Explore our 11 beautiful natural areas right on Cornell's campus, some of which are woven between our 150-acre Arboretum and specialty gardens around the Nevin Welcome Center.
The Cascadilla Gorge Trail between College Avenue and Linn Street is now open for the season. For your safety, please remain on official trails and do not enter closed trails or restricted areas around the gorges.
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Featured
Mundy Wildflower Garden
Here you will find a remarkable variety of plants native to the Cayuga Lake Basin.
Natural Area
Native Lawn Demonstration Area
Designed to replace conventional lawn with native low-growing grasses, which only require mowing once or twice per year.
Fall Creek Valley
This natural area consists of young and old forests on the north and south sides of Fall Creek.
Cascadilla Gorge
The iconic Cascadilla Gorge Trail passes through one of the most picturesque gorges in the Finger Lakes Region.
Beebe Lake and Woods
Beebe Lake is a sanctuary of water, woods, and wetlands in the heart of the Cornell Campus.
Fall Creek Gorge
Nearly 200 feet deep, Fall Creek’s Gorge is among the most impressive gorges in the Finger Lakes Region.
Mundy Wildflower Garden
Here you will find a remarkable variety of plants native to the Cayuga Lake Basin.
Park Park
A variety of plant communities including forest, shrub thicket, wetland, meadow and prairie near Fall Creek.
Fall Creek Valley
This natural area consists of young and old forests on the north and south sides of Fall Creek.
Slim Jim Woods
This beautiful old forest is very biodiverse and many of the trees are truly majestic.
Bluegrass Lane and Bull Pasture Ponds
This natural area includes a regionally uncommon swamp forest, a marsh, and meadow.
Palmer Woods
More than half of this remarkable area is undisturbed old-growth forest dominated by large oaks.
Upper Cascadilla
Enjoy a walk along Cascadilla Creek and buffering woods via the East Hill Recreation Way.
Mitchell Street Hawthorn Thicket
More than 100 species of birds have been observed at this site.
MORE TO EXPLORE
Explore Our Plants
We offer online tools for locating and learning about plants in our gardens and natural areas.
Garden Map
Use this interactive map to locate our gardens, natural areas, waterfalls, parking, outdoor art, and more.
Off-Campus Natural Areas
We manage nearly 3,600 acres of natural areas across 44 sites, which represent the full range of ecological habitats in the Finger Lakes Region.