Robert H Treman State Park has been on my radar for a very long time. I haven’t been tenting a lot recently however again once I was — spending weekends at North Lake or Little Pond within the Catskills — one in all my clients, Chuck, instructed Robert H Treman.
Chuck liked the Ithaca space usually and Robert H Treman State Park particularly. He repeatedly described how stunning the gorge was and swimming below the waterfalls. He painted an idyllic image, actually went for the arduous promote. I put it on my checklist fifteen years in the past however by some means by no means acquired there. Seashore holidays, street journeys and native staycations all the time gained out.
What lastly acquired me to Robert H Treman State Park was my son, recognized to NYSB readers as Dangerboy. He wished to go to a school close by and my spouse wished me to drive him there. I acquired him up a lot sooner than he’s accustomed to; he showered and went proper again to sleep within the passenger seat of the minivan. We acquired on the street simply after 6 AM. After I acquired him the place he wanted to be and confirmed he was set for the day, I headed out for my very own little exploration.
I drove by the gate of the park late morning. There’s an entrance/parking price however they settle for the Empire Cross so no extra price for me. Robert H Treman has entrances, amenities and parking at each the underside and prime of the lengthy gorge it’s constructed round. I selected the decrease lot the place there may be additionally a campground and swimming space.
After a fast go searching to get my bearings, try the decrease falls — the place the swimming gap is situated — I caught some snacks in my hydration pack and headed up the Gorge Path. I decided from my analysis that there weren’t going to be any navigational challenges right here so my solely map was the paper they hand out on the gate.
My analysis consisted of trying on the NY State web site and Wikipedia. I discovered that it’s a type of upstate locations the place folks have been recreating for therefore lengthy and in such nice numbers that the paths are all closely engineered and security proofed. I noticed a reference to trails that have been constructed within the space within the Eighteen Nineties and have been in disrepair by 1914 when Robert H Treman determined to purchase the land and rehabilitate the infrastructure there.
I discovered that Treman was a type of native benefactors you discover behind plenty of America’s preserved pure spaces- kind of a mini Averil Harriman for Central New York. He attended close by Cornell College, made his fortune in banking and went on to be the primary state parks commissioner for the Finger Lakes area.
He gifted the land to the state in 1920- it was referred to as Enfield Falls Reservation till Treman died in 1937. He additionally purchased and ultimately donated the land which might turn into Buttermilk Falls and Taugannock Falls State Parks close by.
So it’s not a map and compass, “look out for the herd path” type of journey. There are gates on the tops and bottoms of the designated trails, numerous steps and stonework to forestall erosion, chain hyperlink fences to maintain folks from falling off cliff edges and tons of signage to let folks know what hazards to look out for, how far they should go to every trailhead and issues like that.
It isn’t a simple stroll both. There are many steep ups and downs. Any person who was out of form might get themselves into bother right here. The work is rewarded by views of Enfield Creek cascading over rocks down beneath. Right here and there the path is low sufficient and near the stream that numerous folks ignore the rule towards swimming outdoors of the designated space on the decrease falls. It’s an idyllic scene for positive.
The large payoff at Robert H Treman is Lucifer Falls, a 115-foot cascading waterfall that’s about 3/4 of the way in which up the gorge. It’s a spectacular sight. The part of path above Lucifer Falls is fairly straightforward in contrast to what’s beneath. There are extra small falls and working water to have a look at as you proceed as much as the park’s different parking and picnic space. I discovered an excellent crowd of individuals right here, simply milling round. They appeared to be from organized teams.
I ducked right into a constructing and located the stays of an outdated gristmill and a few informative signage explaining how the equipment labored. Great things.
I discovered the doorway to the Rim Path for my return journey and began again. After a brief uphill, the Rim Path is usually downhill going on this course. There are some lengthy stone stairways constructed into cliffs alongside the higher part, offering some spectacular views, each of the forest beneath and of Lucifer Falls on the opposite aspect of the gorge.
The Rim Path tracks just a little additional away from Enfield Creek than the Gorge Path did. It’s acquired just a little bit extra of a typical stroll within the woods vibe however nonetheless very nice. On the backside, the Rim Path deposits you in the course of a campground. I picked my approach although the RVs and rental cabins to search out the street and bridge again to the car parking zone the place I ditched my sweaty shirt, grabbed a towel and headed for the swimming gap for a dip. It was a sizzling day and the cool water felt good.
The place had crammed up significantly. Each the swimming space and the car parking zone have been packed full. My spherical journey ought to have been about 4.5 miles or so however Strava stated it was 6 miles with 866 toes of elevation acquire. There have been bits or strolling round originally and finish of my stroll which weren’t a part of both designated path but it surely didn’t really feel like an additional mile and a half to me. I do surprise if the mis-measurement was with Strava or the State Parks division.
It was nonetheless simply early afternoon by the point I used to be achieved with Robert H Treman State Park so I headed into Ithaca to search for a spot to launch the kayak which had been patiently awaiting my consideration atop my minivan all morning. I hadn’t actually deliberate out this portion of the journey. Looking “boat launch Cayuga Lake” and “boat launch Ithaca, NY” was surprisingly unhelpful so I opened up a map on my cellphone and began simply scrolling across the southern shoreline of Cayuga Lake. Earlier than lengthy I noticed Allan H Treman State Marine Park situated on just a little inlet alongside it’s southwest shore. Kismet. I’d later determine that Allan was one in all Robert’s sons. I suppose the Apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree. I pulled up driving instructions and headed that approach.
My Empire Cross labored at Allan H simply because it did at Robert H so it didn’t even price me any extra cash to get entry to the park’s big eight lane concrete boat ramp. Getting my kayak down and my gear located took no time in any respect and I used to be on my approach. I paddled to the left previous a marina that was a part of the park and exited the inlet onto Cayuga Lake correct. The water stretched away to the horizon to the north with homes seen alongside the shore to the west. I might see a marsh and Ithaca itself to the east alongside Cayuga’s southern edge so I headed that solution to discover.
It was typical upstate lakefront. There have been birds hanging out within the marshy areas, a waterside park and some companies in Ithaca itself. On the far aspect I turned north and headed up the jap shore which was populated by lakeside homes and cottages. I got here throughout a marina and yacht membership, just a little seashore space. There have been children swimming and hanging out on paddle boards, just a few little sailboats additional out. The water and winds have been exceptionally calm, which might usually be nice but it surely was sizzling and just a little wind would have been welcome. As I paddled the warmth turned extra bothersome so I steered out into the center of the lake searching for the breeze that was filling the sails of the 2 little boats I might see jibbing backwards and forwards on the market.
I did ultimately discover just a little little bit of wind on the market. I sat for some time to drink some water and moist my hat within the lake. The moist hat trick all the time works. When it was time to go again I continued to paddle out within the center to remain within the path of the wind but it surely was so gentle that my southward course of cancelled it out completely. I ended just a few extra occasions to moist my hat.
I believe I did about 4 miles on Cayuga Lake. It was an excellent higher physique exercise to go along with the morning’s leg train. It was a fast journey, nothing large, however I’m glad I lastly acquired to Central New York through the summer time. Ithaca and the Finger Lakes are fairly cool.
