Hiking Basics

Local Favorites

For Maps, photos, and more check out AllTrails. Simply search any of the listed hikes

  1. James Kennedy State Forest

    • Contains two loop trails, which can be done together for a nice nine to ten miles of walking in the woods. Also contains the Greek Peak ski resort and the tallest mountain in Cortland County

    • Approximately 30 minutes from campus

  2. Danby State Forest

    • The Abbott Loop trail is one of the best day hikes in the Ithaca region, combining woodsy sections, creek areas, and moderately challenging elevation change. It’s approximately 8.5 miles long

    • About 15 minutes from campus

  3. Finger Lakes National Forest

    • The only national forest in New York state. This contains some very pretty woodsy areas, ponds, and meadows. It’s generally flat, and the main trail runs for 11 miles north to south

    • Approximately 40 minutes from campus

  4. Buttermilk Falls State Park

    • This state park is notable for its waterfall and gorges, but also contains some good hiking opportunities. The main gorge trail is about a mile one way, but Lake Treman, located above the gorge, has a nice loop that can be combined with the gorge trail for about a five-mile hike from the parking lot off of Rt. 13. There is also access to the Finger Lakes trail from the Lake Treman Loop

    • About 10 minutes from campus

  5. Robert H Treman State Park

    • This state park has several trails running around the gorge and its rim, including a loop of about four miles from the lower parking lot. It contains some stunning waterfalls and views. There is also Finger Lakes Trail access

    • About 20 minutes from campus

  6. Taughannock Falls State Park

    • Contains a waterfall that drops over 200 feet, along with some trails around the rim of the gorge. There are also swimming and boating opportunities located on Cayuga Lake nearby. 

    • About 35 minutes from campus

In-State Trips

  1. Catskill Mountains

    This is a mountain range in Eastern New York. Most of the trailheads are generally about two and a half to three hours from Ithaca. The Catskill Mountains are some of the smaller mountains in the Northeast – essentially they’re like a mini version of the Adirondacks. They’re a little less rugged, but can still pose a challenge. Some of the best hikes include

    • Devil’s Path

      1. A 24-mile-long trail that runs through several of the tallest mountains in the range, and is famed for its difficulty

    • Balsam Lake Mountain

      1. One of the 35 mountains over 3500 feet, this mountain has a fire tower on top, and is a relatively easy climb

    • Wittenberg and Cornell Mountains

      1. These two mountains provide some of the best views in the range, and offer a moderately challenging hike

  2. Adirondacks

    The Adirondack Park is the largest park in the lower 48 states, containing a wide variety of streams, beautiful lakes, forests, and jagged peaks. Its one of Outing Clubs perenial favorite stomping grounds. The crown jewel of the region is the High Peaks wilderness area, which contains almost all of the fifty tallest mountains in the park, and offers some of the best peakbagging in the Northeast. The southern border of the Adirondacks by Old Forge is about two and a half hours from Ithaca, while Lake Placid and the High Peaks region is about four and a half. Some good trips include:

    • Algonquin Mountain

      1. The second-tallest mountain in the state, which is one of the most-visited mountains in the summer and offers a moderate challenge to those in good shape, with excellent views

    • Blue Mountain

      1. Located in the central area of the park, this relatively easy climb of about two miles gives tremendous views of the surrounding lakes and forests from the fire tower atop it

    • Cranberry Lake 50

      1. A fifty-mile loop around the third-largest lake in the park, this trail offers a mostly flat and pretty walk along the lake shore and several ponds located deep in the backcountry. 

Regional Trips

  1. Green Mountains

    • This area of Vermont contains its tallest peaks, ranging up to about 4300 feet in elevation. Many of the mountains here are less difficult/rugged climbs than in other ranges in the Northeast. Some good hikes are: Camel’s Hump, Mt. Mansfield, and Mt. Abraham. Burlington and the Lake Champlain area are also good locations to check out

    • Approximately 5-6 hours from Ithaca

  2. Sunfish Pond

    • Located in northern Pennsylvania, this area has some good bouldering locations. It’s about an hour and forty-five minutes from Ithaca.