Don’t go chasing waterfalls? We say chase away with a new challenge in Upstate New York bringing people some of the 150 gobsmacking cascades Ithaca has to offer.
Launched by Visit Ithaca, part of the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau, their Waterfalls Challenge lists 22 well-known and hidden gems around the area.
The challenge completely free to participate in, though some state park fees may apply. The challenge is also completely done through your mobile phone. Once you register for the Waterfalls Challenge, you will get a link delivered to you via email or text message. This will open to the mobile site where you will see the 22 spots you can check-in to, complete with map location and a little bit of information about each waterfall.
The list will take you to popular spots like Buttermilk Falls and Taughannock, but also includes some you may not have heard of like Wells Falls and Denison Falls.
As if the chance to check out these perfect plunges wasn’t enough, the Waterfalls Challenge also rewards participants for reaching certain benchmarks. Check in at 10 locations and you will receive a water bottle. Once you reach 18 check-ins, participants will be awarded a beanie-style hat. All prizes are while supplies last.
You don’t have to wait for warmer weather to start this challenge. Head to see the rushing waters of spring, sparkles of sunlight in summer, the colorful mosaic of changing leaves in the fall, and dramatic views of winter. All of these waterfalls and trails are worth a visit any time of year.
According to Visit Ithaca, Debby Tulino, an Ohio resident who the Finger Lakes for her fourth year in 2021, was the first person to complete the Waterfalls Challenge.
“We’ve found that Ithaca is a good base camp providing plenty to do that we try to stay a week each year,” Tulino said. “The challenge pass is something new for us as it expanded our hiking options and introduced us to new areas, like the bike/hike trails and Sapsucker Woods.”
For more information and to register for the challenge, head to the Visit Ithaca website.
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