Cornell Botanic Gardens 550-acre Monkey Run Natural Area is a very popular hiking destination and is part of a long natural corridor protecting Fall Creek on its route to Cayuga Lake. Trails here, which connect with the Cayuga Trail, follow the creek from the rims of forested banks and at creek level through rich floodplain forest, seeps, and wet meadows. Breathtaking views are afforded from atop 100-foot bluffs, which are continually eroded by a meandering Fall Creek below.
Portions of this trail system are also included in the Cayuga Trail system.
Cayuga Trail
Get Directions
Monkey Run Trail
Get Directions
Enter Apts parking lot, follow sidewalk of left (west) building; descend steps between buildings to the Dryden Rail Trail. To reach the Cayuga Trail, turn left, walk 300 feet – trailhead is on far right of wide cleared area.
Go northwest on Freese Rd 600 ft to bridge. Trailhead for Cayuga Trail going east into Monkey Run is just before bridge.
Go north on Monkey Run Rd 1000 ft to parking area and trailheads for Cayuga Trail east and west.
Go 1/4 mile south on Hanshaw Rd to trailhead at parking area.
Cayuga Trail
Get Directions
Monkey Run Trail
Get Directions
Enter Apts parking lot, follow sidewalk of left (west) building; descend steps between buildings to the Dryden Rail Trail. To reach the Cayuga Trail, turn left, walk 300 feet – trailhead is on far right of wide cleared area.
Go northwest on Freese Rd 600 ft to bridge. Trailhead for Cayuga Trail going east into Monkey Run is just before bridge.
Go north on Monkey Run Rd 1000 ft to parking area and trailheads for Cayuga Trail east and west.
Go 1/4 mile south on Hanshaw Rd to trailhead at parking area.
