Cascadilla Gorge Trail- Ithaca, NY
Ithaca is in fact gorges. Really. It is not just a popular marketing pun; it is truly gorgeous. There are few places in the world bestowed with the natural beauty found in Ithaca. Gouged by glaciers and eroded by streams, Ithaca’s gorges are a testament to the awesome forces of nature. It is impossible not to be impressed, and with over 150 waterfalls in the area, there is bound to be one to suit you.
Cascadilla Gorge Trail is the perfect place to start your Ithaca exploration. The 1.5 mile trail ascends 400 feet from Court Street in Ithaca to Cornell’s Campus, and includes 6 major waterfalls. It is surprisingly peaceful, and despite being surrounded by development, the trail itself feels very secluded. Your own piece of prehistoric paradise. Around every bend is a new cascade, each more stunning than the last.
Though steep in some places, the trail is easy to navigate. It is however extremely difficult to stop taking pictures. The path built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930s blends seamlessly into the natural environment; the stone arch bridge that crosses the stream is straight from a fairy tale, albeit sans troll. I cannot swear it is not there, just that I did not see it. Experiencing decades of the same erosive forces as the surrounding shale and sandstone, the trail recently required a 1.7 million dollar restoration; while updated, it retains its original CCC appearance.
Donated to Cornell in 1909 by Robert H. Treman, a successful Ithaca businessman and Cornell alum, the land was intended to be set aside for public use, education, and enjoyment. And thankfully it was. By 1915, Charles N. Lowrie, one of the eleven founding members of the American Society of Landscape Architects, was drawing up plans to make the steep terrain more accessible to the public, including a network of paths leading from the town to the campus.
Just before you reach Cornell, Cascadilla Falls appears, in its full 50 foot glory. It is a fitting end to the trail. Fortunately it is not an end to the fun. Not only is the campus awash with fabulous architecture and views, there are trails around Beebe Lake, and Fall Creek Gorge to explore as well. And that is just the campus area.
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