On East Branch Limestone Creek in Madison County, New York, Delphi Falls drops 65 feet as a veiling horsetail within a 66-acre county park southeast of the hamlet of Delphi Falls. Closed to the public for decades while in private hands, the property reopened as a park in 2018.
The falls
The creek drops in a single plunge formed as a veiling horsetail. Lidar measurements place the drop at about 65 feet, while local park records cite 62 feet for the lower falls. A second waterfall, the 54-foot upper falls, lies upstream within the park.
Getting there
The park is at 2006 Cardner Road, Cazenovia, managed by the Madison County Planning Department. The main lot contains 56 standard and two accessible spaces. From there, a walkway past Cascades Hall and across a pedestrian bridge leads to the lower falls viewpoint. The Rim Trail covers about a third of a mile, providing three views of the upper and lower falls with terrain rated challenging.
When to go
The park remains open all year, daily from sunrise to sunset. Improvement work concluded in 2025, adding a new parking lot, a footbridge below the falls and new trails.
On site
The lower falls overlook is wheelchair accessible. Swimming is prohibited, while fishing is permitted. Dogs must remain leashed, and visitors are asked to stay on designated trails. The lawn near the lower falls features picnic tables and grills, with the park operating on a carry-in, carry-out basis. In July 2020 the park was closed for a week following rule violations.
History and name
Delphi Falls attracted visitors in the early 1900s, and a 1901 proposal envisioned extending the Syracuse and Suburban Railroad to the base of the falls alongside a hydroelectric facility. From the mid-20th century the land remained in private hands and closed to the public. Madison County acquired the tract in 2018 with a $750,000 donation from Harold Jones, a retired Syracuse University professor from Manlius, opening the park that August.
Nearby
Pratts Falls is about 6.7 miles away, Chittenango Falls about 8.4 miles and Tinker Falls about 8.8 miles. Cazenovia is about 5.1 miles to the northeast.
Distances are straight-line.