Are there fees or permits required for Lower High Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Lower High Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Lower High Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Lower High Falls.

Nearby gauge (Cincinnati Creek) · 83 ft³/s · About average

Lower High Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Lower High Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Lower High Falls. Pets are prohibited anywhere on the Trenton Falls property and may not be left in parked vehicles.

New York • 75 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Before you go

The Trenton Falls gorge is private land owned by Brookfield Energy and open only on announced weekends. The fall 2026 dates are Saturday October 17 and Sunday October 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photo Credits (5)

@CarShowShooter CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Moderate

Trail Length

1.0 miles

Trail Type

Out And Back

About Lower High Falls

Lower High Falls is the lower, roughly 75-foot drop of the High Falls pair on West Canada Creek in the Trenton Falls gorge, north of Utica between the villages of Prospect and Barneveld. Together the Lower and Upper High Falls drop about 100 feet. The gorge is owned by Brookfield Energy, which runs a hydroelectric plant there, and its trails open to the public only on announced weekends.

The Setting

Lower High Falls sits at 879 feet in the foothills of New York. The falls drop 75 feet.

Height: 75 feet

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Sherman Falls (33 ft) lies 0.2 miles to the southwest. Also nearby: Upper High Falls (25 ft, 0.1 mi) and Mill Dam Falls (14 ft, 0.2 mi).

Sherman Falls Upper High Falls Mill Dam Falls

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

The falls are seen from overlooks along the Trenton Falls Scenic Trail, a stone-dust path of about 1 mile with wood-mulch side trails along the gorge rim. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours. Visitors must stay on the designated trails.

What to Expect

The falls drop 75 feet.

Accessibility

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

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Lower High Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
Pets are prohibited anywhere on the Trenton Falls property and may not be left in parked vehicles.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Lower High Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Only on the public open weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Seasonal Access

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

Safety Information

Stay on designated trails. Climbing on rocks, gorge walls, fences or the historic hydro pipeline is prohibited.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Moderate

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Cincinnati Creek, 1.7 miles away, not on Lower High Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

83 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

Based on 3 years of record

1.44 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

CINCINNATI CREEK AT BARNEVELD NY

USGS 01344795

1.7 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 45 sq mi

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge CINCINNATI CREEK AT BARNEVELD NY (3 km away).

High confidence

Moderate right now

83 cfs

↓ Falling

Today

Moderate

83 cfs

6/10

Tomorrow

Moderate

75 cfs

6/10

Tue

Moderate

124 cfs

8/10

Wed

Moderate

215 cfs

8/10

Thu

Moderate

151 cfs

8/10

Fri

Moderate

114 cfs

8/10

Sat

Moderate

112 cfs

8/10

Best window: Tue — moderate flow, mostly sunny (trip score 8/10).

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

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 Prospect hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Lower High Falls Frozen?

Updated about 17 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Lower High Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 35°F to 32°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 120 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 186 feet in steep steps rather than one leap. The falls are listed at 75 feet; the extra comes from the ravine that continues below the base. The ground at the falls is roughly 869 feet above sea level.

The ground changes about 98 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 45 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing south, the falls sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Lower High Falls near Prospect, New York, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Lower High Falls near Prospect, New York, showing about 186 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing south

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

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

Ground elevation: 869 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 186 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: South; Sunlit most of the day. Go early or late for softer light.

Ground profile through the falls

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

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

Location & Access

Getting There

Drive to 8526 Trenton Falls Road, Barneveld, NY 13304. From NY 28 north of Utica, take Trenton Falls Road east, follow signs to the four-way stop and continue to the end of the road to park.

Get Directions on Google Maps