Robert Treman State Park – Ithaca, NY

I have wanted to visit this park for a while, and I wasn’t disappointed, just slightly unprepared. There were a crazy amount of stairs in this park, and we did an obscene amount of walking. By the time we were done hiking through this park, I was completely exhausted, but it was totally worth it. Robert Treman State Park really is a gorgeous park. It is quite different from other state parks that I have visited. It doesn’t appear to have been designed for accommodating large crowds.

Please note: some posts may contain affiliate links which means we could earn a small commission if you purchase products from our site at no additional cost to you.

Tips for Visiting

• Arrive Early – If you want to have the park to yourself, get there early. The crowds grow as the day goes on, so you can enjoy the park without a big crowd if you arrive as soon as it opens.
• Visit during bad weather -It might not sound appealing, but it is another way to enjoy the park at low capacity. And not for nothing, the rain makes already beautiful waterfalls even more impressive. Dress appropriately for the weather (rain jackets).
• This park is big, and you will probably do a lot of walking; there is an obscene amount of stairs at Robert Treman, so wear comfortable shoes.
• If you want to camp at Robert Treman, I highly recommend making your reservation far in advance. The campground isn’t large and will fill up quickly.
• We entered the park through the Lower Entrance. It was a really nice Saturday afternoon, and we found that the main parking area was full, so we ended up having to park in the playground/picnic area parking lot a little way down the road. The main parking lot of this park really isn’t very large compared to other state parks.

Hiking

The trails in this park are truly beautiful, but it seems like you always seem to be going uphill no matter what direction you are going. We took the Gorge Trail to start with, and this trail was the complete opposite of what you might imagine a gorge trail to be. I have been to many other state parks, and when you hike the gorge trail, you usually have to hike down into the gorge. Well, at Robert Treman, you hike up for some reason. We had to climb an ungodly number of stairs. I consider myself to be in fairly good shape, but it was embarrassing having elderly people pass me on these steps as I gasped for air.

If you have knee problems or just are not in good physical shape, you will not want to attempt the trails in this park. If you want to see Lucifer Falls, there is a way to see it without subjecting yourself to cardiac arrest. If you enter the park through the Upper Entrance, the hike to Lucifer Falls is short and sweet. This would have been useful information when we decided to visit. Don’t get me wrong. I really enjoyed the hike, and the gorge trail was absolutely worth the exertion, but I was never so happy to see our car in my life.

The Gorge Trail will take you to a viewing area for Lucifer Falls, but the really impressive view is from the Rim Trail, and it comes with, you guessed it, more stairs. Lots more stairs. However, the stairs on the Rim Trail are really kind of neat, carved out of the rock on the side of the hill. There are plenty of places to rest on these stairs as you head up to the top. A lookout from the top of the Rim Trail is just amazing and gives visitors a full and spectacular view of Lucifer Falls.

Waterfalls

There are two major waterfalls in Robert Treman State Park. The Lower Falls (Enfield Falls) is extremely easy to get to and is also handicap accessible. Lower Falls also happens to be the park’s swimming area. We visited in the fall after the park had closed the pool, so it was relatively uncrowded. I can only imagine that this area is probably packed at the height of summer. If you are visiting just to see the waterfalls, your best bet is to visit in Spring and Fall.

Lucifer Falls is an immense 115-foot waterfall that cascades down into the gorge. As I previously mentioned, the Falls can be viewed from an overlook on the Gorge Trail. This is only a partial view, as the overlook is perched partway up the falls. It is still captivating and beautiful, but if you want to see the falls in their entirety, you will need to climb the Rim Trail to the scenic overlook. This is a dramatic view and is very popular with photographers.

Although less dramatic, there are a few smaller waterfalls, just as beautiful in their own way. These are located along the Gorge Trail.

Camping

The campground at Robert Treman State Park is not incredibly large compared to most of New York’s State Parks. There are 72 campsites and 12 cabins. The cabins here are grouped together in a car-free area. Cabin occupants park in a designated spot and walk to their cabin. This area is wooded and, in my opinion, the nicest part of the entire campground.

Most of the campsites at Robert Treman are open with very little privacy. Especially the newer sites located near the entrance to the campground. The campground itself is located at the Lower Park Entrance and is not truly separated from the rest of the park as most other state park campgrounds are.

Park Facilities

Robert Treman State Park has truly lovely picnic facilities. There are picnic tables and grills located in several areas of the park. There are two playgrounds in the park as well, one located in the campground and the other in one of the picnic areas.

This park is dog-friendly. Dogs are permitted while leashed (no more than 6 feet long) on the hiking trails and in the campground. You must provide proof of Rabies vaccination. Dogs must never be left unattended.

Address

105 Enfield Falls Rd, Ithaca, New York

Google Map Link

Other Places to Visit in the Area