Top 3 Finger Lakes Hiking Trails

Though you’ll have over 70 acres to explore at La Tourelle, our region of New York has even more to offer than meets the eye. Featuring vast forests, awe-inspiring waterfalls, and uplifting meadows, the nearby Finger Lakes hiking trails provide just what you need to appreciate the region we call home. As a visitor, finding the trail near our Ithaca resort that is right for you may be a tall task, but luckily we’ve got you covered. Here are our picks for the top three Finger Lakes hiking trails!    

1. Cascadilla Gorge Trail

As the closest Finger Lakes hiking trail to our hotel in Ithaca, NY, the Cascadilla Gorge Trail encapsulates our region to its fullest extent. The trail spans nearly a mile-and-a-half and connects downtown Ithaca with the Cornell Campus. You’ll climb over 400 feet on a set of stone trails and staircases that date back to the late 1920s, continue through an impressive gorge that has been formed from ancient bedrock, and trek past six waterfalls. Though the lower gorge is closed during the winter months, the gorge above College Ave is open year-round.

2. Taughannock Falls Gorge Trail

With our proximity to Taughannock Falls State Park, hiking the Taughannock Falls Gorge Trail is a no-brainer. This gorge trail extends nearly one mile, where you’ll take in the sweeping vistas and idyllic scenery of the state park. The trail will eventually lead you to the tallest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains – Taughannock Falls. If the 215-foot waterfall towers too high for you, you can more easily enjoy it from the Gorge Trail, located near the lower trailhead below.

3. Emilie Jonas Falls Nature Preserve

Though it measures out at under a half-mile, the Emile Jonas Falls trail near our Finger Lakes resort is no slouch. The hike is a challenge, featuring steep and slippery inclines that can be impassable in high water conditions. However, if you can persevere, you will be rewarded with the wilderness waterfall within Tompkins County Unique Natural Area. Oddly enough, this trail meanders across private property that is kindly open to the public by the residents. 

To Trails End & Back on the Best Finger Lakes Hiking Trails

For an up-close look at the splendor and beauty of New York, a trek among our favorite Finger Lakes hiking trails is a sure-fire way to take it all in. And after a day spent in the great outdoors, what better remedy is there to treat yourself to at our Finger Lakes spa with treatments from August Moon Spa? So pack your hiking shoes, fill up a canteen, and give our friendly staff a call at 607-273-273 to discover the allure of rural New York from our Ithaca hotel!