WHAT IS VERIFIED
A sunbathing reputation is not legal designation.
Potter's Falls—also called Green Tree Falls—is part of Ithaca's public Six Mile Creek Natural Area. Visit Ithaca calls it one of the city's favorite sunbathing spots and describes access from the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve by the Greenway and East Gorge trails. The same visitor information says swimming is prohibited, dogs must be leashed, and steep sections can have poor footing.
Rebel Naturists tracks Potter's Falls because informal nude sunbathing has a local history and because we now have a firsthand May 2026 Dispatch from the site. But this is not an officially designated clothing-optional area. New York Penal Law §245.01 prohibits exposure of private or intimate parts in a public place. Treat Potter's as ordinary public land first, not as a legal nude beach.
What the public setting means
This is a mixed-use natural area. Hikers, college students, dog walkers and other visitors can pass through at any time. There are no gates, privacy guarantees or naturist staff controlling who enters the space. Our May 2026 firsthand visit encountered college-age visitors and dog walkers while using the area.
Trail and site notes
- Visit Ithaca lists the Greenway / East Gorge route at about 2.4 miles and moderate difficulty.
- Expect steep sections, uneven surfaces and poor footing; gorge rocks can be slick.
- Swimming is prohibited in Six Mile Creek at this site.
- Dogs are permitted on leash.
- The official tourism listing does not present Potter's as a developed recreation facility with staffed amenities. On our May 2026 visit, we did not encounter restrooms, concessions or staffed visitor facilities at the falls.
Why this one belongs in the database
Potter's Falls shows why the Liberation Map needs more than green “official” pins. Some places have real, longstanding social traditions that matter to visitors while still carrying meaningful legal and practical caveats. The status badge should make that distinction obvious before someone drives there.
Check access, weather and rules before hiking in.
Gorge conditions and enforcement can change. The links below cover the public destination, watershed, and New York exposure statute.