Lower Falls, Enfield Glen
Ithaca, New York · on Enfield Creek · Robert H. Treman State Park
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- waterfall pool
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10/car
- SEASON
- June
About Lower Falls, Enfield Glen
Lower Falls sits at the eastern (lower) end of Enfield Glen inside Robert H. Treman State Park near Ithaca, NY, where Enfield Creek pours over a waterfall into a dammed, semi-natural pool, a true waterfall swimming hole. New York State Parks operates it as an official lifeguarded swimming area, one of the state park system's few designated natural-water places to swim.
The swimming hole is located at the mouth of Enfield Glen, a narrow shale-and-sandstone gorge carved by Enfield Creek over the last 20,000-30,000 years since glaciation. It sits near the park's lower/main entrance, just below the waterfall, with the broader gorge and its 12 waterfalls (including the 115-ft Lucifer Falls) extending upstream.
Swimming at Lower Falls, Enfield Glen
The pool beneath the falls ranges from about 2 feet in shallow entry areas (with built-in steps) to roughly 20 feet at its deepest, with a green-tinted but clear stream-fed water. Visitors describe the water as notably cold (under 65°F even in mid-July) but refreshing. Lifeguards supervise, rope off depth zones, and prohibit flotation devices in the deep section given the current from the waterfall.
How to get to this swimming hole
Enter Robert H. Treman State Park at 105 Enfield Falls Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850 (main/lower entrance); the swimming area and Lower/Enfield Falls are a short, easy walk from the main parking lot.
Parking: Main parking lot at the park's lower entrance (105 Enfield Falls Rd), a short walk from the swimming area.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. No hike is required to reach the swimming area itself, it's a short, easy, flat walk from the main parking lot at the park's lower entrance. (A separate, much longer attraction, the ~4.5-mi round-trip Gorge/Lucifer Falls Trail, runs upstream through the glen past 12 waterfalls, but it is not on the path to the swim spot and is optional bonus hiking, not a requirement to swim.)
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Shallow steps at the entry (~2 ft) suit young/non-swimmers, and lifeguards supervise and rope off zones, but the pool reaches ~20 ft near the falls, there's a diving board requiring swim ability, and no flotation devices are allowed in the deep zone, so close supervision is warranted for kids beyond the shallow steps.
Parking
Paid, $10/car vehicle day-use fee (bus $35), collected 6am-6:30pm, April 1-Nov 30; Empire Pass ($80/yr) covers entry
Main parking lot at the park's lower/main entrance, 105 Enfield Falls Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850; short, easy, flat walk from the lot to the falls/pool. Park has posted warnings about vehicle break-ins at trailhead parking, so don't leave valuables visible.
Restrooms
Yes
Bathrooms/changing area on-site at the swimming area (exact building location not specified in sources).
Water clarity
Clear
A first-hand visitor account describes the water as having 'a green hue' but 'clean, clear, and swimmable'; the park itself closes the swim area after heavy rain when the creek becomes cloudy/turbid, implying clarity is otherwise good in normal conditions.
Hours
Park open year-round, dawn to dusk. Vehicle fee booth staffed 6am-6:30pm, April 1-Nov 30. Lifeguarded swimming specifically runs daily 11am-7pm, late June through Labor Day weekend, and is not guaranteed (subject to closure for water quality, weather, or staffing).
On the water
Restrictions: No source (official NY Parks page, Wikipedia, or first-hand visitor accounts) mentions kayaking, canoeing, tubing, or any boating on Enfield Creek at this location, and the designated area is managed strictly as a lifeguarded swimming pool. Enfield Creek here is a narrow, waterfall-stepped gorge stream, not practically navigable.
Could not verify any watercraft use is permitted or practiced at this specific spot; treating as not applicable rather than confirmed-allowed.
What regulars say
One recent visitor reported the swimming area 'never felt overly crowded or busy' because it's large, with weekdays quieter than weekends, and noted the pool was running at roughly 50% capacity under a visitor cap at the time of their visit; the water was cold (measured under 65°F in mid-July) despite looking clear and green.
Backstory
Robert H. Treman purchased land around Enfield Falls in 1915 and planted over 1,000 trees; he and his wife donated the property to New York State in 1920 as Enfield Glen State Park. It was renamed Robert H. Treman State Park after his death in 1937.
Lower Falls, Enfield Glen: FAQ
Does Lower Falls, Enfield Glen charge a fee?
Vehicle day-use fee of $10/car (bus $35), collected daily 6am-6:30pm from April 1-November 30; an Empire Pass ($80) covers unlimited day-use entry. No separate swimming fee mentioned.
Is Lower Falls, Enfield Glen kid friendly?
Shallow steps at the entry (~2 ft) suit young/non-swimmers, and lifeguards supervise and rope off zones, but the pool reaches ~20 ft near the falls, there's a diving board requiring swim ability, and no flotation devices are allowed in the deep zone, so close supervision is warranted for kids beyond the shallow steps.
Do I need to hike to reach Lower Falls, Enfield Glen?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lower Falls, Enfield Glen?
Main parking lot at the park's lower/main entrance, 105 Enfield Falls Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850; short, easy, flat walk from the lot to the falls/pool. Park has posted warnings about vehicle break-ins at trailhead parking, so don't leave valuables visible.
When is the best time to visit Lower Falls, Enfield Glen?
Official lifeguarded season is late June through Labor Day weekend; a first-hand visitor reported swimming in mid-July.
What are the rules at Lower Falls, Enfield Glen?
Swimming is permitted only in the designated lifeguarded area; swim season runs daily 11am-7pm from late June through Labor Day weekend and is not guaranteed (subject to closure for water quality, weather, or lifeguard availability - closed for water quality as of the source page's July 2026 check). Pets are not allowed in the guarded swim area (except service animals); flotation devices are not permitted in the deep zone.
What water body is Lower Falls, Enfield Glen on?
Lower Falls, Enfield Glen is on Enfield Creek, a natural waterfall pool verified in USGS hydrography data.
