Cayuga Lake View

This destination was created to enjoy the view of the gorge and Cayuga Lake. Fall Creek has been carving this gorge since the most recent glacier excavated Cayuga Lake over 15,000 years ago—explained in more detail on the sign here. This area was part of Ezra Cornell’s original estate. Before Cornell was built here, rumor has it that Ezra brought legislators to this lake view to convince them that this was the ideal place to establish New York’s Land Grant university.

This seating area was created in 2012 after the university set aside funds to improve gorge trails and add spaces to enjoy the gorge. Gorge trails were originally built during the late 1920’s with funds provided by Colonel Henry Sackett, a Cornell student (Class of 1875) and dedicated member of Cornell’s Board of Trustees. His funds were also used to build trails, staircases, and footbridges in Cascadilla Gorge and around Beebe Lake.