Judd Falls, Ithaca, NY Information
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Location / Directions / Maps

Location: On the southern edge of Cornell’s campus; city of Ithaca; town of Ithaca; Tompkins County; Finger Lakes Region; New York.

Maps: Google MapTopographic; Interactive map.

GPS: Judd Falls: (N 42.44280 / W 76.46965)
View from Pine Tree Rd: (N 42.44282 / W 76.46980)
View from Dryden Rd: (N 42.44368 / W 76.46994)
Parking: (N 42.44098 / W 76.47014)

Directions: The closest parking is at the E Ithaca Recreation Way on Maple Rd. It’s best to approach from the west.
Use Google Maps to get you there.

Parking: Roadside parking along Maple Ave. It’s on the shoulder of the eastbound lane. There’s room for about 4 cars. There is a 2 hour limit to parking here.

If this is full, you can risk parking in a private or university lot nearby, but you may get towed.

The next official trail parking is located west off of Hoy Rd at Schoellkopf Field. Or to the east off of Game Farm Rd, between where it crosses Cascadilla Creek and intersects with the E Ithaca Recreation Way (this trail heads a mile west to the falls).

YouTube video

Weather

ITHACA WEATHER

Information / Accessibility / Accommodations

Number of falls: 1 waterfall and a few nearby ledges.

Size/Types: A cascade of about 10 to 12 ft high.

Best time to visit: Year-round.

Flow: Moderate.

Waterway: Cascadilla Creek, a tributary to the Cayuga Inlet, which empties into Cayuga Lake.

Time: You can drive by the falls and catch a quick glimpse, but a better view can be had by walking to it from the E Ithaca Recreation Way. The parking for this is a 5 minute walk from here. If you want to enjoy more of the Recreation Way, set aside an hour and start at the trailhead on Game Farm Rd.

Seasons/Hours: Open all day, all year.

Admission: Free.

Handicap Accessibility: While there is no sidewalk, there is room on the shoulders of Pine Tree Rd and Dryden Rd. Be careful on Dryden as its a pretty busy area.

Pets: No rules are posted, but pets need to be on a leash in public.

Accommodations: The E Ithaca Recreation Way is a 2.5 mile long urban trail. If you need to eat or poop, the closest plaza is south of here at the corner of Pine Tree Rd and Mitchell St.

Cascadilla Creek at Judd Falls

Description

Judd Falls is one of those Ithaca Falls that, while being in a highly developed area, is probably one of the most overlooked waterfalls in the city. It’s nothing special at 12 ft high, spread out across a 30+ feet stretch of Cascadilla Creek. There’s no park surrounding it, no benches, and barely any room between the road and creek to view it from, but it is easy to get to. If you are looking to check all of Ithaca’s waterfalls off your list, this one is a relatively straightforward stop, and the East Ithaca Recreation Way, which used to be the Lackawanna rail line, is definitely worth exploring.

Judd Falls, Ithaca, NY

History

As the Erie Canal was completed, bypassing Ithaca and threatening to leave the city out of the new shipping economy, 1832 saw the onset of rail transportation between Ithaca and Owego, the second rail line in the state at the time. The new line, which had to deal with the hilly terrain, had a lot of horsepower. Literally. The cars were pulled by horses. It wasn’t until 1837 that a steam engine was added and the old route was replaced with one suitable for the new power and named the Cayuga & Susquehanna line. This route was eventually abandoned and became South Hill Recreation Way.

With rail lines serving the west and south of the city, Ezra Cornell sought a line connecting his university on the east hill. The Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad served that area beginning in 1872, with a terminus at the campus, financed by Cornell himself. The engines running up east hill were fitted with special cog wheels to enable them to climb such a steep gradient. That Cornell station was abandoned in 1876 when the terminus was moved to Elmira.  The line was completely abandoned in the 1930s and parts of it have now become the East Ithaca Recreation Way.

Judd Falls is named after Reuben Judd (d. 1856) who owned a woolen mill on the falls from 1832 to 1858. The creek also powered a lead pipe and chair factory.

Judd Falls - Reuben Judd owned a woolen mill here from 1832 to 1858. Other nearby Industry included a lead pip & a chair factory.

Hiking / Walking Trails

Difficulty: Easy.

Markings:  Road signs and markings for the E Ithaca Recreation Way.

Distance: 2/10 mile from the nearest parking area.
1.2 miles if you want to walk down the Game Farm Recreation Way.

Description: From the parking area on Maple Ave: Cross Maple Ave to the paved walkway on the other side (with the brown and yellow sign for the “East Ithaca Recreation Way”).
You will reach a T at Pine Tree Ave. The right goes over the road on a pedestrian bridge. Take the left, which heads through some trees and lets you out by the road.
Head north to the intersection with Dryden Rd. Cross Pine Tree Rd here.
Walk over the bridge to see the falls from upstream.
Walk back to the intersection and take a left onto Pine Tree Ave.
Keep an eye on the creek to your left. There will be a clearing on the left, as you approach the pedestrian bridge. The falls should be viewable from there.

From the parking area on Game Farm Ave: Just north of the lot is the trailhead. Follow that trail for 1.4 miles west. That’s Cascadilla Creek on your left.
The trail will cross over Pine Tree Rd and then there will be a T. Go right to get down to the road.
Head north to the intersection with Dryden Rd. Cross Pine Tree Rd here.
Walk over the bridge to see the falls from upstream.
Walk back to the intersection and take a left onto Pine Tree Ave.
Keep an eye on the creek to your left. There will be a clearing on the left, as you approach the pedestrian bridge. The falls should be viewable from there.

Retrace your steps to get back.

Map: Interactive.

East Ithaca Recreation Way near Judd Falls

Judd Falls Interactive Map

Interesting Stuff

East Ithaca Recreation Way

At 3.5 miles long, East Ithaca Recreation Way is a scenic multi-use trail that extends from the East Ithaca Nature Preserve, north into Cornell University Campus, and then east paralleling upper Cascadilla Creek. As a part of the city’s extensive network of trails, it offers residents and visitors a peaceful and accessible route for outdoor activities such as walking, running, biking, and in some sections, cross-country skiing during the winter months. The trail winds through a variety of landscapes, including residential areas, natural woodlands, and open spaces, providing a tranquil escape within the urban environment.

Judd Falls, Ithaca, NY

Photography Tips

Bring a Wide Angle Lens

  • There isn’t much room between the road and the creek to shoot. To capture the falls in its entirety, plan to shoot 20mm or wider.

Silky Water Effect

  • To get that smooth cotton-candy look to the falls, you need to use a Neutral Density (ND) filter on your lens. The ND filter will block some of the light from entering the lens without altering the color, and thus allows your shutter to stay open longer. This blurs the water and creates a soft white gloss to the foamy areas of the falls.  Check out the article for all of the details.

More tips

  • See the Articles for more photography tips.
Wide angle photograph of Judd Falls in Ithaca, NY
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Who to Contact

Town of Ithaca
607-273-1721

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