Location: Central Tompkins County, Town Line Road, 3.8 miles south of Ithaca. Starting from Ithaca, follow Route 13 south. Just past the entrance to Buttermilk Falls State Park, turn left (southeast) onto Sand Bank Road. Roughly 1.7 miles from Route 13 is an intersection with Town Line Road. Keep to the right and park on the right (northwest) side of the road a short distance from the intersection.
From the southwest end of the parking area, follow the white blazed Finger Lakes Trail to the northwest, going downhill. The stream in the small gorge to your left is Lick Brook, which tumbles over several small falls and cascades.
Shortly the trail will become extremely steep and the gorge will dramatically increase in depth. An overlook to the left of the trail (use caution) affords a view of the 105 foot high Lick Brook Falls. The falls has a 9 foot wide crest and faces to the northwest. Continue along the trail to the bottom of the hill. When the trail levels out look back to your right, towards the gorge entrance, for a view of the 50 foot high Lower Falls. It faces to the west northwest and has a 15 foot wide crest. Retrace your steps to get back to the parking area.
You may want to follow the Finger Lakes Trail for a distance on the southeast side of Town Line Road. The trail starts on the southwest side of Lick Brook and continues along the top of the stream bank. Shortly after the trail crosses the brook there is an attractive area where the brook tumbles over numerous small ledges. A large rectangular shaped pool, formed along stress joints in the bedrock, is known as the “Giant’s Bathtub.”
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