IC Natural Lands (West)
The western section of the natural lands is across Route 96B from the main Ithaca College campus. There is one trailhead located alongside Route 96B and two on Stone Quarry Road. Natural Area West is home to West Trail, which is denoted by red markers.
The natural lands are protected wooded areas owned by Ithaca College that are managed by students and staff. Like most of Ithaca, the trails through the natural lands are hilly, but they are well cleared and accessible to hikers of all experience. There are a total of six trails to explore in the natural lands and 27 green posts on which you can find QR codes. When the QR codes are scanned with a phone, they will provide you with information about the ecology or history of the area you are in. Some sections of the natural lands are managed to preserve biological diversity, ecological functions, or ecosystem services, while others, like the surgard bush, are managed as working lands. Regardless, all areas of the natural lands are open to students from dawn to dusk. The natural lands are divided into two sections, east and west, by the Ithaca College campus and Route 96B.