Fillmore Glen State Park, Moravia, Cayuga County

Fillmore Glen State Park

Location
Route 38, one mile south of Moravia. South of Owasco Lake. Cayuga County
Maps - Google Map, Google Earth, Multi
GPS/Locations - Park entrance: N 42.70013 / W 76.42000
Directions - Take Rt. 38 through the village of Moravia. About one mile south of the village, there will be a sign for Fillmore Glen State Park on your left. Parking is ample and located right near the information kiosk.
From Cortland and I-81
From Exit 12 of I-81, follow Rt. 281 north to Rt. 90. Turn west onto 90, and continue about 15 minutes to Rt. 38 in Locke. Turn north onto 38 and follow it a few miles to Fillmore Glen State Park on your right.
From Ithaca and Points South and West
Follow Rt. 79 east to Rt.366. Continue east on 366 to its end at Rt. 38 in Freeville. Turn north onto Rt. 38 and drive for another 20 minutes or so to Fillmore Glen State Park on your right. .

Information
Number of falls: 5 major waterfalls, various smaller cascades.
Size/Types: Ranging from 5-40’ high. Cascades, punchbowls, plunges and chutes. The Cowsheds falls is about 30’ high. The upper falls at the end of the gorge trail is around 40’.
Best time to visit: Year Round. The Park’s Gorge Trails are closed after November, but the Cowsheds falls which is accessible ¼ of a mile from the parking lot is accessible year round. In cold weather, it becomes completely frozen over. In the wintertime, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers use the parks unplowed roads.
Flow: Variable, depending on rainfall. May be very low during mid-summer.
Waterway: Dry Creek
Time: 5 minutes for the Cowshed Falls – 2-3 hours for the rest of the gorge trail.

Accessibility
Park open all year. Camping season from mid-May to mid-October. Gorge Trails close in winter.
Seasons/Hours: Year round, dawn to dusk.
Parking: Large parking area at the front of the park.
Admission: $6 per vehicle.
Handicap accessibility: yes
Pets: Allowed on leash and with proof of inoculation.
Accommodations: cottage rentals, campsites, pavilions, playground, picnic tables, playing fields, showers, bathrooms, beach, swimming

Description...
Fillmore Glen is one of the many beautiful gorges in the Finger Lakes region. Out of all the surrounding parks (Buttermilk, Treman, Watkins Glen), Fillmore is the most rustic and closest to its natural state. Fillmore Glen is an oasis of cool, dense woods crowding into a long, narrow gorge. Its hiking trails offer magnificent views, distinctive geological characteristics (similar to Watkins Glen), including five major waterfalls within the glen. The park has 60 campsites, a stream-fed dammed swimming area and fishing in the Owasco Lake inlet. In the winter the park is often used for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

History...
Named after the 13th President of the United States, Millard Fillmore (who was born nearby) the glen now bears his namesake. President Fillmore was born just outside of Moravia, NY and married in a house that is still standing in the village.

The glen was long known for its abundant plant life and botanical diversity, prompting local governments to construct trials and maintain it as a park. Years later it became a state park.

Fillmore Glen was the site if a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp in 1934-38, owing many of its’ stone walls and bridges to the CCC construction crews active during the Great Depression. The CCC is responsible for many State Park construction efforts including the beautiful stone masonry work found in such parks as Fillmore Glen, Watkins Glen and Letchworth.

Interesting Facts
Dry Creek is dammed in two spaces, upstream to prevent flooding from damaging the constructions within the park, and downstream to create the swimming pool.

Do not miss...
Swimming . Near the parking areas, a section of the creek has been dammed to allow for swimming. Fed by the creek, the water is clear and chilly. Hike the trails first and then cool off in the pool. Lifeguards are on duty during normal park hours.

A visit to the nearby quaint village of Moravia. Visit a replica of Millard Fillmore’s birthplace – a log cabin located in a village park. A trip to the town of Sempronius will let you see the actual site of his birthplace, along with Carpenter’s Falls. Also the nearby and very wild (no defined trails) Montville Falls.

Trails
Difficulty: Easy, moderate, or difficult.
The lower (and biggest) waterfall is located directly adjacent to the parking lot in the Cowsheds area. It has paved trails and can be accessed by anyone. By crossing the stone bridge and walking a couple of minutes to your left to the Cowsheds area.

The Gorge trail goes a total of 5 miles, round trip. A full 2.5 mile hike to the end of the gorge trail will reward you with a view of the upper falls. Near the end of the gorge trail, it does become less defined and steep, without the stone walls, walkways and bridges that define the rest of the gorge trail. The first part of the gorge trail is flat, but narrow, crisscrossing the stream numerous times over picturesque bridges that blend in with the landscape. The trail can be very wet after a heavy rain – much like certain parts of Watkins Glen, near the Rainbow Falls area.

The North and South Rim Trails follow the gorge rim on there respective sides. These trails offer birds-eye views of some of the waterfalls.

Markings: Wooden signage with yellow text and trailhead markings.

Photography Tips
▪ The gorge is often cool and shaded during the spring and summer months, leading to soft light that makes photographing any of the falls rather easy. Since the gorge trail is very narrow and steep in spots, finding an adequate place to take a picture without undergrowth in the way can become difficult.
▪ By far – the easiest falls to photograph is the lower falls in the Cowsheds area. Because of the unique overhanging rock formation, photographing these falls requires a wide-angle lens to get all the elements included in the picture.
▪ Some of the falls along the trail are located on the other side of the gorge, in a very steep area making photographing them without brush in the way impossible. It is NOT advisable to attempt to climb down into the water to get a shot. There is a lot of loose shale that crumbles very easily.
▪ The middle and upper falls are large and in the open, making photographing them and the surrounding gorge rather easy from the sides of the trail. Again – a wide angle lens is a must to get the full breadth of the shot including the sheer rock walls.
▪ Often times, it gets wet, with lots of rock seepage and puddles, so protect your equipment from the elements and in case of a fall.
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▪ See the Articles section for more waterfall photography tips.