Fairy Ladder Falls
New York • 90 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
The usual route crosses the Adirondack Mountain Reserve, private land open to hikers under a state easement. From May 1 through October 31 a free parking reservation from hikeamr.org is required, and walk-ins and drop-offs are not allowed. Reaching the base of the falls requires an off-trail bushwhack.
Photo Credits (1)
Difficulty
Hard
Trail Length
8.4 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Fairy Ladder Falls
Fairy Ladder Falls is a 90-foot ribbon cascade on Gill Brook, a tributary of the East Branch of the Ausable River, in the town of Keene in the High Peaks. It sits high on Gill Brook above the Adirondack Mountain Reserve, and the usual approach is from St. Huberts on NY Route 73. It is best seen at high water.
The Setting
Fairy Ladder Falls sits at 3,235 feet within High Peaks Wilderness, in the mountains of New York. The falls drop 90 feet.
Height: 90 feet
Nearby Falls Worth Visiting
Beaver Meadows Falls (60 ft) lies 2.0 miles to the north. Also nearby: Artists Falls (20 ft, 2.0 mi).
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
From the Adirondack Mountain Reserve gate, walk Lake Road to the Gill Brook Trail and follow the trail about 2.3 miles up the brook, then bushwhack about 0.2 mile to the base of the falls. Guides put the trip at about 4.2 miles each way on dirt and rock, with the last stretch through very thick brush off the marked trail.
What to Expect
The falls cascade 90 feet.
Accessibility
The trail involves steep, uneven terrain with significant elevation change and is not accessible to mobility devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Fairy Ladder Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Dogs are not allowed on the Adirondack Mountain Reserve, which the standard route crosses.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Fairy Ladder Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring and early summer are ideal for visiting Fairy Ladder Falls, as the water flow is typically strongest during these seasons.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
The final approach is off trail through dense brush on steep, wet rock. Carry navigation and turn back if footing is poor.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Vanderwhacker Brook Tributary 1, 13.4 miles away, not on Fairy Ladder Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
0 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 10 years of record
1.21 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge VANDERWHACKER BROOK TRIB 1 NEAR BOREAS RIVER NY (22 km away).
Today
Strong
0 cfs
7/10Tomorrow
Strong
0 cfs
7/10Sat
Strong
0 cfs
8/10Sun
Strong
0 cfs
8/10Mon
Strong
0 cfs
10/10Tue
Strong
0 cfs
10/10Wed
Strong
0 cfs
10/10Best window: Mon — strong flow, partly sunny (trip score 10/10).
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 Fairy Ladder Falls Frozen?
Updated about 6 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately 3 more freezing days forecast
Fairy Ladder Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 37°F to 31°F. 3 freezing days are forecast, so ice may start to form.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 3 of the next 7
- Flow
- 0 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.
Through the falls the surface drops roughly 207 feet over a short, steep run of tiers. Only part of that is the waterfall, which is listed at 90 feet; the rest is the canyon carrying on downstream. Elevation at the pin is about 3,234 feet.
The whole reach is steep: about 104 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the falls and another 177 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face northwest and glow in afternoon and evening light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 3,234 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 207 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Northwest
- Glows in afternoon and evening light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading northwest).
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 continue on Lake Road to the Gill Brook Trail.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
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
3,235 feet above sea level
Coordinates
44.099775° N, -73.820694° W
Land Management
Managed by SDC Restricted Access
Visitor Tips & Gear
Reserve AMR parking ahead in season, stay on marked trails on the reserve, and carry a map and GPS for the bushwhack. Allow a full day.
Where to Stay
Lake Placid Inn Boutique Hotel
Lake Placid Inn: Main Street
Grandview Lake Placid
Lake Placid Inn: Residences
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
Other falls on Gill Brook along the same trail, including Artists Falls, plus Roaring Brook Falls across Route 73.
Wildlife
The area may feature common woodland wildlife such as birds, squirrels, and deer.
Cities near Fairy Ladder Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
LiDAR
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