The Hike

On Sunday 8th September 2019 we will hike in the Taughannock Falls State Park. 

The Climbers and the Tourists will hike the North and South Rim Trails starting with the North Rim Trail at the Taughannock Falls Visitor Center, crossing the river above the High Falls, and returning on the South Rim Trail to its end near the park entrance. If there’s some energy left they will hike the stream bed to the base of the High Falls. The Naturalists will start at the car park at the park entrance, and walk the stream be to the High Falls.

There is a lovely view of the High Falls from the North Rim Trail, and lots of views of the gorge along the South Rim Trail. There’s a terrific view of the rapids above the High Falls where the North Rim Trail turns over to the South Rim Trail.

This is a VERY easy hike. The trail is mostly broad and lightly surfaced, and there are occasional benches along the route for hikers like us to take in the view. Wherever the path gets steep, such as where the South Rim Trail drops down to the park entrance, there are stone steps. This is a very scenic walk, and is best done slowly with lots of stops to take pictures.

There is a small charge for entrance to the park.

We’ll meet at the Taughannock Falls Visitor Center (pictured left, GPS coordinates 42.5391, -76.6073). The Climbers and Tourists will have shuttled most of their cars to the park entrance parking lot, and will give their remaining car keys to naturalists to take down the hill; the Climbers and Tourists will start their hike at the Visitor Center. The Naturalists will take all of the cars down to the parking lot at the park entrance and hike from the parking lot.

The meeting time is set to be 3:30pm at the Visitor Center. There is a little leeway here that allows for people getting lost, being late, and for organizing the car shuttle and the picnic location.

The social will be a picnic. We can decide at the beginning of the hike where to have it – at the small waterfall near the park entrance or by the lake shore. There are picnic tables in both places, but it is a Sunday and there will be other people around looking for tables too. There will be a small gas barbecue for heating up things. Please bring a dish to pass and whatever you like to drink.

There will be a car pool organized, aiming to leave from the Naples public parking lot on Mill Street at 1:30pm. For those of you who want to drive themselves, here are the directions.

From Springwater, Honoeye and Naples: this route begins Naples. From Springwater and Honoeye, take your favorite route to Naples and pick up the direction on Rt. 21N. Google estimates the trip to be 1 h 44 min (83.9 mi) from Springwater.

Follow Rt. 21N (S Main Street) in Naples until you reach the junction with Rt. 245