A year later we return to Ithaca to check out all of the hiking and waterfalls that we missed the first trip!
When we came through Ithaca last year we were on a mission to visit some of the biggest tourist destinations. We Use our hotel as a base to explore Watkins Glen, Robert H. Treman State Park, Buttermilk falls State Park, Ithaca Falls and Taughannock Falls. This time we wanted to see some of the smaller sights. When we arrive we drove down to Montour Falls and then to start our day we explore Sweelder Thayer Preserve.
Our Second stop of the day was Cascadilla Gorge. Located downtown, with parking to match, this is an incredible gorge with numerous large falls and tons of stairs. Not sure what's up with New York parks and stairs but they can't seem to get enough of them. This park was closed on our first visit but was heavily considered for that trip.
While there are plenty of medium sized drops and cascades, there are also more than a few very large falls as well. It would be virtually impossible to ascend this gorge and enjoy these without the many stairs so I guess I'll deal with them. There were also a large number of people here. We saw students, families, other tourists and even a few dogs. Do not come to this place expecting any level of privacy.
There is space for about 5 cars at the base of the gorge by Triangle park. These were full so we found a spot a block away on the side of a random street. There is plenty of street parking but most of it is metered. It was free for the weekend though so keep that in mind. Over all the hike from our car and back with all the photos took less than an hour. It is not a large park.
Our third stop of the day took us to Ludlowville Falls, about a 15 minute drive north and just outside Ithaca. This waterfall is located at that back of a small town park that is comprised of a playground and small pavilion. You would hardly know it was here if not for the roaring noise it makes!
At first, I wasn't sure we would have time to visit everything on my list and this waterfall was on the chopping block. I'm really glad we made it out here though because it's really awesome. Photos online don't do it justice, I thought it was much smaller than it turned out to be. In the photo you can make out Nina in the back of the undercut. This is actually large and, when we visited at least, very powerful. There were lots of dead frogs back there though...
Our last two stops for the day shared a parking area. First up was wells falls, also known as Lunch Falls. If the name was any indication, it takes no time to get down here from the road. Less than two minutes at most. What you get for your trouble is a view of an awesome waterfall pouring over a manmade dam, bordered by an abandoned power plant. This was our favorite location of the day by far and I can't recommend it enough
Located across the bridge from Well's falls is the Six Mile creek. [I was told this trail is no longer six miles] This was a pleasant park with a flat stroll along side a creek. We discovered an amazing lean too and eventually the Six Mile Falls, a series of man made dam falls. This is where things got interesting.
We came here for Potters Falls but learned from a local that it was a pretty hefty hike away. Nina headed back to the car and I set off at about double our normal speed. To get here I had to climb up a small mountain, use several trails that seemed more like game trails on the side of steep slopes, cross several mini waterfalls, pass by a reservoir and monkey through a massive downed tree.
I passed a single guy trail running through the small gravel road by the reservoir but otherwise I was totally alone. I even managed to drop my GoPro in the water at one point! There are some cool concrete structures left over all along the trail but the waterfall itself is smaller and further than you might expect from the vantage point you'll get. It was an awesome little adventure for me but I wouldn't recommend this to most people. Parts of the trail are pretty sketchy, especially the climb up the second hill that is nothing but dirt and roots.
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