Saturday, May 9
Spur trail from upper Lick Brook/Townline Road to upper Buttermilk Falls SP/Yaple Road
Hike report by Leigh Ann
Nine hikers showed up for this rainy, muddy hike east from Townline Road through the Thayer Preserve, over West King Rd., and on the Buttermilk Spur into Buttermilk Falls Park. I think every year for the past few years we’ve done this hike at about this time in May and found the Buttermilk Spur unremittingly wet and slippery with mud, to the point that we always decide to do a road walk back to King on Comfort Rd. From there, the trails are fine.
I chose to do this hike at this time because I forgot. My hope is that next year, I’ll remember to put this hike a little later in May or in early June when the trail might be a little dryer.
Spirits were high, all things considering, and we certainly felt like we were tough for making it through this hike. Aside from the mud, it was nice, in a soggy, gooey, mid-spring way.
Sunday, May 10
Mundy Wildflower Gardens (Forest Home) to Beebe Lake Loop, Ithaca
Hike report by Margaret
On May 10th, 2026, 23 hikers and 1 dog met at the Mundy Wildflower Gardens parking lot (hike 4.4. at hike #4 – Forest Home Hikes – ithacahikers). New hiker Sharon joined the group with her dog Muni. The morning was overcast and Fall Creek was burbling as the hikers headed into the Mundy Wildflower Gardens. The group was treated to a wide array of early spring blooms including jack-in-the-pulpit, multiple types of trilliums, and many more. The group climbed the steps out of the wildflower gardens and crossed Judd Falls Rd. to enter the Cornell Botanic Gardens Nevin Welcome center area(Cornell Botanic Gardens | Cornell Botanic Gardens) and enjoy the lilacs, tulips, azaleas and others there. The group continued across Forest Home Dr. and made a counter-clockwise loop around Beebe Lake where a few goose families were celebrating Mother’s Day with their goslings. The sun came out as Margaret F. led the group into the Cornell Campus to visit the Polyform (PolyForm — Jenny Sabin Studio) sculpture and peak into pocket gardens along Tower Rd. To complete the hike, the group circled back towards the Nevin Welcome Center and back into the Mundy Wildflower Garden. Signs of spring were everywhere on the hike. Margaret F. plans to lead this hike again in the summer when everything is in full bloom.
