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Iowa Falls

Directions

Just north of the Beaver River in Belfort, head east on the Long Pond Road.  After a few miles, you will cross the "Blue Line" which means you are in the Adirondack Forest Preserve.  Shortly, you will cross the river and on the left just past the bridge, there is a parking area.  This is a fishing access site right next to Grunerts Falls.  Follow the trail heading downstream on the same side of the river and you will find Iowa Falls.

County: Lewis
Town: Croghan
USGS Map: Stillwater
Waterway: Oswegatchie River, West Branch
Latitude: 43° 58' 54"
Longitude: 75° 14' 25"
Drop: 30'
Type: Segmented cascade
Region: Northeast of Croghan
Parking: Unpaved lot
Trail type: Dirt
Length of hike: 3/4 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Accessibility: Public
Name: Common

Croghan Quadrangle

Iowa FallsA previous report that the area leading to Iowa Falls is posted appears to be unfounded.  It is true that the land around the trailhead is posted, but the trail itself is publicly accessible.  In fact, yellow DEC markers are visible on trees in that area.  The trailhead to Iowa Falls is not immediately on the river bank, but a few yards up the bank.  The hike is fairly easy and the trail well marked.  This trail includes a fairly long wooden walkway across a swamp.  When you reach the falls, there is a bridge with wooden decking and rails mounted on metal beams which give you access to the other side of the channel.

Iowa Falls drops in the river at this point and goes around an island.  The falls in the main channel is a very pretty site.  At low water in early September, after crossing the bridge, we were able to make our way across to the island.  A short hike across this brought us to the back side of the island where we found a natural waterslide in the channel that went around the back of the island.  There was also a trail from the bridge to this location on the mainland side.

The West Branch of the Oswegatchie River flows into the main branch just downstream of the hamlet of Talcville in the town of Edwards, St. Lawrence County.  From here, it is downstream through Gouverneur to the St. Lawrence River in Ogdensburg, New York.

Webmaster's note:    There have also been references to this area as Iona Falls.  The common name is Iowa but this alternate reference might be due to local vernacular.  Iowa Falls is the established name.

Last update:  July 1, 2017

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