Flume Falls
Essex County, New York
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Essex County, New York
- Access status
- Short path and parking documented; busy highway crossing
- The walk
- Up to about 0.2 miles one way
- Ground & access
- Wide trail with faint side paths to precarious ledges above the river. Cars travel fast on this stretch of NY 86.
Park in the main Flume Trail System lot on NY 86 and very carefully cross the road and the bridge over the West Branch Ausable River; the upper drops are visible from the bridge. On the far side of the bridge, follow the obvious but unmarked trail downhill away from the road and take faint side paths on the left to the river edge. The first viewpoint is just above a 15-foot drop a few feet below the bridge; a second viewpoint is further downstream. There are no official viewing areas. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Flume Trail System parking on NY 86 near Wilmington, across the Ausable River bridge, unmarked trail downstream to the Flume Falls viewpoints
Northern New York Waterfalls lists the hike as up to 0.2 mile, about 5 minutes, from the parking lot.
Wide trail with faint side paths to precarious ledges above the river. Cars travel fast on this stretch of NY 86.
Where to start
Main Flume Trail System lot on NY 86, about 1.9 miles southwest of the NY 73 and County Road 431 junction in Wilmington, room for about a dozen cars (coordinates 44.366216, -73.841204). A smaller pull-off is just past it.
Timing & water
Use care on ledges in high water and ice.
Before you go
No fee is stated by the sources. Uncovering New York places the falls in the Wilmington Wild Forest.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- The Flume FallShort Wild Forest path from the Flume trailhead lotEssex County, NY0.1 miSW
- Lower Stag Brook FallsEssex County, NY1.5 miSW
- Upper Stag Brook FallsPartial guide: which upper cascade this listing marks is not established; closed during ski seasonEssex County, NY1.6 miSW
- High Falls (Climax)Private paid attraction with walkway loop documentedEssex County, NY2.1 miSW
- High Falls (Rainbow)Private attraction; admission feeEssex County, NY2.1 miSW
- High Falls (Mini)Paid attraction walkway through the gorgeEssex County, NY2.1 miSW
- High Falls (Main)Private attraction; paid half-mile loopEssex County, NY2.2 miSW
Monument FallsRoadside parking lot and short paths to the riverEssex County, NY5.4 miSW- Hulls FallsRoadside bridge view; some land postedEssex County, NY9.4 miS