Jefferson County, New York

Waterfalls Near Watertown, NY

16 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Watertown, 6 of them inside 10 miles. Great Falls is the closest at 0.3 miles to the northeast. Salmon River Falls earns the best visitor rating nearby (4.8 stars from 344 Google reviews).

Distances are straight-line from the town center. Driving routes are longer.

Photo of Salmon River Falls in Oswego County, New York
Pictured: Salmon River Falls, NY

Best Waterfalls Near Watertown at a Glance

Photo of Talcott Falls, a waterfall 6.9 miles from Great Falls
Pictured: nearby Talcott Falls (6.9 mi)
Closest

Great Falls

0.3 miles northeast of Watertown.

16 Waterfalls Near Watertown, Ranked by Distance

  1. Great Falls

    Watertown, NY · Jefferson County · 0.3 mi northeast of Watertown

    Great Falls is the closest named waterfall to Watertown, 0.3 miles to the northeast in Jefferson County. USGS notes: 25 ft. high; in the City of Watertown on the Black River, 0.6 mi. WSW of Sewalls Island, 1.3 mi. SE of the mouth of Kelsey Creek.

    Address
    Jefferson County, NY (GPS 43.9770, -75.9066)
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  2. Butternut Falls

    Watertown, NY · Jefferson County · 2.5 mi east of Watertown

    Butternut Falls lies 2.5 miles east of Watertown in Jefferson County, number 2 of 16 by distance. USGS notes: 35 ft. high; on private land in the Town of Watertown, along an unnamed stream at the head of Rutland Hollow

    Address
    Jefferson County, NY (GPS 43.9634, -75.8632)
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  3. Beaver Falls

    Watertown, NY · Jefferson County · 2.5 mi southwest of Watertown

    Beaver Falls lies 2.5 miles southwest of Watertown in Jefferson County, number 3 of 16 by distance. USGS notes: 20 ft. high; on private property in the Town of Watertown, on an unnamed stream 2.4 mi. NW of Watertown Center

    Address
    Jefferson County, NY (GPS 43.9601, -75.9573)
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  4. Burrville Cider Mill Falls

    Watertown, NY · Jefferson County · 4.0 mi southeast of Watertown

    Burrville Cider Mill Falls lies 4.0 miles southeast of Watertown in Jefferson County, number 4 of 16 by distance. USGS notes: 30 ft. high; in the Town of Watertown on Jacobs Creek, 2 mi. SSE of East Watertown, 2.3 mi. NW of Underwood Hill.

    Address
    Jefferson County, NY (GPS 43.9302, -75.8590)
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  5. Talcott Falls

    Adams Center, NY · Jefferson County · 6.6 mi southwest of Watertown
    4.3 (52 reviews)

    Talcott Falls lies 6.6 miles southwest of Watertown in Jefferson County, number 5 of 16 by distance. It ranks 2nd for review count among waterfalls near Watertown. Its own nearest town is Adams Center.

    Rating
    4.3 (52 Google reviews)
    Address
    Adams, NY 13606
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  6. Pleasant Creek Falls

    Fort Drum, NY · Jefferson County · 9.4 mi northeast of Watertown

    Pleasant Creek Falls lies 9.4 miles northeast of Watertown in Jefferson County, number 6 of 16 by distance. USGS notes: 18 ft. high; in the Village of Evans Mill on Pleasant Creek, 2.6 mi. SW of Westwood Corners

    Address
    Jefferson County, NY (GPS 44.0886, -75.8067)
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  7. Rainbow Falls

    Adams Center, NY · Lewis County · 11 mi south of Watertown

    Rainbow Falls lies 11 miles south of Watertown in Lewis County, number 7 of 16 by distance. Its own nearest town is Adams Center.

    Address
    Lewis County, NY (GPS 43.8324, -75.8353)
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  8. High Falls

    West Carthage, NY · Lewis County · 13 mi southeast of Watertown
    3.8 (9 reviews)

    High Falls lies 13 miles southeast of Watertown in Lewis County, number 8 of 16 by distance. It ranks 5th for review count among waterfalls near Watertown. Its own nearest town is West Carthage.

    Rating
    3.8 (9 Google reviews)
    Address
    Denmark, NY 13626
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  9. Catfish Falls

    Clayton, NY · Jefferson County · 14 mi northwest of Watertown

    Catfish Falls lies 14 miles northwest of Watertown in Jefferson County, number 9 of 16 by distance. Its own nearest town is Clayton.

    Address
    Jefferson County, NY (GPS 44.1394, -76.0676)
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  10. Kings Falls

    West Carthage, NY · Lewis County · 14 mi east of Watertown
    3.1 (17 reviews)

    Kings Falls lies 14 miles east of Watertown in Lewis County, number 10 of 16 by distance. It ranks 3rd for review count among waterfalls near Watertown. Its own nearest town is West Carthage.

