Lower Falls
New York • 110 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Drive Up
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Lower Falls
Lower Falls is a large cascade on the Genesee River in the city of Rochester, downstream of High Falls, with a low hydro dam on its crest and a rock pillar that splits the drop. It is best seen from the Driving Park Avenue bridge, a short walk from Maplewood Park, and from Lower Falls Park on the east rim. A Rochester Gas and Electric power station sits on the east side of the falls.
The Setting
Lower Falls sits at 253 feet in the coastal lowlands of New York. At 110 feet, it is among the taller waterfalls in New York.
Height: 110 feet
Trail & Hike Details
The Approach
No hiking required. Lower Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.
Trail Description
The main view is from the sidewalk of the Driving Park Avenue bridge, through a tall chain-link fence, a short walk from the Maplewood Park lot. On the east side, a DEC fishing access road off Seth Green Drive leads about 10 minutes down into the gorge. Informal paths from Maplewood Park to the river are unofficial and unstable after rain.
What to Expect
The falls cascade 110 feet. Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Lower Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Leashed dogs are allowed in the city parks; keep them off the steep gorge paths.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Lower Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring and after heavy rain for the most flow; leaf-off months give clearer views from the rim.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
Water temperature is currently 48°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.
Gorge access is prohibited at night and when the river is high, and the gorge below the falls can flood during snowmelt or heavy rain. Do not swim in the Genesee River.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Genesee River, 2.7 miles away, not on Lower Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
861 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 75 years of record
12.41 ft
Water depth at gauge
48°F
Very coldExpect numbness within minutes
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year. Water temperature is very cold at 48 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. Expect slightly cloudy visibility and excellent dissolved oxygen levels. PH is normal at 7.8 and mineral content is moderate.
Water Quality
Dissolved Oxygen
ExcellentSupports aquatic life
pH
NormalWithin healthy range (6.5-8.5)
Water Clarity
Slightly cloudyMinor sediment present
Conductance
Dissolved minerals in the water
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge GENESEE RIVER AT FORD STREET BRIDGE, ROCHESTER NY (4 km away).
Today
Moderate
930 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Strong
953 cfs
8/10Tue
Moderate
928 cfs
8/10Wed
Moderate
887 cfs
9/10Thu
Moderate
954 cfs
9/10Fri
Moderate
892 cfs
9/10Sat
Moderate
840 cfs
9/10Best window: Wed — moderate flow, sunny (trip score 9/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late February to early 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 Rochester hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Lower Falls Frozen?
Updated about 17 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded strong flow slows freezing
Lower Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 39°F to 37°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 837 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.
The ground through the falls loses about 161 feet in steep steps rather than one leap. The falls are listed at 110 feet; the extra comes from the ravine that continues below the base. The ground at the falls is roughly 252 feet above sea level.
Most of the action is upstream: the ground drops about 98 feet in the 500 feet above the pin and flattens beneath the falls. Facing north, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 252 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 161 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- North
- Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.
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
Drive to Maplewood Park on Driving Park Avenue between Lake Avenue and St. Paul Street, then walk to the Driving Park Avenue bridge. For the gorge-bottom view, use the small fishing access lot on Seth Green Drive on the east side of the river.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Maplewood Park lot on Driving Park Avenue, or the small fishing access lot on Seth Green Drive.
Elevation
253 feet above sea level
Coordinates
43.179570° N, -77.627960° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
Maplewood Park is open daylight hours only. Photos from the bridge must be taken through the fence.
Where to Stay
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Rochester-Pittsford-Brighton, NY
Hampton Inn Rochester - Irondequoit
Inn on Broadway
Spark By Hilton Rochester University Area
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
High Falls and the Pont de Rennes bridge downtown, Maplewood Park's rose garden, and Seneca Park on the east rim.
Cities near Lower Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
CC
Other waterfalls named Lower Falls
18 other waterfalls share this name across the U.S.
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