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Not everything in the Adirondacks is nestled at the end of a trail in the mountains. Roadside and wheelchair-accessible waterfalls Its popularity does occasionally contribute to a lack of parking, so have a backup plan in mind like taking a dip by the covered bridge in Jay. The Wilmington FlumeĪ favorite in the area for travelers and locals alike, The Flume in Wilmington is a popular road-side swimming hole complete with rock jumps. Located in Elizabethown, NY on the Boquet River, Split Rock Falls is well worth the 45 minute drive to bask in the water alongside the picturesque falls. The trailhead leading to Rocky Falls starts from the parking lot at the Adirondack Mountain Club, so while you will pay for a day pass you can make this a stop along the way to many other destinations you’ll find on this network of trails. While this waterfall is only a six foot drop, this waterfall and its serene surroundings are sure to take up some room on your phone’s camera roll. This is located on the trail used to hike Mount Haystack and Basin Mountain, and directions to the falls can be found on either of those mountains’ pages. Bushnell Falls is a little over a five mile hike from the trailhead, so you’ll have certainly earned a dip in its beautiful natural pool. Bushnell Fallsīushnell Falls is near Johns Brook in Keene, NY and can be reached from the Garden Trailhead, which is also the starting point of some of the Adirondacks’ most popular hikes. Thankfully there are several Adirondack waterfalls deemed to have pools suitable for swimming. Waterfalls you can swim atĪs mentioned above, waterfalls can be dangerous places and should be approached with caution. Not unlike any outdoor pursuit, it’s recommended to research your destination and be prepared for your hike to be aware of potential dangers you may encounter. Surfaces near waterfalls have a tendency to to be slippery so keeping to the trail and paying attention to your footing at both the top and bottom of a waterfall can help avoid a mishap. Waterfall safety tipsīe sure to obey any signs or markings, as accidents leading to serious injury and even death around waterfalls do occur. While sometimes at their driest in the summertime, an August hike past a waterfall provides an opportunity to cool off in ways you’ll be talking about for years to come. Waterfalls typically have the greatest amount of water flow during the spring thanks to snow and ice melt, but catching one frozen in time by the temperatures an Adirondack winter can bring or seeing the colors of our famous fall foliage paint the backdrop of a Lake Placid waterfall is equally memorable. As with many hikes, your experience hiking to a waterfall can vary season to season. Whether you want to appreciate these beautiful natural formations from wheelchair-accessible walkways, enjoy the sound of water cascading against the rocks in its plunge pool after a family hike, or break out the compass and topographical map before heading into the bush with a few other experienced hikers, you’re starting your search in the right place. There are approximately 110 waterfalls in the Adirondacks, and dozens of those waterfalls are within a reasonable driving distance from the village of Lake Placid.
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