The Ithaca Falls are located on Lake Street, and it is actually easy to see the waterfall right from the sidewalk by the road. You will find that there are two small parking lots where the Lake Street crosses Fall Creek. On the day we visited the area, we were lucky to find a nice spot on the upper lot. There is a hiking trail located by the waterfall, and this is two miles in length if you are interested in that as well. Another nice side note is that it is free admission to see it, which is pretty amazing if you ask me!
As you may remember from earlier posts, I had a pretty bad ankle injury (done prior to this excursion) so it was a bonus to find out that you can see the waterfall right from the sidewalk area by the road. We just walked from the parking lot to the sidewalk, and it was not too difficult of a journey to make it there.
On our second day in Ithaca New York, as the light of the day awakened us, we noticed that rain was starting to mist from the sky. Luckily, we had all packed extra light jackets and sturdy shoes in case if for some reason we did manage to hit arduous weather conditions. After we had several cups of coffee, bagels, and a pep in our steps, we were off for the day and ready to explore!
There is a warning as well if you are visiting the region that you will want to stay off the soil, rocks, and away from the water as the area at one time was used as part of a gun factory in Ithaca. It is currently classified as a Superfund Site and was found to be contaminated with lead. There is a walking trail by the waterfall as well that has been covered with gravel to protect people walking on it. On the day that we went, we did see some individuals fishing directly in the water, and I would highly recommend not doing this. Swimming is also prohibited in this area. I do think that this area is very beautiful to see and visit, you just have to take some precautions and stay on the sidewalk or the gravel walking paths.
Ithaca Falls is so magnificent and impressive to see. It stands over 100 feet tall (about 30 meters), and it is 175 feet at its base (about 53 meters.) If you are interested in taking the small hike on the gravel trail, you will walk from the parking area, and follow the path down to the small creek to the little park area. This trail continues through a little wooded area and the creek. During high waterflow or icy winter conditions, this path will not be able to be used, and in all hiking adventures, you must think about your safety at all times!
I highly recommend checking out the Ithaca Falls Natural Area, and the waterfall is a truly spectacular sight. If you are not a super hiker, you would also be able to enjoy this picturesque spot since you can view the area right from the sidewalk by the parking area without exerting yourself too much. Let me know in the comments if you have also traveled to this area before, and what you thought of it. (As a side note, this area is really close to the famous Cornell University, and would not be too far of a journey from there as well!) I hope that you all are having a wonderful day, and remember to click that subscribe button!
If you are traveling to the New York area, and are interested in hiking or viewing spectacular waterfalls, a book that I would highly recommend and also own myself is “Hiking Waterfalls New York.” This literature reviews a variety of hikes, from the famous Niagara Falls, to even more less known hikes, but spots that you will not want to miss! At the beginning of the book, I really like that the author categorized the trails from her favorites, best waterfalls for fall foliage, best gorge hikes, roadside waterfalls, best historical falls, and even waterfalls that may draw in more crowds versus less crowded waterfalls. There is also a very nice map that lays out where the locations of them are, and that can be an amazing tool when you are planning your trip. This is great so that you know how far of a distance you can expect to travel from where you are lodging, and you can really make the most out of your time and itinerary. With each hike and waterfall listed there is a full color photo, trail distance, difficulty, and even information about the actual surface that the trail is made out of in addition to so much more!
For more information regarding this book, just click on the affiliate link below!
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