Our gorges, gardens, and other natural areas on the Cornell campus and throughout Ithaca are what make Cornell one of the most beautiful university campuses worldwide.
The resources below provide trail routes to explore Cornell’s natural beauty using your smart phone:
Self-guided tours using “Pocketsights Tour Guide”
This free app provides a Google-driven map along with images and information at points of interest along each of the tour routes. Tours are available to explore Cascadilla Gorge, Fall Creek Gorge, Beebe Lake, Gardens around the Nevin Welcome Center, Mundy Wildflower Garden, F. R. Newman Arboretum, Fall Creek Valley Natural Area, and the Sustainable Landscapes Trail.
Download “Pocketsights Tour” from the App Store or Google Play. When you open the app, the tour closest to you will appear at the top of the list. Scroll to select a tour of interest.
Nature Rx at Cornell
The mobile-friendly website provides a map, directions, and information for gardens and natural areas on the Cornell campus. It was developed by Nature Rx Cornell to encourage students to spend at least a few hours each week exploring the great natural beauty of the Cornell campus to benefit their overall their well-being.
Link to Nature Rx Cornell website.
Out on the Trails (IthacaTrails.org)
Search 240 miles of trails both within Cornell Botanic Gardens as well as trails throughout Tompkins County. You can search by desired activity, trail length and difficulty, as well as who “stewards” the trail. The site includes a GPS-enabled map with directions to each site.
Click on the following links for trail maps within natural areas on Cornell’s campus: Beebe Lake, Mundy Wildflower Garden, Fall Creek Gorge, Cascadilla Gorge, F. R. Newman Arboretum, and gardens around the Nevin Welcome Center.
Cayuga Trail
Considered one of the most beautiful foot trails in the Ithaca area, the Cayuga Trail provides the opportunity to follow Fall Creek Gorge from the Cornell campus to the Town of Dryden. With over 9½ miles of trails, it passes through Fall Creek Gorge, Beebe Lake, Nevin Welcome Center Gardens, Mundy Wildflower Garden, F. R. Newman Arboretum, and on through the Fall Creek Valley and Monkey Run Natural Areas before looping back.
View trail route on Ithacatrails.org
The Cayuga Trail is stewarded by the Cayuga Trails Club. Learn more.