Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Permit No permit needed. Fee: no fee found.
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Open. Ithaca Trails lists the falls as open year-round and posts no alert for them (as listed Oct 2026). We found no 2025-2026 closure or rockfall closure. The slope above the falls has a history of lead contamination, so stay on the gravel trail. What the status labels mean
Ithaca Falls is a wide waterfall on Fall Creek, a very short walk from Lake Street in Ithaca, New York. Wikipedia lists it at 150 feet high and 175 feet wide, though local sources give a smaller drop. The path is about 0.1 mile each way, and swimming is not permitted because of dangerous currents. Ithaca Trails lists the falls as open year-round (as listed Oct 2026).
About Ithaca Falls
Ithaca Falls is the last of several waterfalls on Fall Creek before the creek reaches the Cayuga Lake valley, according to Wikipedia. Ithaca Falls sits in the Ithaca Falls Natural Area, in the city's Fall Creek neighborhood, so you can reach it without leaving town.
The size depends on the source. Wikipedia lists the falls at 150 feet high and 175 feet wide. Ithaca Trails describes a drop of about 100 feet and a width of about 150 feet, with cliffs rising another 100 feet above. A New York State grant record uses a figure of 110.
The gorge has an industrial past. In 1830 Ezra Cornell blasted a tunnel through it and built a diversion dam to power mills, Wikipedia says. The dam broke sometime before April 2007.
From 1880 until the late 1980s, the Ithaca Gun Company operated above the falls and dumped spent lead shot on the slope. In 2004, EPA finished a $4.8 million cleanup of the old factory site and Fall Creek Gorge. The EPA cleanup removed more than 6,000 tons of soil contaminated by shotgun test firing, an archived EPA release says.
The work didn't end there. In September 2015, EPA began a $400,000 job to remove about 200 cubic yards of lead-contaminated soil at the base of the gorge, WRVO reported. Daytime access was restricted during the work. The City of Ithaca bought the land around the base from Cornell University in 2000, Wikipedia says.
Ithaca Trails notes that red-tailed hawks nest on the cliffs and that the pool below the falls is a popular fishing spot.
Other waterfalls in and around Ithaca
Ithaca Falls is one of many falls in and near the city. Visit Ithaca's waterfall itinerary also names Triphammer Falls, Businessman's Lunch Falls on Six Mile Creek, Lick Brook Falls and Ludlowville Falls.
The state parks hold the bigger outings. Our guides cover Buttermilk Falls and Taughannock Falls. Visit Ithaca also lists Lucifer Falls and Lower Falls in Robert H. Treman State Park.
Getting there and parking
A New York State grant record describes the City of Ithaca's Lake Street Bridge Plaza as the only public entrance to the Ithaca Falls Natural Area. A $97,500 state grant paid for safety and viewing improvements at the plaza, and the project is marked complete.
Ithaca Trails says the falls are visible from the Lake Street bridge, so you can see them without walking the trail at all. The base is a couple of minutes' walk from there.
Parking and the TCAT bus
Ithaca Trails lists parking on Lake Street. The hobbyist site nyfalls.com describes two small lots on a hill just south of where Lake Street crosses Fall Creek.
You can also come by bus. The TCAT stop 'Lake @ Falls' is on the east side of Lake Street, per Ithaca Trails. We found no official fee information.
Because it's in town, Ithaca Falls pairs easily with the state parks nearby. Buttermilk Falls is just south of the city off Route 13, and Taughannock Falls is a state park northwest of Ithaca near Trumansburg.
Map and nearby falls
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The walk from Lake Street
Ithaca Trails lists the route as about 0.1 mile each way, roughly 2 minutes, on an out-and-back path of gravel and stone dust. It rates the trail moderate. The path toward the falls is rough and uneven, so watch your footing even though the distance is short.
At the entrance, an accessible path leads to a creek overlook. Past that point the surface gets rougher. If you use a wheelchair or push a stroller, the overlook is the practical place to view the creek.
A short, steep side trail heads into the woods. Ithaca Trails says it has loose stone and earth, so it's best skipped with kids or in wet weather. Dogs are allowed on a leash. We could not find restroom information for the site.
When to visit
Ithaca Trails lists the falls as open year-round (as listed Oct 2026). We found no closure for 2025 or 2026 and no rockfall closure for the falls themselves.
Best season to see it
For the Ithaca area as a whole, Visit Ithaca says spring is the time to see waterfalls at their strongest.
It also notes that snowmelt and spring rain make trails muddy. Since the walk takes only a couple of minutes, Ithaca Falls fits well as a short stop on a longer day around Ithaca and Cayuga Lake.
When is the water highest?
At a USGS stream gauge about 1 mi from the falls, the flow averages highest in March and lowest in September, based on 30 years of records (1996 to 2025).
