Cascadilla Gorge

The lower section of Cascadilla Gorge is truly a "gorges" display of rock, water and trees. Cascadilla Creek drops 400 feet from campus to downtown Ithaca, carving through bedrock - shales, siltstone and sandstone - exposing sedimentary rocks that were deposited 400 million years ago. Look for ripple marks on the rock surface, which once was the muddy floor of an ancient ocean. Here also is a tremendous variety of forest and creek habitats packed into a small area.



Note: The Cascadilla Gorge Trail is currently closed for repairs.

Efforts are now underway to repair and eventually reopen the Cascadilla Gorge Trail, one of Ithaca’s and Cornell’s most cherished and iconic landscapes. Cascadilla Gorge has been closed for the past year in response to safety hazards on and around the gorge trail identified in a 2008 trail assessment. Through funding provided by Cornell University, work has now commenced to enhance trail entrances at Lynn Street and College Avenue, replace hand rails, restore stairs, install fencing, and address other identified safety hazards. A project completion date has not been set. During construction, visitors are reminded that portions of the trail are extremely dangerous, and are strongly urged to observe the "Posted Trail Closed" signs.

Cascadilla Gorge was originally preserved and donated to Cornell University by Robert H. Treman in 1909 to support public use, education, and enjoyment. The Cascadilla Gorge Trail system, initially constructed during the Civilian Conservation Corp. era, ascends 400 feet in elevation between Lynn Street and Hoy Road, and currently totals 7,800 feet in length. Cornell Plantations manages Cascadilla Gorge, and is committed to protecting the natural area, providing ongoing educational use, and supporting safe public recreation and enjoyment of the gorge.