For years I've been saying I was going to go on an all out waterfall hunt in New York City, and last week brought the day about finally. I found five areas with reported waterfalls in Manhattan. I didn't look in the outer boroughs yet. What did I find? I found this week's fast five!
1. The Morningside Park Waterfall, Harlem. I had to swipe some photos for the waterfall on this one. It was constructed in 1990 and is 20 feet tall. It was created in order to circulate the water in the pond. It fell into disrepair until recently, and it's been announced that it's running again. I've seen pictures, but when I visited, as you can see in my photos, the water was green and the waterfall was once again dry.
Morningside is a splendid park however. It sits on the outskirts of Columbia University's Campus on the west end of Harlem. The 30 acre park is in a cliff and is beautiful. There are ball fields on the south end with a historic dugout. There's the pond and it's ever struggling waterfall next to them. There are a lot of stairs due to the cliff, but the views from the top are amazing and well worth the climb.
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/morningside-park
https://www.morningsidepark.org/
https://www.nyctourism.com/attractions-tours/morningside-park/
https://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/attractions/morningside-park/
https://olmsted.org/olmsted-trail/jobs/morningside-park/
2. The Waterfalls of Central Park, Manhattan. I've heard it for years. There are waterfalls in the ravine along the loch in the North Woods of Central Park. It was true! The entirety of the park was created and landscaped, just so you know. I didn't find a single natural waterfall in New York, but the ravine is the closest you'll ever get.
Designed in the 1860's, the pool above, the ravine, loch and waterfalls, and the Harlem Meer at the north end of the park, along with the whole North Woods are man made. The rocks were obtained in the area and everything was made to look completely natural as though we're all in the Adirondacks.
That being said, I was duly impressed. I took at least a mile walk in the woods and saw at least three waterfalls there. I think there were five, but two of them were a little small for me to call a waterfall. The path was lovely, with man made viewing platforms over the loch. The wildlife was almost completely tame. Squirrels and cardinals were posing for me. They weren't even on zoom. It's a popular spot to take a walk and find some quiet. It's 32.5 acres worth of north woods.
Central Park is beautiful. If you don't know that, I don't know what rock it is you've been living under. There's something so natural about the north woods. It makes you feel like you're way upstate away from it all. And when you come back out along 110th Street, you see the pool which is open to the public during the summer and the Harlem Meer. It's a great way to spend some time. You really can't tell the waterfalls are man made!
https://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/attractions/waterfalls/
https://secretnyc.co/central-park-secret-waterfalls-spring-ny/
https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/the-ravine
https://triptins.com/central-park-waterfalls/
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/central-park/waterfall
3. This thing at Citigroup Plaza, 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue Subway entrance, Manhattan. I don't know what to say about this. It's a waterfall. I know that, because I've seen them before. Apparently, it once was a fountain designed by Hideo Sasaki, which fell into disrepair and now is a step waterfalls. The creator of this version was not named.
It's part of the sunken plaza at the Citigroup Center. I'm not entirely sure if it even still belongs to Citigroup, but there it is. It's a nice quiet place to sit and have a Dunkin and enjoy not being up on the noisy streets. What's the catch? Well, it's also the entrance to the subway station there.
The original fountain was destroyed in 2017. I'm not sure when the step waterfalls came along, but I like them.
https://aviewoncities.com/new-york/citigroup-center
https://www.nyctourism.com/places/atrium-at-citigroup-center/
https://buildingsdb.com/NY/new-york/citigroup-center/
https://archinect.com/news/article/150033697/
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/lets-not-destroy-new-york-city-brutalist-masterpieces
4. Greenacre Park Waterfall, 51st Street between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue. This park is privately owned and the waterfall was designed in part by the same Hideo Sasaki that designed the defunct fountains at Citigroup Plaza. This waterfall is 25 feet high and is a double decker. It's pumping system is fed by a stream that runs along one side of the park. It has a grand entrance, a snack bar, and trees. You can sit in a chair or at a table and enjoy the escape from the noise of the city outside.
This is a haven for people who live and work in the area and is a gorgeous waterfalls. The whole park is a mere 6,000 square feet and was built in the 1970's. I was impressed. The park is open from 8 am to 8 pm for all to enjoy. It does have gates and does close overnight. It is also closed on some holidays.
https://www.sasaki.com/projects/greenacre-park/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/greenacre-park
https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/greenacre-park
https://sideways.nyc/discover/27hr8qq9W3PyHWhORGgsB6/greenacre-park
5. Paley Park Waterfall, 53rd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue. There are a lot of little havens in this neighborhood. This is another pocket park, also privately owned. The waterfall was built by Robert Zion for William S. Paley in honor of his father Samuel Paley.
Opened in 1967 the 4,200 Square Foot Paley Park is home to a 20 foot high wall of water. Once again, built as a haven to get away from the noisy streets of Manhattan, there are places to sit and relax, and it's open from 8 am to 8 pm daily. This is a wall of water, and I enjoyed it very much. In Paley Park, you feel a little more closed off from the rest of the world than any of the other urban falls.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/paley-park
https://www.tclf.org/paley-park
https://www.untappedcities.com/paley-park-a-hidden-oasis-in-midtown/
https://www.watercubedesign.it/paley-park/
There you have it. I found five different waterfalls groups in Manhattan. To be fair I know of a couple more, even though the internet tells me they aren't there. I might visit them soon. While I promise you there are no natural waterfalls in Manhattan, they do have some beautiful falling water designed by humans. I don't know what is up with the waterfall in Morningside Park. I was assured it was working and when I went, the water was green and there was no waterfall flowing. Still a mystery.
Waterfalls are one of the things in this world that historically bring people peace. All of these waterfalls were designed to help people escape the hustle, bustle and noise of Manhattan, and from what I saw and heard; they all do a good job.
I'm a waterfall enthusiast from way back. I've hiked to and photographed most waterfalls in New England and many in other places around the world. This was a fun venture in New York City, and if you'd like to see what I'm doing right now, I have a YouTube Channel for that.
"Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon." That's Me!
https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026
Hope you enjoyed learning about Manhattan's waterfalls! Thanks for joining me! Enjoy!
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