Monument Falls
Essex County, New York
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Essex County, New York
- Access status
- Roadside parking lot and short paths to the river
- The walk
- Under 0.1 mile, about 2 minutes
- Ground & access
- Short dirt and grass paths from the road shoulder to riverside rock. Rocks are slippery when wet.
Monument Falls is a small, wide drop of about five feet on the West Branch of the Ausable River, upstream from High Falls Gorge. From the junction of NY 73 and NY 86 in Lake Placid village, drive northeast on NY 86 for about 4.4 miles to a paved parking lot on the left with two stone monuments to the Forest Preserve. The falls are just beyond the lot. Walk a short way up the highway inside the guardrails, then take one of several easy paths down to the rocks at the river for a water-level view.
Plan your visit
Monument Falls parking lot on NY 86 between Lake Placid and Wilmington, short walk along the highway to paths down to the West Branch Ausable River
Northern New York Waterfalls lists the walk as under 0.1 mile, about two minutes.
Short dirt and grass paths from the road shoulder to riverside rock. Rocks are slippery when wet.
Where to start
Paved lot on the left (north) side of NY 86, about 4.4 miles northeast of the NY 73 and NY 86 junction in Lake Placid. Popular with anglers and can be busy.
Timing & water
No seasonal closure is stated. A popular fishing spot.
Before you go
No fee or reservation is stated by the sources.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- High Falls (Main)Private attraction; paid half-mile loopEssex County, NY3.2 miNE
- High Falls (Mini)Paid attraction walkway through the gorgeEssex County, NY3.3 miNE
- High Falls (Rainbow)Private attraction; admission feeEssex County, NY3.3 miNE
- High Falls (Climax)Private paid attraction with walkway loop documentedEssex County, NY3.3 miNE
- Upper Stag Brook FallsPartial guide: which upper cascade this listing marks is not established; closed during ski seasonEssex County, NY3.9 miNE
- Lower Stag Brook FallsEssex County, NY3.9 miNE
- The Flume FallShort Wild Forest path from the Flume trailhead lotEssex County, NY5.3 miNE
- Flume FallsShort path and parking documented; busy highway crossingEssex County, NY5.4 miNE
- Cascade FallsShort informal path from the Cascade Lakes day-use spit; roadside view also possibleEssex County, NY6.5 miS