Brief Hike Details

This is a 7 mile loop hike that will tie together three local trail systems: the Cayuga Trail, Dryden Rail Trail, and East Ithaca Recreation Way. Portions of the trail will be wet and muddy.

Part of the route goes through Cornell property that is open to bow hunters, but not anywhere that gun hunting is allowed.

The hike is rated moderate primarily due to the distance. The elevation change is about 200 feet.

Dress in layers for the weather, bring water and lunch or snacks.

If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, contact the hike leader at the address above.

Watch this space the morning of the hike for any changes or a cancellation.

TCAT Bus Accessible

TCAT routes 51 goes from Green St. station downtown to Humphrey’s Service Building bus stop. Oxley Parking Lot is nearby.  For the return trip following the hike, route 51 runs every hour. 

Detailed Hike Description

From Cornell’s Oxley Parking Lot, near the junction of Dryden Road (Route 366) and Hoy Road, we will walk 0.7 miles, climbing the newly-rebuilt stairs behind Schoellkopf stadium and make our way across campus, to the rock garden near the Nevin Welcome Center at the Cornell Botanical Gardens.

At the rock garden, we will head east on the Cayuga Trail, passing through the Mundy Wildflower Garden and the Cornell Arboretum, crossing the suspension bridge near Flat Rock, and continuing on to the “F. H. Fox” railroad bridge in Varna.

At the bridge, we connect to the Dryden Rail Trail, heading south over route 366 and make our way 1.6 miles to the end of the rail trail at Game Farm Road. (Note: the town of Dryden is waiting for Tompkins County “to sign off on approvals” for a crosswalk and proper safety signage between the Dryden Rail Trail and East Ithaca Recreation Way before officially opening the connection between the two.  If not yet approved, we will need to do a road walk along Stevenson and Game Farm to reach the East Ithaca Rec Way.)

The East Ithaca Recreation Way will take us 1.2 miles from Game Farm Road to Pine Tree Road. We will follow Cascadilla Creek and pass a remnant of the infrastructure that once provided water for the steam engines that powered train travel along this route. We will then return to the Oxley parking lot on a 0.4 mile trail alongside Cascadilla Creek.

The footing is easy and the terrain is flat, but we will encounter wet and muddy sections of trail.

Dress in layers for the weather.  Layering in warm but breathable garments is advisable. If ice has formed on the trails, traction footwear is advised. Bring water and a sandwich or snack.

If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, contact the hike leader at the address above.

Watch this space the morning of the hike for any changes or a cancellation.