Cascadilla Gorge: Ithaca's Most Traveled Gorge

In addition to traversing steep stairs in this "lower" section of Cascadilla Gorge, the trail continues on the other side of College Avenue and follows Cascadilla Creek along a much flatter grade to a scenic footbridge and waterfall. This t... Read more

Notice the “stair-step” shape of this waterfall. The gorge bedrock consists of two types of sedimentary rocks: shale and sandstone. The flakier and softer shale is more extensively eroded away by the water of Cascadilla Creek compared t... Read more

  These scenic waterfalls look inviting during warm weather, but are dangerous even when little water flows over them. For your safety, please remain in the trail. Swimming is not permitted in the gorge.     

There are two distinct plant habitats in this relatively small gorge. The slope next to you does not receive direct sunlight because it faces north. Plants that prefer shade and moist soil such as ferns, mosses, purple flowering raspberry, ... Read more

Look above to the rim on the opposite side of the gorge for the Adirondack-style gazebo precariously perched on a pinnacle of bedrock. This pinnacle was formed as a result of “architectural jointing,” meaning the rock was eroded along t... Read more

This bridge was built during the construction of the gorge’s original stone staircases and paths between 1927 and 1931. Cascadilla Gorge was donated to the care of Cornell University by local philanthropist Robert H. Treman in 1909 for ed... Read more

Maintaining trails, railings, and other structures requires constant upkeep by Cornell Botanic Gardens staff. During heavy rain events, water often floods the trails, damaging stonework. Beginning in 2008, the gorge was closed for seven yea... Read more

Notice the alternating layers of blocky sandstone and thinner, flaky layers of shale of the gorge walls. These sedimentary rocks were formed during the Devonian Period, 410 – 360 million years ago, when a shallow, inland ocean covered muc... Read more

This side of the gorge is facing south and receives direct sunlight. Plants that prefer these sunbaked and drier areas include fragrant sumac, blackberry bushes, oaks, hickories, and forget-me-nots. Scroll the images above to help you ident... Read more

The gate here was built to close the gorge during winter months, when it is not safe to hike in the gorge due to ice-covered trails. As wonderful and beautiful as our gorges and natural areas are, exploring them isn’t risk free. You can h... Read more

Cascadilla Creek has been eroding this gorge since the retreat of the most recent glacier over 15,000 years ago. As the glacier advanced, it transformed shallow river valleys into deep and narrow lakes, today known as the Finger Lakes. The ... Read more

From here, Cascadilla Creek flows through the City of Ithaca for ¾-mile to reach Cayuga Lake. The name “Cayuga” acknowledges the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation) one of the six members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, who tradi... Read more