Show the numbers
| Month | Average flow (cfs) |
|---|---|
| January | 253 |
| February | 231 |
| March | 375 |
| April | 352 |
| May | 208 |
| June | 134 |
| July | 105 |
| August | 80 |
| September | 77 |
| October | 124 |
| November | 180 |
| December | 259 |
| Height | 150 ftNote: 150 ft high and 175 ft wide per Wikipedia; Ithaca Trails says about 100 ft, and a state grant record uses 110 |
|---|---|
| Trail | About 0.1 mi each way (about 2 minutes) from Lake Street on gravel and stone dust; the last stretch is rough and uneven (Ithaca Trails) |
| Difficulty | Short but rough; Ithaca Trails rates it moderate |
| Time needed | About 2 minutes each way (Ithaca Trails) |
| Entry fee | No official fee information found |
| Permit / reservation | None needed |
| Parking | Lake Street; small lots and side streets |
| Dogs | Allowed on leash (Ithaca Trails) |
| Swimming | Not permitted. Ithaca Trails warns currents near the falls are deadly, and Cornell says swimming in Fall Creek is illegal. |
| Wheelchair / stroller | Partial: an accessible path at the entrance leads to a creek overlook; the path to the falls is rough and uneven (Ithaca Trails) |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Best time to visit | Spring, for the strongest flow (Visit Ithaca) |
| Managed by | City of Ithaca (Ithaca Falls Natural Area) |
Safety and swimming
Swimming is not permitted at Ithaca Falls. Ithaca Trails warns that currents near the falls are deadly. Cornell's gorge safety program says swimming is illegal in Fall Creek and that violators are subject to arrest.
If you want to swim, use the designated areas at nearby state parks such as Buttermilk Falls, Robert H. Treman or Taughannock Falls, and check their seasons first.
Lead is still a concern. A 2018 state DEC study found lead levels of up to 21,000 parts per million in some spots at the falls, WRFI reported in May 2021. The usual threshold is 400 ppm.
EPA then built a limestone containment wall at the base, and WRFI reported in August 2021 that the work was finished and the area had reopened. Warning signs are posted. Stay on the gravel trail, and don't dig in or sit on bare soil off the path.
Do not climb the cliffs or the loose side trail. Expect wet, slippery rock near the water. Our waterfall safety guide covers more general tips.
Where to stay near Ithaca Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Ithaca.
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Photos
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Ithaca Falls FAQ
Is Ithaca Falls open?
Yes. Ithaca Trails lists it as open year-round and posts no alert for it (as listed Oct 2026). We found no 2025 or 2026 closure.
Can you swim at Ithaca Falls?
No. Swimming is not permitted, and Ithaca Trails warns that currents near the falls are deadly. Cornell says swimming in Fall Creek is illegal and violators can be arrested. Nearby state parks such as Buttermilk Falls, Robert H. Treman and Taughannock Falls have designated swimming areas in season.
How long is the walk to Ithaca Falls?
Very short: about 0.1 mile each way, or around 2 minutes, from Lake Street on a gravel path, according to Ithaca Trails. The last stretch toward the falls is rough and uneven.
Can you see Ithaca Falls without hiking?
Yes. Ithaca Trails says the falls are visible from the Lake Street bridge. The base is a couple of minutes' walk on a gravel path, and an accessible path at the entrance leads to a creek overlook.
Is Ithaca Falls contaminated with lead?
The slope above the falls was contaminated with lead shot from the former Ithaca Gun Company. EPA finished a major cleanup in 2004 and removed more soil near the base in 2015. A 2018 DEC study found high lead again, and EPA finished a containment wall in 2021, WRFI reported. Stay on the gravel trail.
Where do you park for Ithaca Falls?
Ithaca Trails lists parking on Lake Street. A state grant record calls the city's Lake Street Bridge Plaza the only public entrance. The hobbyist site nyfalls.com describes two small lots just south of the bridge. The TCAT bus stop 'Lake @ Falls' is right there.
How tall is Ithaca Falls?
Wikipedia lists it at 150 feet high and 175 feet wide. Ithaca Trails describes a drop of about 100 feet, and a state grant record uses 110, so sources differ.
Are dogs allowed at Ithaca Falls?
Yes, on a leash, according to Ithaca Trails.
Nearby waterfalls
Buttermilk Falls3 mi straight-lineOpen
Lucifer Falls6 mi straight-lineOpen115FT
Taughannock Falls8 mi straight-lineOpen215FT
On these lists: Dog-friendly waterfalls · Roadside waterfalls
Sources
- Ithaca Trails: Ithaca Falls (read Oct 28, 2026)
- EPA Region 2 (archived): EPA Finishes $4.8 Million Cleanup at Ithaca Gun (2004)
- WRVO: Ithaca's Fall Creek gorge to get lead cleanup (Sept 14, 2015)
- NY Regional Councils CFA: Lake Street Bridge Public Plaza Enhancement
- Cornell Gorge Safety: Know the Dangers
- NYFalls.com: Ithaca Falls (hobbyist guide; read Oct 24, 2026)
- Visit Ithaca: Spring hiking around Ithaca (Apr 1, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Ithaca Falls
- WRFI: EPA to excavate lead at Ithaca Falls and build containment wall (May 28, 2021)
- WRFI: EPA finishes limestone containment barrier at Ithaca Falls (Aug 31, 2021)
- Visit Ithaca: 48 hours and 10 Ithaca waterfalls
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with City of Ithaca (Ithaca Falls Natural Area) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.