Catch Peak Fall Foliage
Fall Things to Do in Ithaca, NY: Waterfalls, Wine Trails, and Foliage
Fall is the season that makes the list of things to do in Ithaca, NY, worth planning a whole trip around. The hillsides above Cayuga and Seneca Lakes turn gold and red, and the wineries release new vintages as the leaves reach peak color. Spend a few days around Ithaca enjoying waterfalls, wine, and harvest season.
Ithaca Waterfalls Worth the Drive
No list of things to do in Ithaca is complete without its waterfalls. Taughannock Falls, just outside Trumansburg, drops 215 feet in a single plunge, taller than Niagara Falls, and the gorge trail leading to its base is one of the most photographed spots in the Finger Lakes during foliage season.
Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert H. Treman State Park round out the region’s best hikes, each with a series of cascades and swimming holes carved into the gorge walls. Closer to downtown, the Ithaca gorges connect the city directly to the Cornell University campus, cutting through shale and sandstone exposed over hundreds of millions of years. It’s a short walk with one of the most dramatic settings in the region.
Follow the Cayuga and Seneca Wine Trails
Fall is harvest season along the Cayuga Wine Trail and the Seneca Wine Trail. Tasting rooms pour new releases right as the surrounding vineyards change color. Savor flights at a handful of stops; many Finger Lakes tasting rooms offer small bites you can enjoy on a patio with a lake view. Staying centrally located between the two trails means either one is a short drive from your room.
Catch Peak Foliage and Apple Harvest Season
Anyone searching for fall foliage near me in the Finger Lakes can plan for late September through mid-October, when color typically peaks across the hills surrounding Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. This same stretch overlaps with apple harvest season at local orchards offering u-pick access, and the region’s harvest festivals bring cider, baked goods, and local growers into town for the weekend.
Book a Finger Lakes Wine Country Hotel Near Ithaca, NY
The Inn at Gothic Eves sits in the village of Trumansburg, just minutes from Taughannock Falls State Park and centrally located between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Our Finger Lakes Boutique Hotel offers luxury guest suites, an on-site spa, and a farm-fresh breakfast each morning, making it an easy home base for a fall trip built around waterfalls, wine, and foliage. After a morning on the trail, guests can soak in a hot tub or book a massage well before dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to see fall foliage near Ithaca, NY?
Peak color typically arrives in the hills around Cayuga and Seneca Lakes from late September through mid-October, though timing shifts slightly from year to year depending on the weather.
How tall is Taughannock Falls?
Taughannock Falls drops 215 feet in a single plunge, making it taller than Niagara Falls and one of the tallest waterfalls in the eastern United States.
Where can I find the Cayuga and Seneca wine trails?
Both trails run along their namesake lakes in the Finger Lakes region, with dozens of tasting rooms accessible by car within a short drive of Trumansburg and Ithaca.
Is there an apple harvest festival near Ithaca?
Local orchards run u-pick access through the fall, and the region hosts harvest festivals with cider and baked goods, typically held in downtown Ithaca in late September.
A few days built around Ithaca’s waterfalls, wine trails, and fall foliage are easy to plan and even easier to enjoy from a Finger Lakes Wine Country Hotel. Book your stay at the Inn at Gothic Eves today.