Are there fees or permits required for Three Falls?

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

Is swimming allowed at Three Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Three Falls.

Nearby gauge (Raquette River) · 158 ft³/s · Much lower than usual

Three Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Three Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Three Falls.

New York

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Before you go

The falls sit on posted Brookfield Power (Erie Boulevard Hydropower) land below the South Colton dam. View the lowest drop from the riverbank at Stowe Lane and do not enter the fenced or posted property.

Photo Credits (5)

Bill Badzo CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Daniel Mennerich CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Bill Badzo CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

@CarShowShooter CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Drive Up

About Three Falls

Three Falls is a series of three drops on the Raquette River just below the dam at the bottom of South Colton Reservoir, east of the hamlet of South Colton in St. Lawrence County. The river falls roughly 90 feet over about 1,700 feet; the lowest drop is also known as South Colton Falls. The land around the falls is posted as owned by Brookfield Power (Erie Boulevard Hydropower), so the falls are best viewed from the riverbank at Stowe Lane.

Trail & Hike Details

The Approach

No hiking required. Three Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.

What to Expect

From the riverbank at the end of Stowe Lane you get an open view of the lowest drop across the river. The upper drops sit on fenced, posted hydropower land and cannot be reached from this side of the river.

Accessibility

This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Three Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Three Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are ideal for visiting, as the waterfall flow is strongest during these seasons. Fall offers beautiful foliage, while winter may provide a unique frozen waterfall view.

Seasonal Access

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

Safety Information

The area near the dam and pipeline is fenced and posted by the power company; do not enter it. River levels below hydro dams can change quickly with releases.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Moderate

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Raquette River, 0.5 miles away, not on Three Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

158 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Much lower than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

502 801 1.8k 2.5k

Based on 65 years of record

2.38 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is well below normal for this time of year, so the waterfall may be a trickle.

About This Gauge

RAQUETTE RIVER AT SOUTH COLTON NY

USGS 04267500

0.5 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 937 sq mi

Altitude: 882 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge RAQUETTE RIVER AT SOUTH COLTON NY (1 km away).

High confidence

Moderate right now

158 cfs

↓ Falling

Today

Moderate

158 cfs

6/10

Tomorrow

Moderate

156 cfs

8/10

Sat

Moderate

174 cfs

8/10

Sun

Moderate

170 cfs

8/10

Mon

Moderate

167 cfs

8/10

Tue

Moderate

168 cfs

8/10

Wed

Moderate

161 cfs

8/10

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

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early March to early June, 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 Hannawa Falls hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

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 shows the creek losing roughly 36 feet through Three Falls over a long run of ledges. Elevation at the pin is about 920 feet.

The ground changes about 54 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 14 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face southwest and sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.

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

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Three Falls near Hannawa Falls, New York, showing about 36 feet of drop, a long cascade, facing southwest

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

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

Ground elevation: 920 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 36 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Southwest; 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 southwest).

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

Location & Access

Getting There

From South Colton, cross the NY 56 bridge over the Raquette River heading east, turn onto Snell Road on the upstream side, then follow Raquette River Road a few hundred feet and turn left onto Stowe Lane, a dead-end road.

Get Directions on Google Maps