough that it doesn’t feel like a consolation prize. On a warm day, the pool is calm and shallow enough to wade or dip your feet, which makes it a natural choice for travelers who want a real Finger Lakes nature moment without committing a half-day to it. From Goldenrod Preserve, it’s roughly a one-minute drive — closer than most morning coffees.
What to Know Before You Go
This is a town park, not a state park, so amenities are simple and the trail is short — but it’s not effortless. To reach the base of Eagle Cliff Falls you’ll cross a shale passage and climb a flight of metal stairs, so think of this as a short walk with some climbing rather than a fully accessible path. Surfaces can be slick after rain, the gravel near the pool is uneven, and closed-toe shoes with grip will serve you better than sandals.
The falls shift with the season — fuller and more dramatic in spring and after rain, slimmer in late summer — so the photo you saw online may not be the version you meet on the day. Plan to verify current park hours, any vehicle or entrance fees, and seasonal access directly with the town before you go. And if you plan to wade, bring a towel — the pool stays cold well into August.
Business Name: Havana Glen Park (Eagle Cliff Falls)
Website: townofmontour.gov/havanaglen
Address: 135 Havana Glen Rd, Montour Falls, NY 14865
Phone: (607) 535-9476
Type / Category: Town park / Waterfall walk
Distance from Goldenrod Preserve: ~1 minute by car
Best For: A quick, scenic nature stop; photographers; families with mobile kids; warm-weather feet-in-the-water moments; pairing with a meal or coffee in Montour Falls
Accessibility: Short walk, but includes stone passages and metal stairs — not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible