Are there fees or permits required for Mill Dam Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Mill Dam Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Mill Dam Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Mill Dam Falls.

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

Mill Dam Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Mill Dam Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Mill Dam Falls.

New York • 14 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Before you go

The Trenton Falls Scenic Trail is on Brookfield Energy land and is open only on a few announced weekends a year; the trail to Mill Dam Falls itself is closed, so view it from the Upper High Falls platform.

Photo Credits (5)

Russ Nelson CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Harold Litwiler, Poppy CC BY-ND 2.0 · Flickr

vwcampin CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

wallyg CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Easy

Trail Length

1.0 miles

Trail Type

Out And Back

About Mill Dam Falls

Mill Dam Falls is a 14-foot curtain cascade on West Canada Creek a short distance upstream of Upper High Falls in the Trenton Falls gorge north of Utica. It is named for a mill that once stood there; nothing of the mill remains. The trail to the falls has been closed since it was damaged several years ago, so it is seen from the Upper High Falls viewing platform.

The Setting

Mill Dam Falls sits at 961 feet in the foothills of New York. The falls drop 14 feet.

Height: 14 feet

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Lower High Falls (75 ft) lies 0.2 miles to the south. Also nearby: Sherman Falls (33 ft, 0.3 mi) and Upper High Falls (25 ft, 0.1 mi).

Lower High Falls Sherman Falls Upper High Falls

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

The trail to Mill Dam Falls is closed. The falls can be seen from the Upper High Falls viewing platform on the Trenton Falls Scenic Trail, a crushed stone and wood chip path of about 1 mile.

What to Expect

The falls drop a gentle 14 feet.

Accessibility

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

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Mill Dam Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Mill Dam Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, as the waterfall 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

Exercise caution on the trail, especially after rain, as it may become slippery. Stay on marked paths and avoid climbing near the waterfall.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Moderate

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Cincinnati Creek, 1.8 miles away, not on Mill Dam 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

1.8 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 Mill Dam Falls Frozen?

Updated about 17 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Mill Dam 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.

1-meter lidar measures about 84 feet of descent through Mill Dam Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. That is more than the listed 14 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 957 feet above sea level.

The whole reach is steep: about 78 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the falls and another 78 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face southwest and glow in afternoon and evening light.

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

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Mill Dam Falls near Prospect, New York, showing about 84 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing southwest

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

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

Ground elevation: 957 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 84 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Southwest; Glows in afternoon and evening light.

Ground profile through the falls

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

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

Location & Access

Getting There

North of Utica, take NY 28 to Trenton Falls Road and turn east. Follow the signs to a four-way stop, then continue to the end of the road to park.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

Free parking at the end of Trenton Falls Road on open weekends.

Elevation

961 feet above sea level

Coordinates

43.283322° N, -75.152719° W

Visitor Tips & Gear

Visit early in the day to avoid crowds. Bring a camera to capture the beauty of the falls. Check weather conditions before visiting, as the trail may become muddy after rain.