Cayuga Nature Center, Ithaca

About Cayuga Nature Center

Cayuga Nature Center occupies 100 acres of woodland and meadow overlooking Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, New York. Visitors hike more than five miles of trails through forests and fields, passing streams, ponds, waterfalls, and a gorge. TreeTops, a six-story treehouse, offers views of the forest canopy from an elevated perspective. The historic lodge, built by the Works Progress Administration in 1939, houses the largest public aquarium in the Finger Lakes region, displaying fish species from Cayuga Lake's past and present. Indoor exhibits explore local forest ecology, wildlife, and climate. Environmental and animal education programs run throughout the year, including free public offerings. The Black Diamond Trail connects the center to nearby Taughannock Falls and the Museum of the Earth. The trails and treehouse are open daily from dawn to dusk.