The best waterfalls near Albany, New York are Rensselaerville Falls, Kaaterskill Falls, Mine Kill Falls and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Cohoes Falls, about 10 miles north of Albany.
For more waterfalls around Albany, browse the nearest towns: Voorheesville, Cohoes, Ravena, Altamont, Stottville, Cairo, Philmont, Middleburgh. You can also see every waterfall on the New York waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 52 publicly accessible New York waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Albany that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
-
1. Rensselaerville Falls
22 miles southwest of Albany. Our top pick near the city 4.9 out of 5 from 70 reviews.
Read full write-up
Rensselaerville Falls is about 22 miles southwest of Albany, near Middleburgh. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 70 Google reviews, and 91% of them give it five stars.
-
2. Kaaterskill Falls
35 miles southwest of Albany. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,560 reviews.
Read full write-up
Kaaterskill Falls is about 35 miles southwest of Albany, near Palenville. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 1,560 Google reviews, and 89% of them give it five stars. In short: "This iconic 260-ft-tall tiered waterfall on Spruce Creek features a lookout & a foot trail." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: 79 meters high.
-
3. Mine Kill Falls
40 miles southwest of Albany. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 86 reviews.
Read full write-up
Mine Kill Falls is about 40 miles southwest of Albany, near Stamford. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 86 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars.
-
4. Glen Falls
31 miles southwest of Albany. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 9 reviews.
Read full write-up
Glen Falls is about 31 miles southwest of Albany, near Cairo. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 9 Google reviews.
-
5. Plattekill Falls
40 miles southwest of Albany. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 35 reviews.
Read full write-up
Plattekill Falls is about 40 miles southwest of Albany, near Palenville. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 35 Google reviews, and 91% of them give it five stars.
-
6. Cohoes Falls
10 miles north of Albany. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 157 reviews.
Read full write-up
Cohoes Falls is about 9.7 miles north of Albany, near Cohoes. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 157 Google reviews, and 72% of them give it five stars. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: The falls have a vertical drop of 90 feet.
-
7. Mine Lot Falls
13 miles west of Albany. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 13 reviews.
Read full write-up
Mine Lot Falls is about 13 miles west of Albany, near Altamont. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 13 Google reviews.
-
8. Awosting Falls
68 miles south of Albany. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 200 reviews.
Read full write-up
Awosting Falls is about 68 miles south of Albany, near Rochester. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 200 Google reviews, and 84% of them give it five stars. In short: "Waterfalls & small pool reachable by short, wooded hikes in Minnewaska State Park."
-
9. Auger Falls
61 miles northwest of Albany. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 69 reviews.
Read full write-up
Auger Falls is about 61 miles northwest of Albany, near Lake Pleasant. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 69 Google reviews, and 86% of them give it five stars.
-
10. Van Hornesville Fall
57 miles west of Albany. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 42 reviews.
Read full write-up
Van Hornesville Fall is about 57 miles west of Albany, near Richfield Springs. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 42 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars.
Waterfall Day Trips From Albany
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohoes Falls | 10 mi north | Cohoes | 4.6 |
| Mine Lot Falls | 13 mi west | Altamont | 4.5 |
| Rensselaerville Falls | 22 mi southwest | Middleburgh | 4.9 |
| Glen Falls | 31 mi southwest | Cairo | 4.9 |
| Kaaterskill Falls | 35 mi southwest | Palenville | 4.8 |
| Mine Kill Falls | 40 mi southwest | Stamford | 4.8 |
| Plattekill Falls | 40 mi southwest | Palenville | 4.8 |
| Van Hornesville Fall | 57 mi west | Richfield Springs | 4.8 |
| Auger Falls | 61 mi northwest | Lake Pleasant | 4.8 |
| Awosting Falls | 68 mi south | Rochester | 4.8 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Albany. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Albany?
Rensselaerville Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 22 miles southwest of Albany and rated 4.9 stars from 70 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Albany?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Cohoes Falls is the closest, about 10 straight-line miles north of the city, near Cohoes.
How many waterfalls are near Albany?
We track 52 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in New York within 100 miles of Albany, 7 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the New York waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 52 publicly accessible New York waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Albany that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Why does New York have so many waterfalls?
Glaciers reshaped nearly the whole state, leaving hanging valleys in the Finger Lakes, disrupted drainage in the Adirondacks and steep escarpments in the west. Combined with ample rain and snow, that produces the second-highest count of named falls in our directory.
Summary
Rensselaerville Falls is our top waterfall pick near Albany, rated 4.9 out of 5 and about 22 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Spring is prime waterfall season across New York. Snowmelt and rain usually push the Adirondack and Tug Hill rivers to their highest levels from April into May, and the Finger Lakes gorges run strongly through spring. Many smaller gorge falls drop to a thin veil in July and August, though Niagara and other large river falls flow steadily all year. Autumn brings outstanding foliage, peaking in the Adirondacks in late September and early October and later in the Catskills and Finger Lakes, and fall rains often restore flows. Winter freezes many falls into ice sculptures, but some Finger Lakes gorge trails close for the season because of ice and rockfall.
For more New York waterfalls, see the full New York waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in New York, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in New York and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in New York.