The Cayuga Nature Center, located just outside of Ithaca, is a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. This 160-acre center features miles of well-maintained trails that wind through beautiful forests and scenic meadows, allowing visitors to explore diverse habitats and spot wildlife. Visitors can also experience the famous six-story treehouse and the stunning Denison Falls, making it an excellent spot for families and nature enthusiasts. Whether you enjoy hiking, birdwatching, or simply taking a leisurely walk, there’s something for everyone at the Cayuga Nature Center.
Visit the Six-Story Tree Tops Treehouse
The six-story Tree Top Treehouse is a popular attraction at the Cayuga Nature Center. Built by the Ithaca High School class of 2000, it truly brings to life every kid’s greatest treehouse fantasy. This is an excellent place for children of all ages to explore, including older kids and adults! My older children and I loved climbing through the treehouse. It embodies the quintessential treehouse with plenty of ladders, stairs, and nets that make exploring easier. However, if you have small children, you will need to keep a close eye on them, as there are numerous places where they could fall.
Denison Falls
Being close to Ithaca, which is basically the unofficial waterfall capital of New York, the Cayuga Nature Center features a stunning 21-foot waterfall known as Denison Falls. This waterfall is named after Marion Denison Ehrhart, a local teacher and naturalist. Visitors are invited to explore the beautiful waterfall and the stream that flows nearby or you can view it from above near the treehouse.
Nature Center Trails
Cayuga Nature Center is a great place to enjoy an easy nature walk. The trails are good for any fitness level. We visited on a sunny summer weekend and didn’t see another soul for the majority of our hike, with the exception of the waterfall and treehouse, they were actually quite busy. However, the rest of the hike was very quite when we were exploring the rest of the trails. There are 8 trails totaling over 5 miles. The Black Diamond trail that connects to Taughannock State Park and The Museum of the Earth is also located within the Nature Center.
Know Before You Go
- The lodge isn’t always open. We visited during the summer, and it was closed.
- Cayuga Nature Center has Pay-what-you-wish, donation-based admission.
- The trails and Tree Top Treehouse are open daily from dawn to dusk.
- There are summer camps and school’s out camps that focus on nature and the environment, so there may be times when certain sections of the Nature Center are not accessible to people.
- Pets are welcome at the Nature Center, but only along the trails, outer trails, and areas (such as the lodge, behind the lodge, or near the treehouse) where day campers utilize the Nature Center. Service animals are always welcome.
Getting to Cayuga Nature Center
Address: 1420 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca