Features // Lakes visible, Scenic vistas, Dog-friendly (on leash)
Route Type // Out and Back
Estimated hiking time // 36 mins
Open year-round.
Hunting not allowed.
Surface types // Earth
Trail markers // white, red, yellow, blue
High above the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake, the Sims-Jennings Preserve at Cayuga Cliffs protects a mosaic of meadows, woodlands, gorges, waterfalls, and panoramic lake views. Nearly two miles of interconnected hiking trails guide visitors through the various habitats, past cascading waterfalls and multiple creeks, with stopping points. With over 4,000 feet of wooded bluffs above the lake, the preserve also provides outstanding stopover habitat for myriad migrating songbird species. This diverse conservation area, owned by the Finger Lakes Land Trust, is located directly across from Taughannock Falls State Park, safeguards an important viewshed for the region, and helps protect Cayuga Lake’s water quality.
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.
A portion of the Cascadilla Gorge Trail between Stewart Avenue and College Avenue will be closed from June 10, 2025 to early September 2025. The trail between Linn Street (Treman Triangle) up to the Stewart Avenue Bridge is now open.
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.