    Rating
    3.1 (17 Google reviews)
    Address
    Denmark, NY 13626
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  11. Childs Falls

    Philadelphia, NY · Jefferson County · 15 mi northeast of Watertown

    Childs Falls lies 15 miles northeast of Watertown in Jefferson County, number 11 of 16 by distance. USGS notes: 15 ft. high; on private land in the Town of Philadelphia on Black Creek, 1.5 mi. N of Strickland Corners

    Address
    Jefferson County, NY (GPS 44.1361, -75.7052)
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  12. Sperrys Falls

    Clayton, NY · Jefferson County · 18 mi northwest of Watertown

    Sperrys Falls lies 18 miles northwest of Watertown in Jefferson County, number 12 of 16 by distance. USGS notes: 25 ft. high; in the French Creek Wildlife Management Area, in the Town of Clayton, on an unnamed tributary of French Creek 1.9 mi. ENE of Saint Lawrence

    Address
    Jefferson County, NY (GPS 44.1838, -76.1305)
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  13. Mad River Falls

    Pulaski, NY · Oswego County · 27 mi south of Watertown
    3.7 (10 reviews)

    Mad River Falls lies 27 miles south of Watertown in Oswego County, number 13 of 16 by distance. It ranks 4th for review count among waterfalls near Watertown. Its own nearest town is Pulaski.

    Rating
    3.7 (10 Google reviews)
    Address
    Redfield, NY 13437
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  14. Whitaker Falls

    Lowville, NY · Lewis County · 29 mi southeast of Watertown

    Whitaker Falls lies 29 miles southeast of Watertown in Lewis County, number 14 of 16 by distance. Its own nearest town is Lowville.

    Address
    Lewis County, NY (GPS 43.7344, -75.4456)
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  15. Jerden Falls

    West Carthage, NY · Lewis County · 29 mi east of Watertown

    Jerden Falls lies 29 miles east of Watertown in Lewis County, number 15 of 16 by distance. USGS notes: 25 ft. high; in Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest in the Town of Croghan, along the West Branch Oswegatchie River, 0.9 mi. NE of Compo Swamp

    Address
    Lewis County, NY (GPS 44.0107, -75.3199)
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  16. Salmon River Falls

    Pulaski, NY · Oswego County · 30 mi south of Watertown
    4.8 (344 reviews)

    Salmon River Falls lies 30 miles south of Watertown in Oswego County, number 16 of 16 by distance. It draws more Google reviews than any other waterfall near Watertown. Its own nearest town is Pulaski.

    Rating
    4.8 (344 Google reviews)
    Address
    Orwell, NY 13302
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Where the Waterfalls Are

Watertown sits in or near the Tug Hill and the Black River Country area of New York. The Tug Hill Plateau, east of Lake Ontario, receives some of the heaviest lake-effect snowfall in the eastern United States, and its meltwater feeds streams that cut sharp gorges into layered limestone and shale at the plateau's edges. Salmon River Falls in Oswego County, one of the most reviewed falls in the state, plunges into a broad gorge on the plateau's western side. Lewis County, around Lowville, holds many falls on tributaries descending to the Black River, and Jefferson County's falls lie on rivers flowing toward Lake Ontario. South of the plateau, Onondaga and Madison counties add gorge falls in the hill country near Syracuse. Read the New York waterfall guide.

By direction from Watertown: 3 to the northeast, 3 to the east, 3 to the southeast, 3 to the south, 2 to the southwest, and 2 to the northwest. They are spread across Jefferson County (9), Lewis County (5), and Oswego County (2). The average distance is 14.1 miles.

By Distance

Within 10 miles of Watertown

Great Falls (0.3 mi), Butternut Falls (2.5 mi), Beaver Falls (2.5 mi), Burrville Cider Mill Falls (4.0 mi), Talcott Falls (6.6 mi), Pleasant Creek Falls (9.4 mi)

10 to 20 miles of Watertown

Rainbow Falls (11 mi), High Falls (13 mi), Catfish Falls (14 mi), Kings Falls (14 mi), Childs Falls (15 mi), Sperrys Falls (18 mi)

20 to 30 miles of Watertown

Mad River Falls (27 mi), Whitaker Falls (29 mi), Jerden Falls (29 mi), Salmon River Falls (30 mi)

Nearby Towns With Waterfalls

Waterfalls Near Watertown: FAQs

How many waterfalls are near Watertown, NY?

16 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Watertown: 6 within 10 miles, 6 10 to 20 miles, 4 20 to 30 miles. Distances are straight-line from the town center.

What is the closest waterfall to Watertown?

Great Falls in Jefferson County is the closest, about 0.3 miles northeast of Watertown.

What is the best-rated waterfall near Watertown?

Salmon River Falls has the highest Google rating among nearby falls with at least 10 reviews: 4.8 stars from 344 Google reviews.

Which counties are the waterfalls near Watertown in?

Jefferson County (9), Lewis County (5), and Oswego County (2).

How does Watertown compare with other New York towns?

Watertown ranks 26th of the 88 New York towns in our directory for the number of waterfalls within 30 miles.