Sweedler and Thayer Nature Preserves are fantastic Finger Lake hidden gems. These preserves south of Ithaca are gorgeous, with miles of excellent hiking trails. The two preserves are separated by a road. Sweedler Preserve on the one side is the more dramatic of the two, with waterfalls for days. The hike to the bottom isn’t easy, but it is well worth the effort for the stunning beauty that awaits you at the bottom. Thayer Preserve has several trails, and while they aren’t quite as dramatic as the trails at Sweedler, they are still beautiful.

Sweedler Preserve

Waterfalls

When I say there are waterfalls for days, I mean it. From the start (at the road), Lick Brook begins to tumble over the rocks as the gorge twists and turns to create multiple falls. Just when you think you’ve seen the last waterfall, you turn a corner, and there is a larger, more stunning one.

At one point, the trail leads away from the gorge, and there is a significant drop-off, creating the preserve’s largest waterfall at 93ft. You can get a slightly obscured view of this waterfall. There is no good way to get a photo of this waterfall without putting yourself in extreme danger on a steep cliffside unless you visit in the late fall, when the trees have lost their leaves.

The trail begins a steep descent to the valley floor, where yet another spectacular waterfall awaits you. This waterfall is a fantastic place to enjoy the cool water of Lick Brook on a hot summer day.

Hiking Trails

At the beginning, the trail runs right along the edge of Lick Brook, following the creek as it flows from one waterfall to another. Then the trail moves away from the edge of the brook, and the side of the trail drops off dramatically. Along the top of the trail, there is also a place where you survey the far-distant hills.

The trail splits at one point; you can either follow the Finger Lakes Trail (the White Trail) around to the bottom or take the steep (and quicker) Sweedler Preserve Trail (the Blue Trail.) The blue trail down to the valley floor is most definitely steep. (I could feel it in my knees the whole way down.) Once you reach the bottom, if you head to the left, you will find yet another stunning waterfall.

I am not going to lie to you; the hike back up the hill is nothing short of torture. I hike a lot, and those steep hills get me every time. To make it worse, I always seem to run into some athletic, fresh face person on their way down, as I’m gasping for breath, looking like I’m going to expire on the spot, on my way back up. Nothing is more embarrassing than gasping and clasping your chest, as one of these downhill hikers throws a “hello” your way on the trail. I am a frequent hiker, and the hills still get me. So if you’re feeling alone, don’t worry, we are in the same club.

Out and About With Nova

Nova loved this trail, so many leaves (she loves chasing leaves), smells, and wildlife. We spent a large amount of time trying to redirect her up the hill when we were climbing out; she just didn’t want to leave.

This is a dog-friendly destination, although your dog needs to be on a leash. 2 things I need to stress:

1 – I’ve said this a million times… please be courteous of other people and clean up after your pets. Don’t be the one who gives dog hikers a bad name.

2 – Please leash your dog. I know that you know your dog and how good they are. But you are putting your dog and my dog at risk because honestly, I don’t know how good my dog is when it comes down to it. Nobody knows exactly how their dog will react during certain situations. If the park/preserve requires it, please follow the rules. LEASH YOUR DOG.

Valley Floor

The valley floor is a green oasis, especially in early spring. Descending into the valley is a lovely experience. It is just so pretty climbing down because it is such as contrast to the entire environment. A trail that goes through the valley floor, the Finger Lakes Trail, eventually leads to Robert Treman State Park.

Thayer Preserve

Hiking Trails

There are several trails at the Thayer Preserve. One trail is high above the creek through the woods and eventually leads to Buttermilk Falls State Park. This trail is relatively easy and doesn’t change much in elevation as far as we hiked on it. We visited in mid-November, and part of the preserve was closed to hikers because it was hunting season. So, we weren’t able to hike to Buttermilk Falls on this trip.

We turned around and decided to go down and hike the trail along the creek. This is also a much flatter and easier trail than the one across the road at Sweedler Preserve. Our dog Nova could enter the water in many places, and she loved it. This section of Lick Brook doesn’t have the climactic elevation change that the Sweedler Preserve side, but the chiseled creek bed is gorgeous and quite picturesque.