Welcome to the Discovery Trail

Atoms to artifacts, foxes to fossils, robins to rhododendrons, sculpture to storytellers – Ithaca's Discovery Trail has something for everyone!

From peaceful walks to famous talks, from hands-on fun to genealogical research, there's so much to see and do along the Discovery Trail. These eight fascinating sites are an easy drive from downtown Ithaca, Cornell University, Ithaca College, Cayuga Lake and other Finger Lakes attractions.

The Discovery Trail Partnership is a group of educational organizations based in Ithaca, NY. The only organization of its kind, the Discovery Trail promotes awareness and understanding of the connections among art, history, literature, science, and the natural world.

Discovery Trail News

Kids Discover the Trail! - Full Circle Event

Saturday, May 12 is the Full Circle Celebration of Kids Discover the Trail! All community members are invited to join with Ithaca students and their families to visit the eight Discovery Trail sites between 10 am and 1:00 pm, for the Full Circle Celebration of Kids Discover the Trail! Because this year's ICSD fifth graders are the first group of students to have completed the full circle of all eight Discovery Trail-based learning experiences during their elementary school years, this open house style event has been planned to celebrate the 'full circle'. More

Art exhibition in the Nevin Welcome Center

Macro Images and Photo Montages by Nancy Ridenour on display May 1 to June 30 at the Nevin Welcome Center located in the botanical gardens of Cornell Plantations. More

Discovery Trail at Tompkins County Public Library

Visit Tompkins County Public Library for an exhibit of the Discovery Trail sites as well as our educational program Kids Discover the Trail on display April 16 to May 24. More

Exhibits at Johnson Museum of Art

Currently on exhibit at the Johnson Museum of Art - Age of Discontent: German Expressionist Works from a Private Collection from April 7 to July 29; [space]: Constructing the Intangible from April 14 to July 22; Three exhibitions - Witness: 20th-Century Photographic Images from the Collection of Gary and Ellen Davis, Memory and the Photographic Image and Cornell Art Faculty 2012 from April 14 to August 12. More

More News

Upcoming Trail Events

Under the Surface: Book Reading and Signing

The Tompkins County Public Library will host journalist Tom Wilber for a reading and signing of his recently-released book Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale. More

Date: Thursday, May 17

Time: 6:00 pm

Place: Tompkins County Public Library, Thaler/Howell Programming Room

Morning Bird Walk

Join staff from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology on a guided bird walk through the Plantations' botanical gardens. Bring a pair of binoculars and your curiosity as we wander through the Mundy Wildflower Garden in search of feathered friends. The walk is free and will be held rain or shine. More