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Cornell Botanic Gardens

Difficulty // Moderate
Activities // Hiking
Distance // 1.4 miles
Features // Scenic vistas, Unique wildlife viewing, Picnicking allowed, Restrooms available, Dog-friendly (on leash)
Route Type // Loop
Estimated hiking time // 28 mins
Open year-round.
Hunting not allowed.
Surface types // Earth, Gravel / Stone Dust
Trail markers // orange blaze, none

At Cornell Botanic Gardens, specialty gardens surround the Nevin Welcome Center that showcase plants from around the world. Eleven gardens feature herbs, flowers, vegetables, rhododendrons, perennials, ornamental grasses, groundcovers, conifers, container gardens and plants with winter interest. Over 16,000 plants, trees and shrubs here are labeled and detailed records are kept for research, education and enjoyment. An audio tour is available for each garden. The Nevin Welcome Center offers restrooms, visitor information and a gift shop. Trails here connect with the Cayuga Trail, and trails to Cornell Botanic Gardens’ Mundy Wildflower Garden, Beebe Lake, the F. R. Newman Arboretum and Cornell Campus.

Portions of this trail system are also included in the Cayuga Trail system.

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

    Parking Locations

    Cornell Plantations Botanical Garden Paths
    Get Directions

    Bus Stops

    • Dairy Bar - Get Directions

      On north side of Tower Rd, a short path leads to trail going downslope NE to the Nevins Welcome Center.

    Cornell Plantations Botanical Garden Paths
    Get Directions

    • Dairy Bar - Get Directions

      On north side of Tower Rd, a short path leads to trail going downslope NE to the Nevins Welcome Center.

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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 from June 10, 2025 to early September 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.