Ithaca Falls Natural Area, Ithaca

Ithaca Falls Natural Area, nestled within the city of Ithaca, is home to one of the region’s most striking waterfalls. As the final cascade in a series of waterfalls along Fall Creek, Ithaca Falls marks the dramatic meeting point between the hanging valley and the glacially carved trough of Cayuga Lake. Towering over the landscape, the falls are surrounded by a natural amphitheater, sculpted by centuries of freeze-thaw cycles that have eroded the shale walls of the gorge. The falls' splash pool and creek have long attracted fly-fishing enthusiasts.

For many years, the area at the base of the falls was under the ownership of Cornell University. In 2000, it was transferred to the City of Ithaca as part of an environmental restoration initiative. Though always a well-loved but somewhat neglected park, plans for revitalization took shape in 2015, culminating in a major redesign. A notable change came in 2016 when the Ithaca Common Council approved the demolition of a house north of the falls, incorporating the land into the park after the property was acquired due to unpaid taxes.

Ithaca Falls is more than a scenic landmark-it’s the stylized “I” in the iconic “Ithaca is Gorges” logo and a symbol of the city’s natural charm. In the early 19th century, its waters powered Fall Creek Village, an industrial hub where a young Ezra Cornell played a key role. In 1830, he blasted a tunnel and built a diversion dam to supply mills and foundries, remnants of which still stand near the falls. The dam remained until its natural collapse before 2007.

Today, the Ithaca Falls Natural Area remains an essential part of the city’s identity, blending natural beauty with echoes of an industrious past. Visitors can enjoy its cascading waters, explore remnants of historic mills, or simply appreciate a site that has shaped-and been shaped by-the evolution of Ithaca itself.