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Ithaca Falls
Location - Ithaca, Tompkins County
Maps - Google Map, Google Earth, Multi
GPS - N 42.45288 / W 76.49167
Directions - Located North of Ithaca Cornell University. From the North, take Rt 34 (Lake Street) south. You will pass Ithaca High School on your right. Shortly after you will pass over a bridge and will be able to see the falls on the left. You can park in a dirt lot on the corner of Lake and Falls St.
Information
Number of falls:
1 fall
Size/Types:  150' tall cascade (175' wide)
Best time to visit: Year-round.
Flow: High
Waterway: Fall Creek
Time: A few minutes.
 

 
Accessibility
Seasons/Hours:
Open all year.  Dawn until dusk.
Parking:
There is parking for about five cars in the dirt lot on the corner of Falls St. and Lake St. Roadside parking may be possible and there are School lots on the north and south ends of the creek on Lake Street, but it is not known if parking is allowed to the public.
Admission: free.
Handicap accessibility: from the roadside.
Pets: Allowed on leash.
Accommodations: benches.
Description
Ithaca falls is a frothy, massive waterfall located in the heart of Ithaca, just north of the Cornell campus. Its waters tumble continuously down layers of rock foaming as they cascade. The  small gorge below is filled its roar.

This a popular hot-weather destination for local residents. The pool below the falls, is deep enough for refreshing swim. (It is not known whether or not this is allowed by the city of Ithaca, but it is done frequently). Some also come to sit on the bank of the creek to relax or to read. It is also a popular fishing destination. A small park along the way is great for picnicking and sitting and enjoying the scenery.

This site is designated by the City as a "Natural Area," meaning development as a park is limited. The property surrounding the falls has been found to be contaminated with high amounts of lead when it was under ownership of Cornell University. Rather than front the cost for clean-up, the school donated the land to the city.

Fall Creek has 5 other waterfalls that will be profiled in the future on the Fall Creek page.

Trails
Difficulty: easy
Markings: none.

From the parking area walk up up the right side of the creek towards the large falls. You can't miss it.
History
The Ithaca Gun Company, a manufacturer of high-quality shotguns and rifles owned the property around the falls. The company used the falls as a source of power and had a history of dumping into Fall Creek. Possibly due to using the area for live-ammunition testing, copious amounts of lead were found in the soil in the gorge. A Superfund project was set up to begin clean-up of the contamination. In 2005, under harsh criticism, the Ithaca Gun Company closed.

Land inheritors Cornell university, assessed the environmental health of this area of fall creek, and subsequently gave the property over to the City to manage.

Do not miss...
A hidden waterfall. As you start up the creek bed towards the falls, in the wooded area to the right. There's a small tributary that forms a dripping waterfall on the cliff edge.

Fossils. The gorge wall below the falls is a great source of brachiopod fossils.

Contact
City of Ithaca
DPW, Parks and Forestry
245 Pier Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 272-1718
web site
Weather
Ithaca, New York, weather forecast
 
Links
Ithaca Falls Contamination Project
 

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Area Attractions
Other Waterfalls
Cascadilla Gorge - Ithaca, NY
Buttermilk Falls State Park - (4 mi. SW.) Ithaca, NY
Robert H. Treman State Park (Lucifer Falls) - Ithaca, NY
Taughannock Falls State Park - Trumansburg, NY
Frontenac Falls - (13 mi. NW.) Ithaca, NY
Ludlowville Falls - Ludlowville, Lansing, NY
Bed & Breakfast

Federal House B&B - Lansing, NY
A Cayuga Lake Country Inn - Lansing, NY
A Touch of Country B & B - Ithaca, NY
Amazing Grace B & B - Ithaca, NY
Annie's Garden Bed & Breakfast - Ithaca, NY
Besemer Station Inn - Ithaca, NY
Bountiful Blessings B & B - Freeville, NY
Brookton Hollow Farm B&B - Brooktondale, NY
Carriage House Bed & Breakfast - Newfield, NY
The Coddington Guest House - Ithaca, NY
Edgewood Guest House - Ithaca, NY
Cayuga Lake Country Inn - Lansing, NY
Hound & Hare - Ithaca, NY
Inn on Columbia - Ithaca, NY
The William Henry Miller Inn - Ithaca, NY
Silk Oak Guest House - Aurora, NY
Noble House Farm Bed & Breakfast - Newfield, NY
Rogue's Harbor B&B - Lansing, NY
Reunion House - Trumansburg, NY
Wisteria Way - Montour Falls, NY
Wineries
Long Point Winery  - Aurora, NY
King Ferry Winery - King Ferry, NY
Six Mile Creek Vineyard-Winery - Ithaca, NY
Bellwether Hard Cider - Trumansburg, NY
Restaurants
Wings Over Ithaca - Ithaca, NY
Glenwood Pines Restaurant - Ithaca, NY
Maxie's Supper Club and Oyster Bar - Ithaca, NY
Rogue's Harbor Steak and Ale - Lansing, NY
Ice Cream
Purity Ice Cream - Ithaca, NY
Entertainment/Other
Sciencenter - Ithaca, NY
Museum of the Earth at PRI - Ithaca, NY
Hangar Theatre - Ithaca, NY
Ithaca Beer Company - Ithaca, NY
 

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