Cayuga Waterfront Trail, Ithaca

The Cayuga Waterfront Trail is an 8 mile, ADA compliant multi-use trail providing an active, non-motorized transportation and recreation way connecting our community's most popular waterfront destinations along the southern shore of Cayuga Lake. The wide, flat trail connects East Shore Drive, the Ithaca Youth Bureau, Stewart Park, Newman Golf Course, Ithaca Farmers Market, Ithaca College and Cornell University Boathouses, West End/Inlet Island area, Allan Treman State Marine Park, Ithaca Dog Park, Hangar Theatre, Cass Park, The Ithaca Children's Garden and the Black Diamond Trail. Amenities along the trail include interpretive signage, benches, restrooms and dog care stations in Stewart Park and Cass Park, a fitness station and maps at the 5 trailheads. Nearly all of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail is 10-12 feet wide and paved, with the exception of a few stonedust side paths and a few narrow bridges.

The Waterfront Trail is paved, flat, and accessible, designed with your safety and enjoyment in mind. Trailside benches, bicycle racks, and wayfinding and interpretive signs allow you to explore or linger around any turn. We are also a Pollinator Pathway, providing a public and private pesticide-free corridors of native plants that provide nutrition and habitat for pollinating insects and birds. Whether you walk, run, bike, or skate, the CWT provide an escape sidewalks and intersections, inviting you to better enjoy Ithaca’s waterfront.

Whether you walk a mile or run the full, 16-mile round trip, the Cayuga Waterfront Trail (CWT) is a great way to experience all that Ithaca’s Cayuga Lake waterfront has to offer. Benches, scenic overlooks, interpretive signs, and trailheads with decorative paving and kiosks help make the CWT a special place to relax or exercise, all while enjoying Ithaca’s beautiful waterways. The paved CWT is a safe and accessible eight-mile, multi-use trail connecting Stewart Park to the Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, linking many popular waterfront destinations along the way. Other stops on the trail include the Ithaca Youth Bureau, Newman Golf Course, the Ithaca Farmers Market, Cornell University and Ithaca College Boathouses, and Cass Park. The CWT also connects to the Black Diamond Trail near the Ithaca Children’s Garden, providing an additional 8-miles of rail trail along the west side of Cayuga Lake and ending at Upper Taughannock Falls State Park.

The trail is a 10' wide hard surface dotted with benches, scenic views, and interpretive signage. The trail is a special place to relax, exercise, and enjoy the beautiful waterfront in Ithaca. Great trail for the winter months as well. Connect from Cass Park to the Farmer's Market, and on to Stewart Park for great waterfront views all along the way. This is a project of the City of Ithaca & the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. 5.5-mile, multi-use trail providing an active, non-motorized transportation and recreation way connecting our community's most popular waterfront destinations.

Explore this 3.7-km loop trail near Ithaca, New York. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 39 min to complete. This is a popular trail for road biking, running, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The best times to visit this trail are March through September. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. ***PH***