Montour Falls: Waterfalls and Architecture

Montour Falls offers different ways to explore: Shequaga Falls is the main attraction at Shequaga Falls Park, while a trail in Havana Glen Park leads through a gorge to Eagle Cliff Falls. The town also has historic buildings, a Federal-style museum, and walking tours offered by the Schuyler County Historical Society. If you’re weighing nature against local history for your trip, Montour Falls offers several specific places to start.

Waterfalls from Different Perspectives

Shequaga Falls Park has a short path, a viewpoint overlooking the waterfalls, and several benches. The viewpoint gives your visit a clear focus: you can take in the waterfall and use the available seating. The short path is also part of the experience. For planning with children or a group, this offers a different kind of outing than a hike through a gorge.

Another trail leads through the gorge in Havana Glen Park to the 41-foot-high Eagle Cliff Falls. Here, the path through the gorge is part of the nature experience, with the waterfalls as the destination. If you prefer to combine an outing with a walk, you can consider this as an alternative to the viewpoint at Shequaga Falls when planning your trip. The two options offer different experiences, without requiring you to assume a particular walking time.

Downtown and Historic Architecture

Downtown Montour Falls combines the waterfall with a corridor of restaurants, breweries, boutiques, and historically significant buildings and sites. There’s more to explore than nature: dining, shopping, and history are other themes to consider when choosing a destination. When looking for a vacation rental in Montour Falls, it’s worth first deciding whether your trip will focus mainly on waterfalls or also on learning about the town’s architectural history.

A group of Greek Revival civic buildings is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another architectural landmark is the Brick Tavern Museum: the large Federal-style brick building was constructed in 1828 and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These two style designations make the variety of historic architecture in Montour Falls tangible, without implying that all the buildings share the same form.

Shequaga Falls is also part of the town’s history: the waterfall is located in the village of Montour Falls, at the corner of the historic Glorious T intersection. Visitors interested in local history and distinctive names will find another specific point of reference here, alongside the buildings. The Brick Tavern Museum, the civic buildings, and the intersection each represent different aspects of the town’s architectural and local history.

Walking Tours as Another Way to Explore

The Schuyler County Historical Society offers walking tours of Montour Falls from June through October. They are free and open to everyone. This adds a guided option to exploring waterfalls and historic sites on your own. When planning your stay, you can choose between nature trails, the waterfall viewpoint, and a walk through town, depending on the kind of discovery that appeals to you most.

Other destinations at the same level: Odessa, Watkins Glen.

For the broader travel overview: Schuyler County.