Dug Mountain Brook Waterfall
Hamilton County, New York
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 3 ft (1 m)
- Location
- Hamilton County, New York
- Access status
- Partial: paddle-in route documented; which of the two drops this listing marks is not confirmed
- The walk
- About 0.25 miles one way on foot after a long paddle (paddle roughly 16 miles round trip)
- Ground & access
- Long open-water paddle, then an unmarked herd path with about 50 feet of climb.
Launch at the DEC Indian Lake Islands boat launch on NY 30, 12 miles north of Speculator. Paddle 2 miles across the lake, keep right around Long Island, and head southwest 5.5 miles to the end of the lake, where Dug Mountain Brook enters. A small 4-foot lower fall is at the mouth beside a picnic table. A herd path on the left (north) side of the brook leads about 0.25 miles to the larger 40-foot upper falls. Northern New York Waterfalls places this listing near the brook mouth, so it may mark the lower fall rather than the upper one. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Paddle from the DEC Indian Lake Islands boat launch on NY 30 to the south end of Indian Lake, then a herd path up Dug Mountain Brook
Hamilton County tourism gives about 0.25 miles on the herd path to the upper falls (0.5 miles round trip on foot) and roughly 16 miles round trip by canoe from the Indian Lake Islands launch. Its alternative route is a 2.5-mile paddle down the Jessup River.
Long open-water paddle, then an unmarked herd path with about 50 feet of climb.
Where to start
DEC Indian Lake Islands boat launch on the right side of NY 30, 12 miles north of Speculator. For the shorter Jessup River paddle, park on the roadside where NY 30 crosses the Jessup River, 6.4 miles north of Speculator.
Timing & water
Winter access is difficult and not recommended. The Jessup River route can be hard to paddle in low water.
Before you go
No fee is stated by the sources. A canoe or kayak is needed.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Dug Mountain Brook Upper WaterfallPartial guide: boat access only and an unmarked herd path10 ft (3 m) · Hamilton County, NY0.2 miE
- Christine FallsShort path and roadside parking documented; surrounding forest is privateHamilton County, NY7.1 miSE
- Indian Lake Day Use AreaHamilton County, NY7.7 miNE
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- Auger FallsForest Preserve trail; short walk to cliff-top overlooksHamilton County, NY11 miSE
- Square FallsWarren County, NY13 miE
- T Lake FallsFinal waterfall approach unconfirmedHamilton County, NY15 miSW
- OK Slip FallsMarked Forest Preserve trail to a cliffside overlookHamilton County, NY20 miNE