Ithaca Fall Foliage: 4 Spots Where the Gorges Light Up

Ithaca has a slogan that never gets old: “Ithaca is Gorges.” In October, I think it deserves an upgrade. This is the time of year when the color doesn’t just stay up in the treetops. It runs down the rock walls and into the creeks, and a few spots around town show it off better than anywhere else.

Ithaca Fall Foliage Gets a Boost From Cayuga Lake

Part of the magic is the setting. Cayuga Lake anchors the region, and the area’s variable terrain and the lake’s moderating influence give Ithaca a long foliage season, according to the local visitors bureau. Colors there typically peak around the second or third week of October, which is why this stretch of the month is such a good time to go looking.

Ithaca Falls Is Fall Color in the Middle of the City

Ithaca Falls is the one I’d send anyone to first. The visitors bureau calls it Fall Creek’s final plunge to Cayuga Lake and one of the region’s most powerful falls. What I love is that it’s right in town, so you don’t need a long hike to stand in front of something that dramatic. In October, the leaves close in around the falls, and the whole scene feels staged for the season.

Taughannock Falls State Park Delivers the Biggest Drop

Taughannock Falls is where the scale hits you. The falls drop 215 feet, and the state park is open year-round with two main access points for viewing them. In fall, the trees along the gorge turn the cliffs into a wall of color, and it’s easy to stand there longer than you planned. The rim trails give you a view from above, which makes the same place feel completely different.

READ MORE: Explore Earth & Its Prehistoric Past At Ithaca's Museum of the Earth

Sunset Park Offers a Wide View of Ithaca and Cayuga Lake

Sunset Park is my pick when I want the big picture. From there you can take in the city of Ithaca and Cayuga Lake at once, and in fall that view fills with color. After a day spent up close to waterfalls, I like having one spot where the whole landscape comes together.

Cascadilla Gorge Trail Puts Fall Color Within Walking Distance

The Cascadilla Gorge Trail is the easiest way to work fall color into an ordinary day. It runs between downtown Ithaca and Cornell University, so you can be in the gorge without planning a whole outing. I love that it makes a fall walk feel normal here, not like a special trip.

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Ithaca Trail Conditions to Check Before You Go

One reminder before you head out. The Cascadilla Gorge Trail closes once temperatures drop, and some of the steeper state park trails close for safety when the weather turns. Check conditions first so you don’t arrive at a closed trail. Scroll down for a gallery of fall color from around town.