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Cascadilla Gorge Trail

4.8 (26 reviews)

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Megan C.

Heading to Ithaca for a visit? Cascadilla Gorge Trail is an absolute MUST do. I would recommend grabbing lunch in the commons and then taking the two block walk over to the gorge entrance at Court Street. You can take the walk all the way over into Cornell and browse around there if you have the time. We went with our puppy dog and didn't make it the whole way, but WOW - what a treat this walk was. Stop and take it all in! This "walk" is actually quite a workout with hundreds of stairs and lots of opportunities to fall into the gorge. The rocks are incredibly slippery and there are many spots that are not safe to enter in. When you find the spots that are, I highly recommend getting into the water! My dog is usually pretty afraid of water and walked right in with me. The views are incredible and we went on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon during Coronatimes, and didn't find it too crowded. Again, if you're planning a visit, this is a must must must. Happy walking and enjoy the rush!

Cristina R.

GORGES!!! Such an amazing paved trail with spectacular views of waterfalls and bridges right on the Cornell campus. It's an absolute must-do if you're in Ithaca! We went around 4 PM on a weekday in mid-November, and it wasn't crowded at all, so we were able to get some nice photos. Everyone we did see was wearing a mask. :)

Bill T.

Unfortunately the day I went, the trail was closed, but I was able to get a picture of one of the falls. It was so beautiful and peaceful there. I hope the full trail is open and not blocked by gates next time I visit.

Alex L.

This is a beautiful trail that takes you past six waterfalls in Ithaca. The Yelp location will take you to one of the entrances and there is plenty of free street parking. Sometimes they close the trail due to slippery conditions and apparently there's been some deaths with people falling in. If you are lucky or resourceful enough to get on the trail, it's a nice hike with a beautiful gorge, many waterfalls and tranquil nature. You don't get a total nature immersion as you would in a forest because there are some houses that are situated above the gorge and you can actually hear the music from some of them, but it's a great little trail nonetheless. Lots of running water and peaceful moments. Definitely a great stop to hit if you're in Ithaca!

Looking back from Cornell
Domenic J. L.

We were looking for relatively easy trails that we could tackle in an hour or so. Cascadilla seemed as though it might be too easy, and I couldn't find the actual length posted. I did want to see the gorge around Cornell again, so we gave it a shot. Turned out to be a beautiful hike, relatively short, but hundreds of stairs. I clocked .7 miles one way and an elevation change of 294'. It took us about an hour total, with lots of stops for pictures. Some of the stairs were uneven, so you do need to take some care, and be able to handle a lot of them, especially on a hot and muggy day. But the beauty of the numerous waterfalls along the way make it well worth it. I'd recommend starting at the low end at Cascadilla Park Road and walking towards Ithaca, so you can save the easy downhill for the return. I was lucky enough to find a parking spot on the street right at the trail head.

Gorgeous!
Xinting Y.

Excellent trail. Recommended by a friend from Cornell. Quite short but has over 10 waterfalls. I was in a hurry to get back to the Cornell campus from the Commons area and I started from the west end of the trail. It is definitely the best place to start cause all the waterfalls are coming to you and it was stunning when they appeared. There are some stairs to hike up but not too bad (around 400 feet ascension). The trail is only 1.5 miles in total, I did half the trail and got on to the exit at the college avenue stone arch bridge. It was so refreshing and I almost cannot believe there is such beautiful place underneath the small town when I got up.

Emily W.

The BEST place for hiking and climbing through waterfalls! It's free, there's street parking, and it's absolutely beautiful. Kids could totally handle this hike.

Dewan A.

Excellent spot. 1) The main gorge has a giant waterfalls with multiple tiers. 2) The first tier of the waterfalls is under a bridge which is covered with nets to prevent Cornell students from commuting suicide. 3) The remaining drops are a quick walk away.

Cascadilla gorge near top
Meg A.

Down trail is doable for the fit but if you have a knee problem it's challenging. That said it was beautiful and scenic. There are some areas you can dip your toes.

