A Cornell Student’s Guide to Staying Active Year-Round: Spring Edition

“The science is really clear that spending time in nature benefits your mind and body,” Catherine Thrasher-Carroll, Mental Health Promotion Program Director, Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell Health, reminds us. Students are served well by making time to get outside.

The surrounding area – and campus – is rife with opportunities to get outdoors all year long, but in the spring warmer weather comes around and new activities tlike hiking, running, camping, fishing, and water sports come into view.,. We spoke with some Cornell students to get their take on the best ways to enjoy the outdoors this spring.

Get Outdoors

Looking for a hike of moderate intensity? Taughannock Falls and Hammond Hill State Forest are great options according to Joanne Hong Wang ’24 and Arryn Kenna Owens ’24, Cornell Outdoor Education instructors, as well as members of the Cornell Running Club and Cross-Country Club, respectively. Two additional options: The Cliffs of Varna and Black Diamond Trail. Monkey Run has trails for all people of skillsets. Hadi AlZayer ’20 MS ’22, of the Cornell Outing Club, recommends Lake Brook Falls, which, he says, is pretty all year round.

The trails on the eastern edge of Beebe Lake, along the gorge, and Cascadilla Creek are favorite places to hike for Rob Cook, Program Coordinator, Phillips Outdoor Program Center. The list of places to hike in the area is extensive, and Rob suggests that the Ithaca Trails website is a good source of ideas for hiking, and all types of outdoor activity.

The Arboretum trails – part of the Cornell Botanic Gardens – are   accessible from campus and perfect for someone new to hiking -- or running. Joanne encourages students interested in running to try her favorite running route (pictured right). It is fondly dubbed “Joanne’s Route” by her Cornell Running Club teammates. Fearful of getting lost, Joanne ran this route daily her first year at Cornell. Now that she’s introduced it to the Cornell Running Club, it’s a team favorite. “We finish the run on Forest Home Drive, and it is by far my favorite street in Ithaca. It’s beautiful in all seasons. Super green in the summer and early fall, and then in the fall it becomes this canopy of colorful leaves, and in the winter, it’s right next to the water and there’s snow all around you. It’s the perfect way to end that run.” Joanne is quick to clarify that the 8-mile run can be shortened by taking different variations of the adjoining paths and roads. Cornell Running Club helpfully has a list of local runs on their site – of all lengths. 

Hadi enjoys camping and emphasizes that it’s possible to do so even if you do not have a car on campus. “I went backpacking from my apartment to the Finger Lakes Trail. I spent a night there. The nearest point of Finger Lakes Trail is Buttermilk Falls, which is like a 2-mile walk.” The Finger Lakes National Forest offers great options for those who love to camp, and for students looking to camp with a larger community, the Cornell Outing Club runs trips near and far.

Toby Lidov ’23, of the Cornell Outing Club, tells us that his favorite outdoor activity is fishing. He suggests Jennings Pond in Danby, or Ithaca Falls right next to campus. Cayuga Lake is a wonderful place to fish, either from shore or by boat, he says. For students who are looking to paddle, Beebe Lake and Cayuga Lake are good options, once it’s warm enough.Students who need equipment should visit Cornell Outdoor Education’s Outfitting Center for rentals.

Stay active indoors 

For those looking to stay indoors or seeking a rainy day option, try Cornell’s Lindseth Climbing Center and Lynah Rink. Arryn climbs, in part, because it’s fun and social. The community is amazing, she says, and she’s met some of her closest friends at Lindseth. Though rock climbing often requires a partner to belay, the auto-belay machines make it possible for students to climb on their own. Bouldering, is another option for those seeking to climb on their own, and also perfect for students who have never climbed before, but want to give it a try. Single course sessions to learn climbing skills are available. Passes are sold on the spot or in advance online. Plan your visit! Visit this page for Lynah Rink’s public skating hours. 

Springtime is a beautiful time of year in Ithaca and around New York. Take advantage of the wonderful weather and experience the benefits that spending time in nature can have on overall mental health and wellbeing by getting outside and staying active all year.