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Nature Centers in the Finger Lakes

Cayuga Nature Center

1420 Taughannock Blvd. (State Rt. 89)

Ithaca, NY 14850
607-273-6260

Location 

Cayuga Nature Center is located on a hillside overlooking the west side of Cayuga Lake in the Town of Ulysses in Tompkins County. It is 3 mi./4.8 km. southeast of Taughannock Falls State Park and 6 mi./ 9.6 km. northwest of the City of Ithaca.

General

Cayuga Nature Center offers 241 acres of mixed habitat, trails, educational programs, and exhibits.  Besides the main building, there is a butterfly house, a six-story treehouse, a maple sugar shack, and two small ponds. Picnic tables and benches are provided. Open year round. Skiing and snowshoeing permitted in the winter. Summer day camp. No swimming is provided. Dogs are not permitted on the property.

Hiking

The 5 mi./8 km. of trails wind through both field and woods, connecting the various features. The dry woods has huge specimens of native trees. A faltbed creek, one of many that drain from west to east into Cayuga Lake, runs through the woods. There is a small series of falls, called the Denison Falls, which is at its best in the spring or during the rainy season in late summer.

Biking

State Route 89 is part of the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway and is appropriate for touring bike riders who have the strength to make long up-hill climbs.

Wildlife

Although bears seem to be the artistic theme of the center, you probably won't see one. You should be able to see turkeys, deer, a variety of small mammals, and lots of birds, depending on the habitat.

Nearby Places of Interest

Discovery Trail

Hangar Theatre

Taughannock Falls State Park

Updated 7 July 2010