Lucifer Falls, Rim Trail, Robert H. Treman State Park, June 2023 Uplift, receding glaciers, and subsequent erosion have blessed central New York with terrific stone gorges, many containing rushing waters and dramatic waterfalls that drain into the 11 Finger Lakes. Enfield Glen, one such canyon, is the centerpiece of Ithaca’s Robert H. Treman State Park—an …
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Ithaca Falls, Ithaca Falls Natural Area, June 2023 If it were merely a single strand of the massive, 150-foot-tall falls that was flowing, this would still be an impressive sight. And yet we get much more with Ithaca Falls, easily the tallest, widest, and arguably most stunning of the many waterfalls inside the city of …
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Emilie Jonas Falls, Emilie Jonas Falls Nature Preserve, June 2023 Waterfalls abound in the narrow gorges in and around Ithaca, New York, with some drawing regular crowds while others attracting only hearty falls-seeking sleuths keen on novelty and solitude. Emilie Jonas Falls is a gem for the latter group: it is not the tallest, widest, …
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Ludlowville Falls, Ludlowville Park, June 2023 Ludlowville Falls (a.k.a. Salmon Creek Falls) is less impressive for its height (35-40 feet) than its width, falling in multiple chutes (or one mega-drop after snowmelt or heavy rains). The waterfall—less than a 20-minute drive from Ithaca, New York—is also notable for its residential setting: it must be a …
Carpenter Falls, Carpenter Falls Unique Area, June 2023 Situated in a gorge just west of Skaneateles Lake, Carpenter Falls tumbles 90 feet in one drop, making this one of the more impressive waterfalls within an hour’s drive from both Syracuse and Ithaca, New York. A wooden boardwalk, which is wheelchair accessible, extends for 1/10 mile …
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Gorge Trail, Chittenango Falls State Park, June 2023 Chittenango Falls—situated roughly 20 miles southeast of Syracuse, New York—tumbles an impressive 167 feet into a limestone gorge and is easily viewed on a short, ½-mile loop hike. The best views are from a pedestrian bridge below the waterfall along the Gorge Trail, the premier walk in …
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Cataract Falls Trail, Marin Municipal Water District, Mount Tamalpais Watershed, April 2023 Described as “very rugged and demanding,” the stair-master challenge that is the Cataract Trail is nonetheless one of the most popular and rewarding hikes in the Bay Area’s Marin County. The well-trodden path follows the rumbling waters of Cataract Creek, which originates on …
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Seven Wonders Loop, Valley of Fire State Park, February 2023 In a hike combining Valley of Fire State Park’s most Instagram-famous spot with the wilder and more adventurous Seven Wonders route, this scenic loop traverses some of the park’s most spectacular scenery, from narrow slot canyons to vibrantly-hued sandstone knobs. The wonderful diversity makes this …
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White Domes Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, February 2023 There is perhaps no other place in the American Southwest where the sandstone erupts in such a range of color—from pastel pink to orange, cream, gold, and deep red—as Valley of Fire State Park in southeast Nevada. As one enters the Las Vegas-area park, the …
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Anniversary Narrows, Muddy Mountains Wilderness, February 2023 Anniversary Narrows is Nevada’s best answer to the challenge laid down by neighboring Utah: give us your best, most picturesque slot canyon. Better yet, extend the slot for more than 1/3 mile, place the trailhead less than an hour’s drive from the state’s largest metropolis (Las Vegas), and …
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