Ithaca is gorges ............................... Christine A. Smyczynski

Ithaca is gorges

And the perfect place to view waterfalls this fall

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE A. SMYCZYNSKI

Ithaca’s Taughannock Falls

The gorges in Ithaca and the surrounding area were carved out by glaciers millions of years ago. Within these gorges are more 150 gorgeous waterfalls, some of the best in New York State.

My husband and I spent some time in Ithaca this past August to celebrate our anniversary. Our first stop was Taughannock Falls, located about ten miles north of Ithaca. At 215 feet tall, Taughannock Falls is the highest single drop in the northeast—thirtythree feet higher than Niagara Falls! The easiest way to view this waterfall is from the upper falls overlook; look for the road sign along Route 89. Park in the overlook parking lot, and the falls are a short walk away. Back in the late 1800s, a hotel that overlooked the falls was located here.

If you have the time and ambition, you can also view the waterfall from below by hiking the three-quartermile long gorge trail from the state park parking lot on Route 89. We did that several years ago, when our kids were younger; it’s an easy hike on a relatively flat trail.

Buttermilk Falls State Park

The next morning, we visited Buttermilk Falls State Park; be sure to enter the park off Route 96, as the waterfall is located right by this entrance. Buttermilk Falls features a 165-foot cascade with a swimming area at the base that’s open during summer months. The waterfall was named for the frothy appearance of its water.

We walked just a small portion of the parks one-and-a-half-mile trail to get a better view. Hiking poles make

the trek easier, as there are many stone stairs along the trail.

Cascadilla Gorge Trail

Our next stop was the Cascadilla Gorge Trail, located right in the City of Ithaca. It’s a picturesque and pretty trail with a number of waterfalls. To access the lower trailhead, park along Linn Street. (Note: don’t pull your car into Cascadilla Park Road; it’s a narrow winding street with absolutely no parking.)

The trail begins in a small park by Court and Linn Streets. It starts flat but don’t be fooled; there are steep steps along the way. We would not have been able to navigate them without our trusty hiking poles. Also, hiking boots or closed toe shoes are a must. While the entire trail is over a mile long, we hiked only about half of it before turning back, as my knees can only take so much. The upper trailhead is located on the Cornell University campus, behind the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.

Triphammer Falls

Before leaving the next morning, we stopped to view two more waterfalls. The first was Triphammer Falls, a fifty-five-foot-tall waterfall on the campus of Cornell University. Paid parking is by the Martin Y. Tang Welcome Center and it’s just a short walk to view the falls from the Thurston Avenue bridge. A trail will take you to the footbridge over the falls, where you can view Bebee Dam, which was built by Ezra Cornell in 1838; after he acquired a large fortune from stock in Western Union Telegraph Company, Cornell founded the university in 1865. Stop at the welcome center to view a small display on campus history. (Note: avoid visiting the Cornell Campus October 21-23, as this is family weekend).

Ithaca Falls

The last waterfall we visited was Ithaca Falls, a 150-foot tall, 175-footwide waterfall on Fall Creek, located near Lake Street by East Falls Street. It’s one of the most impressive of the waterfalls in the region. You can view it from the Lake Street bridge or, for a closer view, walk down a short, but hilly path. On your walk to the falls, you will see remnants of mills and other industry that once lined the waterway. Parking is in a small lot nearby or in the Fall Creek House restaurant parking lot.

According to the Visit Ithaca website (visitithaca.com), there is a waterfall challenge passport app to track visits to Ithaca waterfalls; visiting ten or more makes the user eligible to win prizes. FY

Christine A. Smyczynski is the author of several travel guides about western New York and New York State. In addition, she has written hundreds of articles for local, regional, and national publications.

Places to stay, eat and shop while in Ithaca

Our base of operations was La Tourelle Hotel, Bistro, and Spa, (latourelle.com) located just south of the city, but there are numerous choices in and around Ithaca.

We had breakfast each day at the Bistro at La Tourelle, which is open to the public. As guests of the hotel, we also enjoyed a complimentary glass of wine in the hotel lobby from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

For lunch and dinner, downtown has many options. We enjoyed steaks at the Mahogany Grill (mahoganygrill.com) on “restaurant row” along Aurora Street. The upscale Coltivare (coltivareithaca. com) is owned and operated by Tompkins Cortland Community College as an institution for culinary and farm-to-table education.

Shops selling locally made art include Handwork (handwork. coop), an artisan cooperative that has been around since 1976.

Change may be possible. Join the thousands who have contacted Clarity Group. Clarity Group makes sense of it all. Consultations are always free. Call today!

• 4976 Transit Rd. Suite 4, Depew • McKinley Mall 3701 McKinley PKWY., Blasdell • Boulevard Mall 730 Alberta Dr., Amherst

Call Sally Stier at 716-860-3143

THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR WYOMING COUNTY PRESENTSTHE ARTS COUNCIL FOR WYOMING COUNTY PRESENTS LETCHWORTH LETCHWORTH