8 natural swim spots within about 60 miles of Ithaca, New York.
This page lists 8 natural swimming holes near Ithaca, New York, sorted by straight-line distance within about 60 miles — including 2 creeks, 4 waterfalls, 1 lake, and 1 other. It is a city day-trip list, not the national GPS finder. Open each listing for directions, fees, and access before you drive.
Near Ithaca, New York, our directory maps 8 natural swimming holes within about 60 miles of the city center — including 2 creeks, 4 waterfalls, 1 lake, and 1 other. The closest mapped spot is Six Mile Creek Area (1.8 mi straight-line). Distances are not drive time; open each listing for directions, fee notes, access rules, and safety context before you travel.
| Central place | Ithaca, New York |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 60 miles |
| Mapped spots | 8 |
| Closest listing | Six Mile Creek Area (1.8 mi) |
| Water types | Creek (2), Waterfall (4), Lake (1), Other (1) |
| Typical fees | 1 free · 6 fee · 1 varies |
8 natural swim spots in New York, sorted by distance from the city center. Statewide inventory counts are on the U.S. swimming holes dataset. For live GPS sorting from your device, use the GPS finder.
Six Mile Creek Area is a creek swimming spot on Six Mile Creek near Ithaca, New York. What people come for: Geological beauty of Six Mile Creek Gorge; Natural swimming pools with varying depths. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in June to August. Check water depth and current strength before entering.
View detailsButtermilk Falls S. P. near Ithaca, New York is a falls swimming spot on Buttermilk Creek. What people come for: Stunning cascading waterfalls; Refreshing swimming hole below falls. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas, camping and parking. Best visited in June through August. Swim only in the designated, officially sanctioned pool area below the falls.
View detailsRobert H. Treman State Park near Ithaca, NY — lifeguarded natural pool below Lower Falls in Enfield Glen, plus gorge trails to Lucifer Falls. Seasonal vehicle fee and swim rules.
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Fillmore Glen S. P. is a creek swimming spot on Dry Creek near Syracuse, New York. What people come for: Five stunning waterfalls; Refreshing swimming hole. Expect a fee of about $7, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in Spring. Check water levels and current conditions before entering Dry Creek.
View detailsRock Stream is a creek swimming spot on Rock Stream near Elmira, New York. What people come for: Clean, refreshing creek water; Tranquil atmosphere. Best visited in June-August. Always enter water feet-first.
View detailsRattlesnake Gulf near Syracuse, New York is a falls swimming spot on Fall Creek. What people come for: Crystal-clear waters of Fall Creek; Limestone gorges and dramatic cliffs. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in Autumn. Wear sturdy footwear for uneven, rocky trails.
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Skaneateles is a lake swimming spot on Skaneateles Lake near Syracuse, New York. What people come for: Crystal-clear waters; Convenient village location. Expect a fee of about $3 per person, and you will find restrooms and parking. Best visited in June through August. Swim only in the designated area.
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Chenango Valley State Park near Binghamton, New York has a lake beach for swimming plus trails and camping in a wooded river valley. New York State Parks vehicle use fees typically apply — confirm parks.ny.gov.
View detailsBrowse by water type in New York — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
Looking for swimming creeks near you? Creek swimming holes are smaller stream and brook pools — usually cooler, shallower, and tucked into forests or hollows. Use the list below (or near-me GPS), then confirm water level after rain.
Waterfall swimming holes are plunge pools and cascades fed by falls. Flow is often seasonal; check depth, cold water, and slippery rock before you enter.
Looking for swimming lakes near you? Only swim where it is allowed — many reservoirs and drinking-water lakes ban body contact. This catalog is lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with documented public swim access: beaches, fees, and no-swim warnings on each listing.
Mixed or unique water types that do not fit a single category — review each listing for access and conditions.
People search for this in a dozen different ways. Here is what each one means around Ithaca, with the counts from our directory.
Highlights and safety notes from our listings — not third-party reviews. Report outdated info or share a tip.
Ithaca is a practical launch point for day trips to natural swimming holes in New York. Within about 60 miles you will find 8 mapped destinations in our directory, starting with Six Mile Creek Area about 1.8 mi from the city center.
The mix spans creek, waterfall, lake, other — related terms searchers use include creek swimming, river swimming holes, spring-fed pools, and wild swimming.
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in New York with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the Ithaca city center — not driving time. A creek swimming hole 12 miles away on forest roads can take longer than a river access point 20 miles away on a highway.
Wild swimming near Ithaca includes informal river bends, spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools, and developed park swim areas. Rules, fees, and seasonal access differ by land manager. Never assume swimming is allowed without checking the listing and posted signs the day you visit.
Natural water near Ithaca changes after rain, snowmelt, and summer heat. Cold shock, currents, submerged rocks, and bacteria are real risks at creek and river swimming holes — most sites have no lifeguard. Check weather and local advisories before you enter the water.
We publish original planning copy, safety tips, and last-updated dates on each listing. See our editorial policy for sourcing standards, or contact us if access or conditions have changed.
Near Ithaca, New York, our directory lists 8 natural swimming holes within about 60 miles — mainly 2 creeks, 4 waterfalls, 1 lake, and 1 other. Each listing links to directions, fee notes, and safety context. Use near me on your phone for live distance sorting from your location.
This page shows 8 mapped natural swim spots within about 60 miles of Ithaca. The full New York directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
The closest open mapped spot to Ithaca is Six Mile Creek Area (1.8 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
1 listing note free or no-fee access; 6 require a fee or park admission; 1 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
Near Ithaca, documented water types include creeks, waterfalls, lake, other. A swimming hole is a natural outdoor pool in moving or spring-fed water — not a chlorinated pool. Filter by type on the New York state page or open each card for water-body details.
Late spring through early fall is the usual swim season near Ithaca, but snowmelt, drought, and weekend crowds change conditions week to week. Check each listing before you drive — high water after storms can make creeks and rivers unsafe.
Wild swimming near Ithaca carries real risks: cold water, currents, rocks, and no lifeguards at most unofficial sites. Check weather, water level, and posted warnings the day you visit. Read our river safety guide and each listing's safety section before entering the water.
Within about 60 miles of Ithaca we map 2 creek swimming holes. The closest is Fillmore Glen State Park, about 19 mi out. Also searched as: swimming creeks near me, water streams near me.
Within about 60 miles of Ithaca we map 1 swimming lake. The closest is Skaneateles, about 35 mi out. Also searched as: lakes to swim near me, swimmable lakes near me.
Within about 60 miles of Ithaca we map 4 waterfall plunge pools. The closest is Six Mile Creek Area, about 1.8 mi out. Also searched as: waterfalls to swim in near me.
"Water hole" and "swim spot" are the same search as swimming hole — natural outdoor water deep enough to swim or wade. We map 8 of them within about 60 miles of Ithaca, across 4 water types.
Listing data last updated across spots on this page.
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