Robert H Treman State Park, New York
Campsite name: Robert H Treman State Park, New York
Camping type: Frontcountry Campground
Campsite opening hours: 8 am to 9 pm, 7 days per week during the open season - Check-in at 3:00 pm and check-out at 11:00 am
The park is open year-round from dawn to dusk. Vehicle entry fees are collected from April to mid-November which is $8 per vehicle which is collected by a ticket machine at the entrance of the park.
Booking Link:
There are 70 tent / RV sites, 14 cabins and 3 pavilions at Robert H Treman State Park.
You can reserve sites nine months in advance and reservations for pavilions can be made 11 months in advance.
Fees: From $18 to $28 for a campsite and cabins are between $238 and $400 per week + a non-refundable reservation fee of $7.25 is applicable for all reservations.
Facilities: Robert H Treman State Park is located in Tompkins County, along state route 327. It is 5 miles from downtown Ithaca, New York.
The park includes 72 campsites spread out over 1,1190 acres. There are also facilities for fishing, grilling, hiking, hunting, playgrounds, swimming beach and waterfalls. It is the perfect place to explore not only the Robert H Treman State Park but also Buttermilk Falls, Taughannock Falls and Watkins Glen State Park.
The park is pet friendly however a maximum of two pets are allowed per campsite and day-use areas. Pets must be supervised at all times. Pets are not permitted in playgrounds, buildings, the golf course, boardwalks, pools or patrolled beaches.
Camping Month: May through to November typically.
Gear: Depending if you are staying overnight in a tent, cabin or RV will alter the gear that you need to bring with you to stay at Robert H Treman State Park.
Bug spray or repellent is a must-pack for this area. Especially in the summer months, the bugs can be relentless in this area.
Food: Robert H Treman State Park has three pavilions that are available to rent. The North and South pavilions have a two-day minimum for all rentals. The prices range from $75 to $150 and can accommodate 43 to 197 people per space.
Lookout Spot: Do not miss out on the view from the cliff staircase. This staircase is on the South Rim Trail and has 222 beautiful stone steps. In early summer look out for the orange/yellow flowers of the Tulop Poplar trees. During the fall enjoy the incredible fall colors and green pockets of hemlock trees throughout the forest.
The two best places to see Lucifer Falls are close to the top of the Gorge Trail and at the top of the Steep Steps of the Rim Trail. Both lookouts spots are on different trails and they are both equally worth it.
Activities: The Robert H Treman State Park is an area of rugged beauty and the Enfield Glen gorge is a scenic highlight. Visit the 12 waterfalls that line the winding trails past the gorge. Make sure to visit the 115-foot Lucifer Falls where visitors can peer 1.5 miles down the wooded gorge to the lower end of the park. There are swimming opportunities in the stream-fed pools beneath the waterfalls.
For hiking lovers, there are nine miles of trails to be explored. The total elevation change for the gorge trail is 1035 feet either ascending or descending. Gorge Tours provide information and insights about the park's interesting history, gorge formation, geology and ecology. Tours are roughly 1.5 hours long. The tour begins at the upper portion of the park and travels down through the ¼ mile-narrow and rocky area. Past the 115-foot Lucifer Falls and into the wide lower gorge. This hike is moderately difficult as it involves three staircases.
There is educational programming offered about various topics, these include; birds, fossils, reptiles, insects, trees, mammals, animal tracks, park history and wilderness survival.
Bow hunting for deer is permitted in season and in designated sections of the park only. The NYS DEC Hunting and Trapping Guide has current dates and rules. A valid New York State hunting license with proper hunting stamps will serve as the regional permit. Hunters must sign in each day and if a deer is taken hunters must declare to the park office the sex and approximate age of the deer.
Highlight: The gorges, waterfalls and pools that feature in Robert H Treman State Park and in the surrounding Finger Lakes Region were formed over 10,000 years ago but glaciers. Explore the Old Mill that was built in 1839 and was the center of the former hamlet of Enfield Falls. There is a lot of interpretive information about the milling process.
From the Old Mill be sure to pick up a walking tour pamphlet called Archaeology in the Park. This self-guided tour explores the former hamlet of Enfield Falls, the former site of Enfield Falls Hotel, the Budd House and Wickham house.
Most of the forest in Robert H Treman State Park is Hemlock hardwood. This mixed forest grows when Hemlock is codominant with other tree specifies including sugar and red maple, yellow and black birch and red oak, white pine and black cherry.
Tips: If you are interested in bird watching look and listen for these species during your visit. Barred Owl, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Blue Heron, Scarlet Tanager and Wild Turkey.
Do you want to swim in the base of a waterfall? At the Lower Falls, there is an amazing 40-50 feet high waterfall that opens up into a big round pool. Diving into the pool after a hot hike is worth it. There’s even a lifeguard station at this swimming hole. Swimming however is only permitted from mid-April to mid-October when a lifeguard is on duty. You are not permitted to swim without supervision or in any other bodies of water.
The best time to visit Robert H Treman State Park is during spring. The waterfalls have the largest amount of water flowing through them and it is the best season for hiking. Summer can be very busy, especially over holidays. Fall is also beautiful as the coloured foliage is spectacular.
