Cornell University

Nature Rx

Holistic well-being through connection with nature

A vibrant purple loosestrife flower stands in focus in the foreground, with a softly blurred waterfall cascading down rocky terrain in the background.

Cascadilla Gorge

Activities:
Walking, Nature Observation, Scenic Waterfalls
Difficulty:
Some stairs and uneven trails, with some areas closed and not maintained in the winter.
Duration:
At a leisurely pace, it will take you less than an hour to walk round-trip between the upper College Avenue Stone Arch Bridge entrance and Treman Triangle Park downtown.
Distance from You:
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Campus Nature

Located just south of campus, this gorge trail connects the Cornell Campus to downtown Ithaca. You'll follow Cascadilla Creek past waterfalls and a "gorges" display of rock, water, and plants adapted for gorge life. This is one of the Cornell Botanic Gardens on-campus natural areas. Please refer to the Cornell gorge safety site for information and the latest conditions.

Campus Nature

Located just south of campus, this gorge trail connects the Cornell Campus to downtown Ithaca. You'll follow Cascadilla Creek past waterfalls and a "gorges" display of rock, water, and plants adapted for gorge life. This is one of the Cornell Botanic Gardens on-campus natural areas. Please refer to the Cornell gorge safety site for information and the latest conditions.

Highlights

This is one of the most picturesque gorges in the Finger Lakes Region and was voted Ithaca's favorite gorge. Ascending over 400 feet, this historic set of stone trails and staircases was originally constructed in the late 1920s, and takes visitors through the gorge formed from ancient bedrock past six waterfalls. Please note, swimming is strictly prohibited, and while gorges are wonderful, they can be very dangerous. Learn more about gorge safety at gorgesafety.cornell.edu.

Entrance

Enter near the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts for the lower gorge trail to downtown. The upper trail is accessible near Rhodes hall and also near the bus stop at College and Oak Avenues in Collegetown. Note that the lower gorge trail is closed during the winter months, but the gorge above College Ave is open year-round.