Map of these falls
Jennifer Z.

Drove around Cornell University and stumbled upon this treasure. Absolutely beautiful trail with waterfalls. We didn't hike the whole thing because we wanted to check out the Commons before they closed, but we will definitely be back to finish what we started! There is street parking nearby. Make sure you read the parking signs that a little confusing. Not sure how strict they are about street parking.

Lauren D.

Perfect "trail" for fake hikers like myself with stunning waterfalls and scenery. It is paved with steps as you make your way up to the top to see the many different waterfalls. When you get to the top, you are right in the vicinity of Cornell's campus, which we explored before heading back down. It is peaceful and easy for people of any age. Would definitely recommend!

Jessi C.

We wanted to see some GORGEOUS GORGES (lol see what I did there?) before we left Ithaca, but we were in a rush and didn't have time to leave the city center. Who knew there was such a quick and easy hiking trail right next to Cornell?! The hiking is not really even hiking...It's a paved walking trail with steps, so even children can do this trail very easily. You'll see several waterfalls and have a lot of opportunity for photos. Check it out!

One of the Falla on the trail

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Review Highlights - Cascadilla Gorge Trail

Such an amazing paved trail with spectacular views of waterfalls and bridges right on the Cornell campus.

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Buttermilk Falls State Park

Buttermilk Falls State Park

(128 reviews)

Beautiful park right off the road with easy access. Parking is $10 and worth it whether you want a…read morerelaxed stroll or a longer hike. Buttermilk Falls is right at the entrance and super easy to get to, with trails branching off from there. There's also swimming available in season when lifeguards are on duty. Overall, a very relaxing spot I loved visiting.

Located just on the southern edge of Ithaca, Buttermilk Falls named as early as 1866, as it was…read morelikened to "a mass of thick, frothy foam" is a wildly popular spot for tourists and local residents, especially during the height of summer where some of us visited this park. Formed by Buttermilk Creek as it flows down the steep valley side toward Cayuga Lake ranging in height from 5 to 35 feet and descending more than 500 feet in a series of cascades and rapids, a natural pool at the base of fall provides swimming with the feel of an old swimming hole that was closed today due to lack of life guards. Like many NY state parks, there are two entrances. We walked from the parking lot at the lower park and hiked up the picturesaque dog friendly Gorge Trail until the cross-over bridge. Then we returned back down the other side of the gorge on the less travelled Rim Trail. Bathrooms were clean with 4 showers. If one carries in food or drinks into the park, one must carry out as there are no trash cans. Parking was $10 and our picnic lunch made for an inexpensive, fabulous day, which we can recommend.

Taughannock Falls State Park - North Rim Trail

Taughannock Falls State Park

(164 reviews)

[Tuh-Gan-Ick] Falls state park is one the of most beautiful state park in NY. It has spectacular…read morenatural attractions of waterfalls, and a lake front on the other side of the road The Gorge Trail to the waterfall is very easy to access. I visited in the winter to see the falls frozen over, and the park rangers had done an excellent job keeping the trail well maintained. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the waterfall, and there's very little elevation change along the way. North Rim trail entrance was close during winter due to ice and snow. But you can skip the dangerous part of the trail by parking at the Taughannock Falls overlook point and start hiking from there. Then you will reach the upper falls. Parking is only $10. lot is small so warmer weather probably will fill up pretty quickly.

I visited here in the winter to see the falls frozen over, and it was such a cool experience! I…read morehadn't seen a frozen waterfall before, so it was really special to experience. I thought it was a fairly easy 1 mile hike out to the falls (though my coworker vehemently disagrees that 1 mile and easy belong in the same sentence - sorry Miss Sheila!), and there were some falcons swooping around. There is a fee to park, but were still spots remaining when we arrived. We should have received discounted parking with a Military ID, but the booth was unmanned that day, so we paid anyway. There is a restroom facility at the parking lot, and it wasn't bad. I actually think it was heated, so that was nice. I'd be interested in seeing the falls and hiking the upper trail when the weather is better!

Cascadilla Gorge Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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