6 Hikes That Made Us Fall In Love with Ithaca, New York
Are you planning a trip to Ithaca, New York and want to know the best hiking trails in the area? This guide covers six hiking trails with stunning waterfalls, peaceful forested areas, and dramatic gorges, plus tons of wildlife, plants, and fungi to spot along the way. If you’re looking for a way to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of upstate New York, these hikes are worth adding to your list.
Prefer to see these trails in action? We explored six of our favorite hikes around Ithaca, from waterfalls to quiet nature preserves. Watch the video below to see the trails and wildlife and native plants we spotted on each.
1. Eberhard Nature Preserve Trail
Trail length: 1.9 mile loop
Elevation gain: 606 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Eberhard Nature Preserve is a 143 acre hardwood forest full of beautiful oaks, maples, and hemlocks. This preserve was about 20 minutes outside of the city center with a small parking lot right off the road. You start the trail surrounded by tons of wildflowers, with butterflies and bees buzzing around everywhere. This seems to be a less frequented area, so you can enjoy a very quiet and peaceful trail. Most of the elevation gain was right at the beginning of the trail, followed by a fairly level hike after that. The forest is full of fungi and moss to check out, with mushroom types we had never seen before. This isn’t the usual type of hike that people think to do in Ithaca, but this magical forest trail is absolutely worth a visit.
Tips: Bring bug spray and prepare for a steep incline right at the beginning of the trail.
Learn more about the Eberhard Preserve from the Finger Lakes Land Trust.
2. Taughannock Falls State Park/Gorge Trail
Trail length: 1.5 mile out and back
Elevation gain: 213 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Taughannock Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls to see in the Ithaca area, and for good reason. This 215-foot plunge waterfall is at the end of a 1.5 mile out and back trail. This is a very accessible trail option, with a wide flat pathway along the water until you reach the waterfall. This area is great for spotting birds, especially Peregrine Falcons, which nest in the area. These birds returned to rest at Taughannock Falls in 2020, following a 74 year absence.
If you don’t want to walk the gorge trail, you can enjoy the falls viewpoint right up the road. The gorge trail is also across the street from a large park, with playgrounds, parking, a boat ramp, and a swimming area in Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes. Regardless of which area you choose to visit, Taughannock Falls is an incredible waterfall to see.
Tips: Pack a lunch so you can enjoy a picnic overlooking Cayuga Lake after your hike.
Learn more about Taughannock Falls State Park in New York.
3. Watkins Glen State Park/Gorge & North Rim Trails
Trail length: 2.5 mile loop
Elevation gain: 583 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
While technically not in Ithaca, Watkins Glen State Park is just a short drive away and one of the most popular hiking spots in upstate New York. The gorge trail follows the water, going down a well maintained stone stairway. There are a ton of waterfalls along this trail, including one that you get to walk behind. Because of its popularity, the gorge trail can get pretty busy and the hike will take longer than you expect since there isn’t a lot of room to pass people. At the end of the gorge trail, we followed the north rim trail back to the parking lot to avoid the crowds and get a nice view from above the gorge. The gorge trail does not allow dogs, but you can bring your furry friends on the north rim trail to enjoy a shady, forested walk.
Tips: Prepare to get wet on this trail because a lot of water falls at various parts of the trail, especially when you walk behind the waterfall.
Learn more about Watkins Glen State Park in New York.
4. Buttermilk Falls State Park/Gorge Trail
Trail length: 1.6 mile out and back
Elevation gain: 462 feet
Difficulty: Moderate, but has accessible options. Buttermilk Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Ithaca. This park is in the Town of Ithaca, making it an easy option for anyone in the area to visit. This waterfall can be seen right from the parking lot, so it’s a fantastic accessible option. There are picnic areas and a playground at the base of the waterfall as well, so it’s the perfect spot to spend an afternoon.
If you’re looking for a more strenuous hike, you can follow the trail alongside the falls to see them further up. This is a fairly steep climb, but the trail is very well maintained and doesn’t require any scrambling. There are several viewpoints to stop at on the way up, plus an area where you can step into the water. If you go to the end of this trail, you’d be rewarded with views of beautiful pools and cavernous falls, which are absolutely worth the hike.
Tips: Get here early for parking. This is a busy spot and has a small parking area.
Learn more about Buttermilk Falls State Park in New York.
5. South Hill Recreation Area/Six-Mile Creek Trail
Trail length: 4.3 mile out and back
Elevation gain: 475 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
If you’re looking for a trail that has tons of native plants, wildlife to spot, and beautiful falls, then Six-Mile Creek Trail is the perfect spot for you in Ithaca. This 4.3 out and back trail follows along the creek with cliffside views, marshland, and creekside walks through Mulholland Wildflower Preserve. There is tons of wildlife to spot in these forested areas, plus fungi, wildflowers, and native plants. We were lucky enough to spot a pileated woodpecker, which flew right across our path before pecking away at a tree next to us. Swimming in this creek is a popular activity for locals, so expect to see a lot of others relaxing in the waters as you hike. There are plenty of spots to step off and jump in or soak your feet during your hike.
Tips: The parking area is small, so get there early. If swimming, be careful to avoid areas of standing water where there may be leeches. You may see people cliff diving on this hike, but this activity is dangerous and not recommended.
Learn more about Six Mile Creek Gorge in Ithaca.
6. Robert H. Treman State Park/Gorge & Red Pine Trails
Trail length: 1.4 mile loop
Elevation gain: 291 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
This trail was easily our favorite during our time in Ithaca. We even went back a few times to enjoy the falls and utilize the picnic areas at the trailhead. Entering this trail, you immediately feel transported into another world, with rock walls towering over you and moss growing everywhere. There are a few different ways to see Lucifer Falls, the main waterfall at Robert H. Treman State Park. We took the gorge trail from the top of Lucifer Falls and followed the stairs down along the falls. This is an amazing way to see the gorge and you’re rewarded with a stunning view of the falls from the bottom. You can head right back up the stairs if you want or keep heading through the gorge trail, which leads to the other side of the park, where there is a swimming area at the base of another waterfall. We took the red pine trail from the bottom of Lucifer Falls, which was a steep incline back up through the forested area. It ends in the picnic area, right at the top of the falls and is a great way to experience several different environments. This park is an absolute must see if you’re in the Ithaca area, even if you’re not big into hiking.
Tips: Don’t forget to pack lunch and a bathing suit. There is a wonderful swimming area on one side of the park and there are tons of picnic tables to enjoy lunch outside.
Learn more about Robert H. Treman State Park in New York.
Between the nature preserves, state parks, and recreation areas, you won’t have trouble finding a hike with gorgeous views near Ithaca, New York. These are only six of our favorite hikes in the area, but there are a ton more to try out. Let us know in the comments what your favorite hike in Ithaca is!
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About the Authors
For us, travel isn't about checking destinations off a list. We love connecting with new places through its natural spaces, trails, wildlife, and native plants. Whether we're living on the road in our 21-foot travel trailer or traveling abroad, we hope our stories inspire you to slow down on your travels, spend more time outside, and discover the beauty all around the world.
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