Trips Ideas & FAQ
Hiking & Backpacking
Recommended Trips around Ithaca:
Finger Lakes Trail Section Hikes, Abbott Loop (Danby State Forest), Virgil Mountain Loop (James Kennedy State Forest)
Gear Available:
Tents, Backpacks and day packs, sleeping bags/pads, cook stoves, trekking poles, micro spikes, crampons
Check out the Gear section of the website for more info!
FAQs:
Do I need outdoors experience? No! Hiking can be very beginner friendly! Some trips can be more advanced (and will be noted as NOT for beginners) but everyone should get outside on a COC beginner trip.
Do I need hiking boots? Boots are a plus, and essential for longer/more technical trips, but feel free to wear a comfortable pair of sneakers on an easy day hike!
What do I do about wildlife!? Practice Leave No Trace, keep a clean camp, hang bear bags/use bear canisters and you should be safe from critters big and small! Wildlife is an amazing part of the outdoors, not a scary part!
Check out AllTrails for info on more local hikes and trips around upstate New York!
Paddling
Recommended Trips around Ithaca:
Canoe up Cayuga Lake (take a weekend or maybe a long weekend, stay at at the Sned-Acres Campground), Whitewater kayaking Fall Creek, Salmon Creek or Sixmile Creek, Put in canoes at the sailing center and paddle to the farmers' market on a weekend, Bring canoes/kayaks up to Owasco flats (like 40 min drive) where there are numerous wildlife viewing opportunities.
Gear Available:
Canoes, canoe paddles, dry sacks, whitewater kayaks, kayak paddles, PFDs, recreational kayaks, helmets, bailers, canoe racks for cars.
Check out the Gear section of the website for more info!
FAQs:
Do I need experience to take part in a trip? It's easy to pick up paddling on short flatwater trips, but you should have some experience before coming on a long trip or in whitewater.
What should I wear? Wear layers of synthetic clothing (NOT cotton), a hat, and plenty of sunscreen -expect your feet to get wet!
How dangerous is whitewater kayaking? River classes go from very flat to extremely turbulent, but the best way to avoid injury is to take appropriate safety measures (scout the river beforehand, make sure your gear fits, be conscious of your own skill level...)
Find below a map of all whitewater kayaking places in NY and their class!
Tompkins county provides a helpful brochure about paddling in the inlet!
Cornell Outdoor education has made a google folder with many regional options!
Climbing
Recommended Trips around Ithaca:
Despite the abundant rock in the gorges, there is no outdoor climbing nearby. The Cornell gym is a good resource, and there is a larger gym - Central Rock Gym - in Syracuse. The three closest spots are Sunfish Pond in Northern PA, which has a fair number of moderate boulder problems (2 hours away), Thatcher State Park near Albany which has a lot of sport climbing (3 hours), and the Shawagunks which has trad, top access top-roping (3 hours). The Adirondacks are also within a weekend driving distance and offer lots of trad opportunities.
Gear Available:
Shoes (somewhat limited sizing), harnesses, helmets, belay devices including Grigris, rope, quickdraws, trad protection, various slings and carabiners, bouldering pads.
Ice climbing: ice tools, ice screws, mountaineering boots, crampons
Check out the Gear section of the website for more info!
FAQs:
What's the best way to start climbing? First start at the gym! You need to learn to belay so you should take a learn the ropes course or the basic rock climbing PE class (recommended).
Can I climb in the gorges? No and do not, the rock falls apart.
How dangerous is climbing? different types of climbing have different levels of risk. Top roping in the gym is very very safe while free-soloing El Cap is very dangerous. As you become a more experienced climber you can determine the amount of risk you are willing to tolerate.
Check out Mountain Project and the Lindseth Climbing Center below!
Cycling
Recommended Trips around Ithaca:
Beginner-Intermediate: day trip to Treman/Buttermilk/Monkey Run or bike touring to Taughannock and back: Intermediate/Advanced: day trip around Cayuga (or any of the Finger Lakes), bike tour/ride to Finger Lakes NF, Watkins Glen, multi-day bike touring trip throughout the finger lakes region
Gear Available:
Bikes, helmets, panniers & repair equipment
Check out the Gear section of the website for more info!
FAQs:
Does COC have bikes? Yes! (and it's free, minus dues)
Can I bike up the slope? Yes! (esp if you're shifting properly)
Check out REI’s Introduction to Bike Touring as well as additional Finger Lakes biking resources below!