This 100-Foot Underground Waterfall Is Just 3 Hours From NYC
We love a good waterfall, and in New York there are plenty to visit. We’ve got everything from Eternal Flame Falls with an actual burning flame to a 70-foot waterfall you can swim in. But what you probably don’t know is that New York State even has a super rare underground waterfall!
Better known as Secret Caverns, this hidden gem actually has quite the interesting, and a bit morbid, history. In 1928, two cows fell down an 85-foot hole that led to the caverns discovery (sadly, the cows did not survive).
The farmer of the land wanted to know more about what happened to his cows and what lies beneath his property so he asked Roger Mallery, a local civil engineer working at Howe Caverns at the time, for help. According to Exploring Upstate, Mallery lowered 5 local teens to help him map out the entire cave system. It was then that Mallery realized the significance of this discovery and purchased the land from the farmer to open the caverns as his own tourist attraction.
The entire tour through Secret Caverns takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Visitors must be able to climb the 103 stairs used to enter and exit the attraction.
After following through a prehistoric passageway (because even though the caverns were discovered in 1928, they’re actually around 38,000 years old) memorializing stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone, guests will reach the highlight of the tour: a 100-foot underground waterfall. It’s the only underground waterfall of its kind in New York State!
Be sure to bring a jacket and comfortable shoes for the journey as the caverns remain at 50°F. After reemerging above ground, you’ll want to make a stop at the visitor center to explore more of the wacky things Secret Caverns has to offer.
Tours are open now through Labor Day, daily from 10am – 4pm. You do not need to reserve a tour but due note that they begin at the top of every hour. Adult admission is $20 while kids (6-12) are $10 and children under 5 years old are free. Everything is cash only! Learn more on their website here.
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