Southern Tier in New York offers a wide range of trails at a different level to choose. Just walking on those trails, looking at the falling red leaves, listening to the flowing creek, feeling the natural smell from the forest, you are in the region full of natural beauty. We have found six trails in the region which will offer great views and enjoyment.
Buttermilk falls
Buttermilk Falls by Jim Liestman
Trail distance: 1.6 miles
Short trail stills bring you to some nice view. You will see a 75 feet height waterfalls, have fun with your family and friends in a pool. Walking around, you will observe the change from the rock formations, feeling the history of the area. This is the typical beautiful Southern Tier view you could get.
Taughannock Falls
Trail distance: 2 to 3 miles
We really want you to hike in this trail, looking at this outstanding view by nature. The park offers two main trails, a 3-mile loop around the rim that takes you above the gorge and waterfall, and another 2 mile out and back trails to see the waterfall up close. Both trails offer beautiful views of the gorge and are easy to complete. This park is the best to go see in the spring when the waterfall is heavy, and in the fall when you can see the leaves changing!
Robert H. Treman State Park
Photos by Liren Chen and Skand Hurkat, is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Trail distance: 0.5 to 3 miles
The park has 5 trails to choose from, ranging in between 0.5 miles to 3 miles. Some of them are easy to complete, some of them will have a lot of steps to climb, be prepared for some workout. You can try different trails to see Lucifer Falls in different angles. All trails inside the park will lead to the gorgeous Lucifer Falls, which attract many tourists to come.
Six-Mile Creek Trail
Photo by TomKNY
Trail distance: 1.4 miles (Interestingly Not six!)
It is always nice to walk along the creek. Ithaca government is actively maintaining the trail as a unique natural area. You will seem many streams, gorges, waterfalls, and a scenic dam. It seems like in the future, it will be connected the North Country National Scenic Trail, with all of the great trails you will find around Ithaca.
Watkins Glen State Park
Photo by Peter Rivera Stamford
Trail distance: 2 miles
Watkins Glen State Park is the most visited of the Finger Lakes State Parks. It is a two-mile trail with a stream that descends 400 feet past 200-feet cliffs. This creates 19 stunning waterfalls to see along your hike. It is a beautiful trail destined to leave you wanting more!
Cayuga Trail
Photo by Jo Zimny
Trail distance: 9.3 miles
If you have a long weekend to spend, you could check out Cayuga Trail with your friends and family! It will be a day trip which will allow you to immerse yourself in nature with beautiful views of the nearby forest and river. This is the perfect trail to bring your pets as well!
We hope this information will help you to find the next trail. Follow Upstate Hikes on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for our daily trail recommendation!
Looking for other trails in New York State? Check out our other trail recommendation: