Hector Falls

Hector Falls is located immediately adjacent to Route 414, about 3.3 miles north of Watkins Glen - Route 414 forks left about 1.5 miles from Watkins Glen, and Route 76 continues straight up the hill; stay left to get to Hector Falls. Parking is available on the wide shoulders on either side of the bridge over Hector Falls Creek. The lower part of the falls is not accessible to the public, but can be at least partially seen from watercraft on Seneca Lake.Hector Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Watkins Glen area, and certainly one of the more visually unique falls around, but unfortunately only a fraction of the falls can be enjoyed by the public as it lies partially on private property. The falls are bisected by the bridge along Route 414 as it crosses Hector Falls Creek in the middle of the falls. Upstream of the bridge, the upper section cascades down a stair-stepping formation for 84 feet, with each step getting progressively wider as it tumbles down the cliff - starting out about 25 feet wide, and ending close to 70 feet across. The middle tier of the falls lies directly beneath the highway, and drops another 16 feet. The lower tier then tumbles down a similar set of stair-stepping ledges for another 89 feet, essentially tumbling directly into Seneca Lake at the base of the falls. Private homes are situated on either side of the base of the falls, so there is no way for the public to approach the base of the falls - please respect the privacy of the residents and don't attempt to visit the lower portion of the falls.
Hector Falls Creek has a drainage area covering about 12-1/2 square miles, and heads in several sections of swamp set amid forest lands to the east of Seneca Lake. While seasonal fluctuations in the volume of the creek will certainly be present, the stream does seem to retain at least a modest flow for most of the year. During the driest months of the summer however it isn't unheard of for the flow to be reduced to just a trickle.