This park is brimming with sights and activities!…read more It looks out on Lake Cayuga. There are lots of benches and swing seats that offer stunning and shaded views of the water. The grass is well-maintained and perfect for laying out a blanket. There are coal fired grills available. There's also a basketball hoop (not a full court) and a jogging/biking path. You can rent kayaks and cross a pedestrian bridge over the creek that runs through it. They also have a bird watching trail. There are public restrooms, which were clean but out of toilet paper and soap when I visited. Great place to enjoy the outdoors solo or with friends and family.

We were vacationing in the Ithaca area recently, and Stewart Park was hands down our toddler's…read morefavorite place during the entire trip. The play area for children is large, and accommodates children of varying ages and abilities. The adults in our group also had some fun on the playground, since there weren't too many other groups when we visited. Along the lake, there are a good number of benches for sitting, including bench swings. The main path of the park is paved, so it makes for easy walking, stroller pushing, little kid biking/scooting, etc. We liked this park so much that we came here twice on our short vacation. I would definitely recommend it for families with young children who need to burn off some energy.

[Tuh-Gan-Ick] Falls state park is one the of most beautiful state park in NY. It has spectacular…read morenatural attractions of waterfalls, and a lake front on the other side of the road The Gorge Trail to the waterfall is very easy to access. I visited in the winter to see the falls frozen over, and the park rangers had done an excellent job keeping the trail well maintained. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the waterfall, and there's very little elevation change along the way. North Rim trail entrance was close during winter due to ice and snow. But you can skip the dangerous part of the trail by parking at the Taughannock Falls overlook point and start hiking from there. Then you will reach the upper falls. Parking is only $10. lot is small so warmer weather probably will fill up pretty quickly.

I visited here in the winter to see the falls frozen over, and it was such a cool experience! I…read morehadn't seen a frozen waterfall before, so it was really special to experience. I thought it was a fairly easy 1 mile hike out to the falls (though my coworker vehemently disagrees that 1 mile and easy belong in the same sentence - sorry Miss Sheila!), and there were some falcons swooping around. There is a fee to park, but were still spots remaining when we arrived. We should have received discounted parking with a Military ID, but the booth was unmanned that day, so we paid anyway. There is a restroom facility at the parking lot, and it wasn't bad. I actually think it was heated, so that was nice. I'd be interested in seeing the falls and hiking the upper trail when the weather is better!

Great short walk along the buttermilk falls. There are quite a number of stairs involved as well as…read morerelatively steep paths. Overall the hike should be like an hour from lower falls to upper falls (taking photos and enjoying the view along the way), and half hour on the way back if walking straight no side tracking. You'll know you're at the end of you see the massive stone bridge. Restrooms available at lower falls and upper falls entrances. Ten dollar admission for the day, same ticket can be used for other state parks in the area

My husband and I visited Buttermilk Falls State Park last week, when we were in the Finger Lakes…read morefor the Fourth of July. We arrived in the afternoon, paid the vehicle entry fee, and parked in the parking lot. After taking a look at the falls, which has a swimming area (open for swimming on summer weekends - check their website), and using the bathrooms by the falls, we started up the Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail. The trail ascends about 600 feet from Buttermilk Falls, following Buttermilk Creek past pools, rocks, and smaller waterfalls. Around Pinnacle Rock (a 42-foot rock along the creek), you can turn back and head back down the same trail or cross the bridge over the creek and take the Rim Trail back to the falls/parking area. It was almost 100 degrees when we visited, so we opted to take the Gorge Trail back down as it appeared more shaded than the Rim Trail, which was getting a lot of afternoon sun. The trail was really beautiful and a great start for our holiday weekend in the Finger Lakes. I'd certainly love to return, hopefully next time wearing a swim suit so I can take dip in the pool at the base of the falls after a hike!

Lovely water falls in Ithaca ny. I'm posting again just because it's such a great place ... and I…read morenoticed I had a really great photo that I didn't pass on the first go around. This duck with the baby on here back is a merganser.

Very easy to access this waterfalls most time of the year. very beautiful in the middle of town…read more Winter might be a little slippery with ice buildup, but you can still get up close to the waterfall by following the trail on the side. Parking is free on Fall street. There is no marking, just a small lot.

Glad I got the chance to check out this check trail. It's been closed since I moved to Ithaca for…read moresome maintenance and just the winter but it's well worth it. You know it starts in the heart of College town right next to the theater in the law school and immediately spectacular fall with the stone arch Bridge. It's gorgeous the Falls continue Cascade down several bends and turns the trail comes right up to the Falls just pouring right next to you as your Spencer Street. There's another arch bridge and the final cascading Falls at the bottom. It was pretty nice. It was. It's kind of picture box by a nice little cherry blossom or I think maybe an apple rose blossom or something but well worth it on this nice spring day to check out now that it's open if you go to Cornell, definitely check it out. It's well worth it and it drops you off right at commons. So if you're taking the street to the commons from college town, considered this and said it's great.

This awesome trail is right in downtown Ithaca. Parking is a little tricky, but there are free…read morespots and park to pay spots. Definitely read the signage! I read some reviews about this trail before going and everything was accurate and amazing. It's a simple enough trail that is just over 1 mile out and back. Dogs are allowed and there are several steps. It's very peaceful and beautiful. There is a waterfall around every corner!

Super easy to get to- free parking on weekends with a short walk. You get to drive around Cornell's…read morecampus too which is a plus! Pretty empty in the summer

This waterfall is more of a walk-by spot, as there's no access to the bottom. However, there's a…read morebeach area and spots to launch a canoe or kayak. The trails appear to circle the lake, offering great fishing opportunities, which were quite popular during our visit. Parking can be a challenge, as most spaces are reserved for the nearby college.

One of the coolest places I've ever been! The outdoor trails are incredible, with beautiful…read morehabitats that attract a wide variety of birds. We saw during our short walk two Osprey and Ruby-crowned Kinglets while exploring. The inside is just as impressive, with one of the best interactive museums I've experienced, full of fascinating specimens and thoughtful learning opportunities in a gorgeous building. The gift shop is well stocked and collaborates with Wild Birds Unlimited. A must see if you're in the area and into conservation or wildlife!

Nice viewing area inside the building, with provided spotting scopes. The girl behind the welcome…read morecenter desk was nice and friendly. We did NOT see much in the way of wildlife or birds, like we had hoped we would. That could be from the time of year I suppose. I'm sure the place is teaming with wildlife in the fall months. The biggest complaint/suggestion I would give to the people that run it is to have a BETTER system for marking the trails. There are maps at trail intersections, but they are VERY confusing. EVERY time we thought we knew where we were going, we NEVER ended up in the right spot (and I'm a seasoned veteran of woodsmanship for over 50 years!). PLEASE COLOR CODE the trails to help people ensure they are on the CORRECT trail. Some areas we saw twice, other areas we missed. Not sure about when we might return.

This park is beautiful! It's tiny, with a small playground and a little pavilion with a grill…read more There is a little swing seat by the falls as well. There is a path down, but it was rushing enough that we didn't try to go down. But still, it was beautiful!

Small public park with a steep off beat path down to a waterfall overhang, small veranda and a lot…read moreof teens swimming in the watering hole here. The area is a little slippery with the rocks and you have to be careful to not turn an ankle. Not handicapped accessible to the falls aside from the view at the rim. Deep overhang helps keep it cool but also have to watch falling rock eventually.