A Full 1 Day Ithaca Itinerary of Breathtaking Sights

Are you planning a trip to Ithaca NY or any of the nearby Finger Lakes? Check out this fun filled one day Ithaca Itinerary of some beautiful places that are not to be missed. What could be better than a day filled with hiking, food, gardens and waterfalls? This itinerary has a little bit of something for everyone.

We drove over to check out Ithaca from Hector NY which was about a 35 minute drive. I honestly had no idea what to expect and thought if anything we would just check out the Gorge trail, grab lunch and move on. We ended up spending the whole day in the area and had a fantastic time. After spending several days checking out a lot of the nearby state parks it was nice to have a day with a variety of activities mixed in.

We were able to bring our pups to all the locations listed on this Ithaca itinerary so if you are traveling with your dog this makes for a great day of activities with them.

Hike the Cascadilla Gorge Trail

The first stop on this Ithaca itinerary is a hike on the Cascadilla Gorge Trail which is a 3/4 mile trail (1.3 miles out and back) that spans from Treman Triangle Park in downtown Ithaca to the Cornell Campus. Don’t let this short distance fool you though. The trail is rated as moderate, has 400 ft of elevation and lots of steps. Make sure to have some sturdy non-slip footwear with good traction because the steps and stone can be wet and slippery.

We started the trail from Treman Triangle Park and easily found metered parking along the road nearby on Linn Street. From here you will be walking up the steps first and then down on your way back. Alternatively you can start from the Cornell Campus and park at the Dryden Road Garage.

This hike features 8 waterfalls, stonework, staircases, a stone bridge and flowing water through the gorge. Even though you start the hike in a downtown area you quickly forget where you are once you are immersed in the stone walls and flowing water of the gorge trail. Plan to take at least an hour to enjoy this hike, especially if you want to stop and take some pictures.

This trail is open during daylight from early Spring to November and closes if there are icy conditions. Spring through Fall is the best time to enjoy this trail. It is worth checking to make sure there are no trail closures before you go because this trail can sustain damage during the winter and is sometimes closes for repairs.

Eat Lunch and Shop

After you work up an appetite from your hike you can easily walk a few blocks from Treman Triangle Park down N. Aurora St. and find a place in the downtown Ithaca Commons area to eat lunch. This is a 4 block pedestrian only mall area that has shops and restaurants. We were able to eat outside in patio seating with our pups.

After lunch I did a little souvenir shopping in a couple of the shops and got some stickers and a Christmas ornament to add to my collection. The pups stayed outside and walked around with Sean while I shopped.

Visit Cornell Botanic Gardens

After lunch drive over to the Nevin Welcome Center at Cornell Botanic Gardens. There is a parking lot here where you can park for $1.50 per hour 7:30 AM – 5PM on weekdays and is free on the evenings and weekends. The Welcome Center has a gift shop, exhibits and restrooms.

The Botanic Gardens features multiple gardens, trails, Beebe Lake, art exhibits, a 100 acre arboretum and benches to just sit and take it all in if you prefer to relax. You can also use your mobile device to take a self-guided tour. Check out their website to get an idea of everything they have to offer.

Dogs are allowed on a leash here, makes sure you clean up after them and keep them out of the garden beds. They do not allow dogs to go on their guided tours.

Stop at Ithaca Falls

To round out this Ithaca itinerary you will visit Ithaca Falls which is a 150 ft tall and 175 ft wide waterfall. This is one of those places where a very short easy walk gives you a large payoff of a beautiful and impressive waterfall.

The walk to the waterfall is an easy 0.2 miles on packed dirt and gravel to get to the base of the waterfall. There is free parking in a small lot adjacent to the waterfall. Dogs are permitted on a leash. There is no swimming allowed in this waterfall.

Final Thoughts

This Ithaca Itinerary focuses on things that you will find in the immediate area around Cornell University and downtown Ithaca. Don’t forget to check out some of the nearby State Parks for additional hikes and beautiful waterfall views.

I hope this itinerary helps you plan a fun day in the Ithaca area and that you have a beautiful trip to the Finger Lakes Region.