Ithaca Falls (Ithaca, New York, USA)

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Ithaca Falls

Ithaca Falls is probably our favorite of the Finger Lakes region of Western New York. We think it's the largest of the waterfalls in the region with about a 150ft height and a 175ft width plus year-round flow (draining into Cayuga Lake).

Despite the popularity of this waterfall and ease of access in the college town of Ithaca (home of Cornell University), it retains the tranquility and peace often lacking in such waterfalls so close to a developed town or city. A short walking trail alongside the stream leads to the base of the falls from the somewhat obscure car park area. In addition to sun and water bathers, we also saw some people try their luck at catching fish.

Julie and I visited this waterfall twice on the same day. The first time, we saw Ithaca Falls on a gorgeous sunny day. At that time, there were a handful of people cooling off in its waters. The bright sun also made the scene very bright making it tough to take that long exposure shot, which I felt this waterfall could offer given the underlying rock causing the water to ripply on its way down.

People fishing by the falls in a late summer afternoon In the late afternoon, I was able to get that long exposure shot. The scene was also much quieter, but this time we saw locals fishing right at the base of the falls. Clearly, this was a waterfall that can be enjoyed in all kinds of conditions, and I can only imagine students at Cornell University could easily get into waterfalling simply by checking out the area around their campus and college town.

Directions: In order to get to the falls, I recalled we had to go northbound on Hwy 13. But just before the 13 becomes a freeway as it's about to leave Ithaca, there's a street light on either Lincoln or Dey Street (I forgot), where you turn right, I believe. You can follow Lincoln all the way to Lake St (though I think we followed Falls St, which is just one block north of Lincoln, all the way to Lake St). The obscure car park is along Lake St between the intersection of Falls St and Lincoln St.

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Full direct view of the falls in the early afternoon