LINKS
Gay Beach/Swimming Holes
Potter's Falls (a.k.a. Six Mile Creek Gorge)
Ithaca, NY
United States
Phone: 800 Phone: Fax:
SUMMARY:
Channeling the vibe from the scenic creek
gorge, Potter's Falls is a popular home to gay
men, but also many others including the cute
college boys from Cornell University.
Historically popular, it draws folks who come
with beer coolers to enjoy the pool that is
deep enough in some parts for diving off the
ledges.
Note:
The Lower Reservoir - Has a sign "SWIMMING
PROHIBITED." People do often swim here from a
large, flat rock - but you may be subject to
arrest if you do.
Potter's Falls - is upstream of the lower
reservoir and is the main swimming place in a
large pool at the bottom. There is a network of
trails and it is easy to get lost so keep track
of your route and ask directions of people you
meet.
Upper reservoir - Upstream from Potter's Falls
- this is the water source for Ithaca and
swimming is definitely NOT permitted.
Directions to swimming hole: Rangers,
(different one every year) not police, visit
usually once a day and quite often not at all.
They look for kids jumping from rocks and
rowdiness. They don't make arrests, but instead
are quite pleasant and friendly to deal with.
There is longtime tradition of skinny dipping
and nude sunbathing at Potters Falls, and it
continues today in a positive and friendly
environment." However the trails are dangerous.
In the last two years, there have been three
bad falls from gorge trails, two fatal.
There are at least two ways to access Six Mile
Gorge, the reservoirs, Potters Falls and other
nearby areas.
1. From Ithaca, take Rt. 79 East approximately
1 mile then go right on Giles St (in
residential area). After about .5 mile, turn
left before the bridge into a parking area.
This is the entrance to Six Mile Creek Gorge at
the low end of the creek. Look at the map
posted in the parking area. You want generally
to follow the "East Rim Trail" to the lower
reservoir and then to Potters Falls, both of
which are shown on the map. This trail goes
along the creek upstream - it is about 1 mile
to the Lower Reservoir, unknown distance beyond
here to Potters Falls and then the Upper
REservoir. You have to climb out of the gorge
via a very steep trail before the 60-foot dam
that holds the Lower Reservoir. Following the
trail along the north side of the Lower
Reservoir will take you to Potter's Falls. You
must once again climb up and out of the gorge
to the rim trail to get above the level of the
next dam that holds the Upper Reservoir. This
trail is a little dangerous right along the
precipice for a short stretch.
2. Continue east on RT 79 and park at the
entrance to the Upper Reservoir (there's
signage, but it is easily found by the
vegetation: a deep dark red pine plantation
that comes right up to the highway). Follow the
path through the pines to the reservoir and dam
and head downstream on the trail to Potter's
Falls. It's less walking from this direction,
but of course you miss a lot of scenery.
