The trail also crosses a service road before climbing more. It’s nothing very steep, but it is a gradual climb through the woods and across several footbridges. We opted to turn left and hike clockwise to reach the river overlook first as well as get the harder uphill climbing completed first. Turning right heads towards the Cathedral Cave entrance. The trail has a very short spur at the start and then reaches the loop portion. The trail starts just off to the right of the shower house. Turn right next to the playground and park near the showerhouse. Take the park road that travel past the Spring Lake and head towards the campground.
The start of this trail was a little confusing to find at first. There are some nice river overlook views, but mostly just a pleasant walk in the woods. The trail climbs to bluff heights of 100 feet above the river. An optional connector is available to connect to the Oak Ridge Trail for a longer hike. To complete the hike, retrace your steps back the way you came. This a beautiful walk perfect for all ages and abilities. Near the end of the path as it approaches the campground, towering rock bluffs rise above the path. The concrete pathway continues to run along the Spring Lake. The kids enjoyed playing hide and seek around the walls.
I assume this was something associated with the old mill or an old springhouse. You can also view the blocked off cave entrance at the bluff next to the spring.Ĭontinuing down the path, you will see another side path that leads to the ruins of an old building. There are benches to take a rest and enjoy the view. Viewing the SpringĪfter crossing over the millrace, you can walk down to see the spring and the turquoise blue water of this upper mill pond. The dam and millrace were constructed in 1886 and detain the water from the spring before it flows into Spring Lake. Along the wall it crosses over a waterfall which is actually the old mill raceway. The path runs along the side of the Spring Lake. We started our hike at the Visitor’s Center parking lot. This Trail connects between the Visitor’s Center and the campground. Two short unpaved side paths provide views of the spring and an old structure. Distance: 0.5 mile each way, out and back.We only had time to hike two of the trails at the park, but would love to check out the rest on a return trip. The park also has some really great hiking trails with views of a beautiful spring or rugged bluff overlooks. The caves are not the only attraction here. This cave also has a river flowing through it which makes it even more scenic. Stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, soda straws, cave coral, and many more types of unique formations decorate the cave. I don’t want to spoil the surprises, but there are quite a few fascinating things to see and learn about this cave’s colorful history. You can also learn a lot of interesting history about the area and culture during the tour. The tour travels past interesting geological formations such as the Queen’s Canopy, the Twins, and the Wall of Jericho. (We forgot our jackets and it was definitely chilly!) (We managed to visit the last year that my daughter was free!)Ĭomfortable shoes and a jacket are recommended as the cave is 57 degrees year round. There is a fee of $15 for adults, $9 for kids 6-12, and kids under 6 are free. Tours run seven days a week from April 1 through October 31. Capacity is limited though so it always helps to book in advance if you can. You can make reservations online in advance or book them at the Visitor’s center. The Onondaga Cave Tour departs from the Visitor’s Center. We have only done the Onondaga Cave tour but hope to check out Cathedral Cave one of these days! Onondaga Cave Tour This 2 hour lantern tour involves a 1/3 mile hike to reach the caves entrance. The Onondaga Cave is the most popular and involves about a mile walk on a 75 minute tour. There are actually two caves inside the park that you can tour. The cave tours are a real highlight of visiting the park and a great option on a hot summer day.
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