Are there fees or permits required for Artists Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Artists Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Artists Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Artists Falls.

Nearby gauge (Vanderwhacker Brook Tributary 1) · 1 ft³/s · Much higher than usual

Artists Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Artists Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Artists Falls. Dogs are not allowed on the Adirondack Mountain Reserve.

New York • 20 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Adirondack Mountain Reserve Easement FORE · PVT

Before you go

Artists Falls is on private Adirondack Mountain Reserve land open to hikers on marked trails only. From May 1 through October 31 a free parking reservation from hikeamr.org is required, and walk-ins and drop-offs are not allowed.

Photo Credits (5)

Can Pac Swire CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

rverc CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Trey Ratcliff CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Jim Liestman CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Billy Wilson Photography CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Moderate

Trail Length

5.8 miles

Trail Type

Out And Back

About Artists Falls

Artists Falls is a 20-foot step waterfall on Gill Brook inside the Adirondack Mountain Reserve near St. Huberts in the town of Keene. The reserve is private land, and hikers may use its marked trails under a conservation easement with the state. The falls is the first of several cascades along the Gill Brook Trail.

The Setting

Artists Falls sits at 1,785 feet within Adirondack Mountain Reserve Easement, in the hills of New York. The falls drop 20 feet.

Height: 20 feet

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Fairy Ladder Falls (90 ft) lies 2.0 miles to the southwest. Also nearby: Beaver Meadows Falls (60 ft, 0.4 mi).

Fairy Ladder Falls Beaver Meadows Falls

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

From the Adirondack Mountain Reserve gate, walk Lake Road about 1.75 miles to the Gill Brook Trail, then climb about 0.4 mile up the trail to the falls. Guides put the trip at about 2.9 miles each way from the parking area on a dirt and rock trail rated moderate.

What to Expect

The falls drop a gentle 20 feet.

Accessibility

The trail is not wheelchair accessible. Uneven terrain and elevation changes require steady footing.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Artists Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
Dogs are not allowed on the Adirondack Mountain Reserve.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Artists Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are ideal for visiting Artists Falls, as the water flow is typically stronger during these seasons.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.

Safety Information

The trail may be slippery, especially after rain. Visitors should exercise caution near the waterfall and avoid climbing on wet rocks.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Roaring

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Vanderwhacker Brook Tributary 1, 15.2 miles away, not on Artists Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

1 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Much higher than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

0 0 0 0

Based on 10 years of record

1.37 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

The water is flowing much higher than usual, expect an impressive display.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.

VANDERWHACKER BROOK TRIB 1 NEAR BOREAS RIVER NY

USGS 01315226

15.2 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 0 sq mi

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge VANDERWHACKER BROOK TRIB 1 NEAR BOREAS RIVER NY (24 km away).

Moderate confidence

Roaring right now

1 cfs

↑ Rising

Today

Roaring

1 cfs

9/10

Tomorrow

Roaring

1 cfs

6/10

Fri

Roaring

1 cfs

6/10

Sat

Roaring

1 cfs

6/10

Sun

Roaring

1 cfs

6/10

Mon

Roaring

1 cfs

9/10

Tue

Roaring

1 cfs

9/10

Best window: Today — roaring flow, partly sunny (trip score 9/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late March to mid May, peaking in April.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Mineville hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Artists Falls Frozen?

Updated about 4 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded

Artists Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 49°F to 35°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 1 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in New York.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

Here the descent is spread out: 1-meter lidar measures about 87 feet of drop through Artists Falls, stretched along the creek rather than stacked in one wall. That is more than the listed 20 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 1,785 feet above sea level.

The ground changes about 59 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 30 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing north, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Artists Falls near Mineville, New York, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Artists Falls near Mineville, New York, showing about 87 feet of drop, a long cascade, facing north

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 1,785 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 87 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: North; Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading north).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

Start at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve parking area on Ausable Road, just off NY Route 73 at St. Huberts, across the highway from the Roaring Brook Falls trailhead. Walk to the AMR gate and follow Lake Road to the Gill Brook Trail.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

Park only in the unpaved AMR lot off NY Route 73 at St. Huberts. From May 1 through October 31 a free reservation from hikeamr.org is required; the lot is open for entry 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Elevation

1,785 feet above sea level

Coordinates

44.126996° N, -73.809027° W

Land Management

Adirondack Mountain Reserve Easement FORE

Managed by SDC Restricted Access

Visitor Tips & Gear

Reserve AMR parking ahead in season and stay on marked trails; the landowners ask hikers to read the reserve rules before coming. Continue up Gill Brook to see more cascades.