The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced a $1.4 million improvement project to the Black Diamond Trail, a scenic multi-use rail trail connecting Ithaca to Taughannock Falls State Park.
The upgrades include new restrooms, a 70-vehicle parking lot, and a restored bridge crossing, enhancing accessibility and comfort for walkers, runners, and cyclists.
“Trailways like the Black Diamond Trail provide New Yorkers with an affordable and healthy option to explore their communities and enjoy the great outdoors,” said State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. “These improvements make this already-popular trail even better.”
Located near the park’s iconic 215-foot waterfall, the new restroom building echoes the trail’s railroad heritage with a depot-style design. The rehabilitated railroad trestle strengthens the link between the park’s North and South rim trails.
The 8.4-mile trail follows the former route of the Lehigh Valley Railroad’s Black Diamond Express and winds through mature forests, farmland views, and cascading ravines en route to Cayuga Lake.
These enhancements support Governor Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which promotes unplugging from screens in favor of outdoor recreation. The broader campaign includes more than $250 million in funding to expand access to parks, playgrounds, swimming facilities, and community centers across New York.
For more information on New York State parks and trails, visit parks.ny.gov.
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