Trail Alerts // Hunting seasons have opened in parts of Tompkins County.
Wear blaze orange in areas where hunting is allowed. Check for the latest trail alerts before you go. See All Trail Alerts

Cayuga Nature Center

Difficulty // Easy
Activities // Hiking, Bicycling, Snowshoeing, Cross-country Skiing, Running
Distance // 0.5 miles
Features // Waterfalls & Gorges, Unique wildlife viewing, Picnicking allowed, Restrooms available, Bus Stop Nearby
Route Type // Out and Back
Estimated hiking time // 10 mins
Open year-round.
Hunting not allowed.
Surface types // Gravel / Stone Dust
Trail markers // none

This is primarily a connector trail, between the Cayuga Nature Center and its network of trails, and the Black Diamond Trail. It leads to Treetops and a picnicking area.

White hiking boot on a brown circular background, symbolizing hiking or walking trails.
Hiking
White standard bicycle on a light blue circular background, denoting cycling or bike trails.
Biking
White electric bicycle with a lightning bolt above it on a green circular background, representing e-bike use.
e-Biking
White outline of a horseshoe centered on a gold circular background, symbolizing horseback riding.
Horse
White icon of a person running with motion lines on a dark blue circular background, symbolizing physical activity or trail use.
running
White icon of a kayak with a double-bladed paddle on a brown circular background, representing paddling or kayaking.
Paddling
White crossed skis and ski poles on a light blue circular background, indicating winter sports or skiing.
Skiing
White outline of two crisscrossed snowshoes on a green circular background, representing snowshoeing activity.
Snowshoe
Distance // 0 Miles
Difficulty // Easy
    View Map

    Parking Locations

    Cayuga Nature Center
    Get Directions

    Bus Stops

    • Cayuga Nature Center (Summer only) - Get Directions

      Summer only: TCAT Route 22. Walk up the driveway 150 ft. Trail on left, from lower parking lot, leads to main building and access to other CNC trails

    Cayuga Nature Center
    Get Directions

    • Cayuga Nature Center (Summer only) - Get Directions

      Summer only: TCAT Route 22. Walk up the driveway 150 ft. Trail on left, from lower parking lot, leads to main building and access to other CNC trails

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    Current Trail Alerts

    Roy H. Park Preserve

    • The north entrance to the Roy H. Park Preserve and the boardwalk will be closed to the public from Monday, July 7, through September 2025 as work is underway to install an ADA-accessible path. The south entrance will remain open during this time. Thank you for your patience.

    Fall Creek Gorge Natural Area

    • The section of trail in Fall Creek Gorge west of the suspension bridge to Chi Psi is unstable and closed until further notice.

    Cascadilla Gorge Natural Area

    • A portion of the Cascadilla Gorge Trail between Stewart Avenue and College Avenue will be closed until mid- to late-October 2025. The trail between Linn Street (Treman Triangle) up to the Stewart Avenue Bridge is now open.

    Beebe Lake Natural Area

    • Hemlock Gorge trail upstream of Sackett Bridge is closed.

    Black Diamond Trail

    • Starting September 2, 2025 park staff will be performing trail maintenance on the Black Diamond Trail between Perry City Road and Garrett Road. Sections of the trail will be intermittently closed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday. Please use alternate routes during that time. The work is expected to last several weeks.