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Sweedler and Thayer Preserves at Lick Brook
Lick Brook, Beyond a Waterfall Checklist
Discover
The Sweedler and Thayer Preserves at Lick Brook bring a wooded hillside and a waterfall-bearing stream into the same Ithaca-area outing. Managed by the Finger Lakes Land Trust, the preserves sit beside Cornell University’s Lick Brook Natural Area. Several names appear on maps because this landscape has more than one protected property and steward. Treat the connected area as a place to understand before walking, rather than assuming that each name marks a separate waterfall attraction with identical access.
Lick Brook is the organizing feature. The stream and its falls draw attention to a hillside shaped by glacial history, while the surrounding forest supplies much of the experience between viewpoints. Begin by considering the relationship between the valley below and the higher ground near Town Line Road. A route through this setting can involve real climbing. Waterfall photographs often compress that terrain into a single attractive frame, leaving the work of reaching an authorized view outside the picture.
The Thayer property has gentler terrain than much of Sweedler, but that comparison does not make every section level or suitable for every visitor. The operator also notes steep banks and low cliffs. Choose your route from the current preserve map and keep the return journey in mind. An out-and-back walk can be a satisfying choice when it matches the group’s ability. There is no obligation to turn a forest visit into a complete circuit of every named feature.
The woodland rewards attention beyond the water. The land trust describes hemlock and white pine alongside hardwoods, with former agricultural land now supporting forest. Compare the shapes and arrangement of trees visible from the trail. Where does the canopy feel continuous, and where do different layers become easier to distinguish? These are useful questions for a walk even without a confident species identification. A field guide can help, but an uncertain observation is worth recording honestly rather than turning into an authoritative caption.
The preservation story developed through several decisions. The land trust acquired Sweedler land in 1993 through a bargain purchase, while later gifts and protection efforts helped form Thayer Preserve. These actions contributed to a larger connected landscape rather than a single isolated scenic spot. The Finger Lakes Trail and a spur toward Buttermilk Falls State Park also put the preserves within a wider walking network. A connection on that network is not a guarantee that a longer route is open or appropriate on a particular day.
Mike’s original June 2022 account on Mike Gets Lost described a steep climb and limited water flow during his visit. That combination is helpful context: the terrain remains part of the outing even when a waterfall looks less dramatic than expected. His personal route choices should not substitute for authorized access instructions. Use the current map and designated crossings, and resist the idea that a photograph of someone beneath a cliff establishes a safe or permitted place to stand.
Check the preserve’s current notices before traveling, especially seasonal hunting arrangements and any special access restrictions. Keep dogs leashed, stay on marked paths, and let conditions guide how far you go. Photograph from the trail, pairing a broad woodland composition with a water or rock detail only where it can be reached appropriately. Sweedler and Thayer offer more than a collection of falls: they invite a thoughtful walk through changing terrain, recovering forest, and the practical results of connected land conservation.
Fun facts
- The land trust acquired Sweedler land through a bargain purchase in 1993.
- Thayer includes formerly farmed land that has returned to forest.
- The preserves adjoin Cornell’s Lick Brook Natural Area.
Before you go
- Choose a current mapped route that matches the whole party.
- Expect climbing; gentler Thayer terrain does not mean every section is level.
- Use designated crossings and avoid copying unofficial visitor routes.
- Check seasonal hunting and special access notices; leash dogs.
Visitor perspectives
- Mike’s June 2022 original blog described steep climbing and relatively low water flow on his visit. Those are individual historical observations; unofficial crossings and attempts to reach waterfall bases are not adopted as guidance.
Nearby & related places
- Buttermilk Falls State Park — connected by a trail spur described by the land trust; check the current route and access separately.
Capture
- Compose woodland, stream, and rock from marked routes. A tighter water detail does not require approaching a cliff edge or standing beneath a drop; do not promise a particular water volume.
Social
Lick Brook links waterfalls with a wooded hillside near Ithaca.
Sweedler and Thayer are land trust preserves beside Cornell’s Lick Brook Natural Area.
Map names reflect different protected properties and stewards.
Choose the terrain first: a waterfall image rarely shows the full climb.
Thayer is generally gentler than Sweedler, but steep banks and cliffs still require care.
Hemlock, white pine, hardwoods, and recovering former farmland give the forest its own story.
Check the current map and seasonal access notices before using a longer trail connection.
Save Lick Brook for water, woodland, and the conservation work that connects them.
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