Are there fees or permits required for Russell Falls?

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

Is swimming allowed at Russell Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Russell Falls.

Nearby gauge (White Brook) · 4 ft³/s · About average

Russell Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Russell Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Russell Falls. No public access, so dogs are not permitted.

New York

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 1 other waterfall also named Russell Falls, see below

No public access

Russell Falls isn't open to the public. There's no public trail or parking, so please don't trespass or park at neighboring properties. See public waterfalls nearby.

Russell Falls is on private property and is not publicly accessible.

Photo Credits (5)

Billy Wilson Photography CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

infomatique CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

About Russell Falls

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Fairy Ladder Falls (90 ft) lies 4.1 miles to the southwest. Also nearby: Beaver Meadows Falls (60 ft, 2.3 mi) and Artists Falls (20 ft, 2.2 mi).

Fairy Ladder Falls Beaver Meadows Falls Artists Falls

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Russell Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
No public access, so dogs are not permitted.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Russell Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Seasonal Access

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

Safety Information

Water temperature is currently 42°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.

Local staff describe the area as very dangerous, and at least one death has been reported there.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Strong

These readings come from the USGS gauge on White Brook, 17 miles away, not on Russell Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

4 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 4 years of record

4.85 ft

Water depth at gauge

42°F

Very cold

Expect 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 42 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes.

About This Gauge

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

WHITE BROOK NEAR WILMINGTON NY

USGS 04274185

17 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 1 sq mi

Altitude: 1,867 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge WHITE BROOK NEAR WILMINGTON NY (27 km away).

Moderate confidence

Strong right now

4 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Strong

4 cfs

7/10

Tomorrow

Strong

3 cfs

7/10

Sat

Strong

3 cfs

8/10

Sun

Strong

3 cfs

8/10

Mon

Strong

5 cfs

10/10

Tue

Strong

5 cfs

10/10

Wed

Strong

5 cfs

10/10

Best window: Mon — strong flow, partly sunny (trip score 10/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid April to late 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 Russell Falls Frozen?

Updated about 6 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Russell Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 44°F to 38°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 4 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 122 feet over a short, steep run of tiers. Elevation at the pin is about 1,324 feet.

The ground changes about 36 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 74 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face west and glow in afternoon and evening light.

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

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Russell Falls near Mineville, New York, showing about 122 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing west

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

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

Ground elevation: 1,324 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 122 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: West; Glows in afternoon and evening light.