An autumn walk at Edwards Lake Cliffs

My family and I love finding new places to hike in the Ithaca area. We especially love walking the creeks and gorges. Taughannock Falls is probably the best known around here, the tallest free falling waterfall east of the Mississippi.

We spent our entire summer at Taughannock when I was a kid. Mom was a teacher. She'd bring along her canvas tote from L.L.Bean's, full of notebooks and teacher stuff, and work sitting in the sun, while my brother and I spent the day in the water of the swimming area. My most treasured memories from that time are the walks we took up the gorge trail at Taughannock. What a magical place to be, wandering the creek, splashing through the shallow water, and watching the vultures glide and then land in their cliff side nests.

Walk far enough and you'll finally stand in the spray of Taughannock Falls, gazing up and around the gorge, marveling at the tremendous force of water that created such a beautiful spot. One winter day, we took a picnic, and climbed part way up the ice at the base of that waterfall. Another time, we looked up and saw three young people sitting at the very top swinging their legs, 215 feet up.

I know those memories are why I so loved the house that my husband and I moved into after we married, on Salmon Creek in Ludlowville. It was old, built in 1864, with the original windows and wide plank boards. Always, we could hear the rush of water in Salmon Creek as it spilled over Ludlowville Falls, several streets away.

When our first child was born, I'd walk to the creek with him, drinking in the freshness, the sound of the water, and thinking to myself, "This is the perfect place to raise children." Many, many times during the seventeen years we lived there, I'd be at the creek with all of the children, my own, and the ones that I babysat, crawling over rocks, and splashing through the water while carrying a baby in a front pack or backpack.

We live in Dryden now, and I admit, I was homesick for the sound of water for a long time. We couldn't hear the water from our house anymore, but did discover Dryden Lake, the Jim Schug Trail, and the Roy H. Park Preserve, all lovely places to hike. 

And then, this summer, we discovered a real gem of a place, tucked away on Smugglers Path in Lansing; the Edwards Lake Cliff Preserve. The Preserve protects one of the rarest environments in this region, the lake cliffs, and contains a breathtaking waterfall (Pocket Falls). 

My daughter's gone several times in the last few weeks, with my husband and with myself. The creek doesn't have much water at this time of the year, but is full of leaves. On our last trip we heard blue jays, nuthatches and chickadees, found pieces of an old car or tractor, discovered a wreath of artificial flowers hung from a tree, and uncovered salamanders. Grace took me farther than I'd gone yet, and it was just wonderful to share that precious time together.

I think what makes me the happiest is knowing that my kids have a connection and a love for these beautiful places too. We visit them for peace, for perspective, for wonder. And come away more content, and better for it.