Chittenango Falls State Park (May 2021)

The park is located near Cazenovia, a quaint town in Central NY a bit east of Syracuse. The falls is apparently falling over a structure sculpted since the glacial age and it can be seen by the layers of rocks behind and around the falls. From the parking area, the access to falls is from the top with trails leading to the bottom of the falls where a man-made bridge crosses the Chittenango creek flowing north to the Oneida Lake. 

It is a short hike down to the bridge and along the way the rich flora was a treat to the eyes, especially in the spring. There were information boards in the trail indicating some of the unique/endangered species that can be found only in this park in the entire world. One of them is a type of snail called ovate amber snail which is endangered mainly due to the human activity – just by walking around the area, humans have stepped on these snails and has driven it to almost extinction. NYS DEC is taking efforts to protect this species and staying on the trails is one great help that the visitors can offer. Another species is from the plant kingdom and is a type of fern that is also unique to this area. 

At the bottom of the trial, we can get the full view of the falls. Rather than one big fall, the water flows through different levels in different spots giving it the ultimate picturesque view for any camera. It was a partly cloudy day and the hide-and-seek that the sun was playing provided for a number of views of the falls, just from one viewing point! The luscious greenery in the spring around the falls provided for a blissful experience that can last long in the memory after leaving the area.

On the way back, we stopped by the Lakeland Park Pier located on the shore of the Cazeonovia Lake. It was a beautiful picnic spot and hardly anyone was there, being a weekday it was.