Minolta Maxxum 5Minolta Maxxum 5, AF 24mm f/2.8 I am not sure how but Ithaca, NY somehow escaped our visit for almost three decades of living in Western New York. At least part of the problem was me being confused and thinking we did visit, even if a long time ago. I must have mixed it up with a trip that we explored waterfalls around Watkins Glen on. Either way, for one of the Fun Fall Fridays in 2026 Ithaca was penciled in for and the trip happened.

And it was a wonderful trip! It turned out to be a beautiful warm sunny Friday and walking around Fall Creek, the Cornell University Campus, and later the village of Ithaca and the Cascadilla Creek was a blast. No problems getting enough steps for the day on days like this!

I love black and white photography for several reasons but for fall foliage it really is not ideal. Therefore, Minolta Maxxum 5 loaded with Kodak Colorplus 200 joined me on this trip. Yes, I still have a frozen stash of that version of the film that can now also be purchased under the Kodacolor  200 branding.

And while I was really happy with the beautiful fall day for walking, sunny days create photographic challenges with too much contrast between deep shadows and bright sunlit areas. For deep gorges and waterfalls a cloudy day often works better but one can't win it all. Maybe another visit on a partially cloudy day? We'll see

Forest Falls, Fall CreekIthaca, NY in the Fall

Forest Falls, Fall Creek, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Ithaca, New York, is uniquely situated at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake in the scenic Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. New York's surveyor general, Simeon DeWitt, mapped the area in the late 18th century and named it Ithaca after the ancient Greek island in Homer’s Odyssey. As of recent estimates, Ithaca has a population of 33,600 residents. Its growth was accelerated by the founding of Cornell University in 1865 and Ithaca College in 1892.

Horseshoe Falls, Fall Creek, Ithaca, NYIthaca, NY in the Fall

Horseshoe Falls, Fall Creek, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

During the last Ice Age, massive continental glaciers carved deep, U-shaped valleys into ancient river beds. When these glaciers melted roughly 12,000 years ago, debris dammed the valleys, filling them with water to create the Finger Lakes we know today. Because the main valleys were carved much deeper than their smaller side tributaries, it left shallower streams suspended high above the lakes as hanging valleys. Water plunging over the steep cliffs eroded the soft sedimentary bedrock over millennia. This dramatic geological process carved the iconic, deep gorges and waterfalls found throughout the region today.

Suspension Bridge over Fall CreekIthaca, NY in the Fall

Suspension Bridge over Fall Creek, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

The first part of our walk explored the cliffs and waterfalls on Fall Creek as we gradually made our way to the Cornell University Campus. From there, something of a second part took us around the small but beautiful Beebe Lake, and eventually back to our starting point. The last part took us through the village to the Cascadilla Creek and along its banks. Unfortunately, there was a closure at the end of the creek trail, and we had to return the same way we came. But who'd complain about another chance to see the beautiful creek?

Living by Fall CreekIthaca, NY in the Fall

Living by Fall Creek, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

The Fall Creek Suspension Bridge on the Cornell University campus is one of Ithaca's most iconic and pedestrian crossings. The bridge is 270 feet long and is suspended 140 feet above the waters of Fall Creek. While the current steel structure was erected in 1960, a pedestrian suspension bridge has existed at this exact location since 1913. It is engineered to have a noticeable sway and bounce under foot traffic, giving pedestrians an exhilarating, elastic sensation. In the 2010s, Cornell added a stainless-steel cable net barrier that wraps underneath and around the bridge truss to improve safety without blocking the scenic views. Local student lore dictates that if someone refuses a kiss while walking across the bridge at midnight, the entire structure will collapse into the gorge (that and other myths).

Beebe LakeIthaca, NY in the Fall

Beebe Lake, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Beebe Lake is a scenic reservoir located directly on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY. It was originally created in 1838 by damming Fall Creek to provide water power for local mills. Over time, it evolved from an industrial pond into a popular campus recreation hub for ice skating, boating, and walking. A one-mile trail loops around the lake offering a short walk through the surrounding woods. A popular student legend claims that walking around the lake with a partner means you are destined to marry them.

Canoes by Trail, Beebe LakeIthaca, NY in the Fall

Canoes by Trail, Beebe Lake, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Above Sackett Foot BridgeIthaca, NY in the Fall

Above Sackett Foot Bridge, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

The historic Sackett Foot Bridge is an iconic stone arch structure located at the eastern head of Beebe Lake. Funded by Colonel Henry Woodward Sackett, it spans a gorge over waters that historically served as a student swimming hole. Today, it stands as one of the most photographed landmarks on the Cornell campus, especially during autumn.

Lover's Falls, Fall CreekIthaca, NY in the Fall

Lover's Falls, Fall Creek, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Beebe Lake below Sackett Foot BridgeIthaca, NY in the Fall

Beebe Lake below Sackett Foot Bridge, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Fall at Ithaca Falls, Fall in Ithaca, NYFall in Ithaca, NY

Fall at Ithaca Falls, Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Fall in Ithaca, NYFall in Ithaca, NY

Fall in Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

OctopusFall in Ithaca, NY

Octopus, Fall in Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Fall Leaves at Cascadilla CreekFall in Ithaca, NY

Fall Leaves at Cascadilla Creek, Fall in Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Cascades of Cascadilla CreekFall in Ithaca, NY

Cascades of Cascadilla Creek, Fall in Ithaca, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Sunset over Cascadilla CreekFall in Ithaca, New York

Sunset over Cascadilla Creek, Fall in Ithaca, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 5 on Kodak Colorplus 200 Color Negative Film

Thanks for joining me on this fall daytrip and until the next one!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around.

The Lost Mossy Well HouseChestnut Ridge Park in the Fall Bridge across Bubbly WatersChestnut Ridge Park in the Fall Old Stone Well HouseChestnut Ridge Park in the Fall

Mighty Old TreeLetchworth State Park in the Fall Covered Bridge Covered with ColorsAllegany State Park in the Fall