| Directions
on NY 12 in Alder Creek, proceed northeast on NY 28.
Just before crossing the Forestport Reservoir, take a left
on the River Road. A short distance in on this road,
take another left on the Dutch Hill Road. The waterfall
will be on your right, but due to the guard rails here,
you will probably want to turn around and park on the other
side of the road.
|
| County: |
oneida |
| Town: |
Forestport |
| USGS Map: |
Forestport |
| Waterway: |
Black River |
| Latitude: |
N 43o 26' 26" |
| Longitude: |
W 75o 12' 29" |
| Drop: |
NA |
| Type: |
Dam/Slide |
| Region: |
East of Alder Creek |
| Parking: |
Roadside |
| Trail type: |
Dirt |
| Length of hike: |
1 minute |
| Difficulty: |
Easy |
| Accessibility: |
Public |
| Name: |
Common |
|
This is another of those many locations
in northern New York where a power dam has been built at the site
of a waterfall. There is still a small, slide-type waterfall
at the base of the dam. According to the town of Forestport
website, this dam was built in 1904. That website also
notes that Forestport has been called the "Gateway to the Adirondacks"
since 1893.
This waterfall is somewhat of a natural waterslide. This
is just below the Forestport Reservoir and although the volume of
water coming through this area doesn't look that great, it must
be, because the Black River always runs strong downstream of here.
An alternative viewing point is on the other side of the river.
Drive back to NY28 and continue northeast across the bridge over
the Forestport Reservoir. Immediately after the bridge take
the exit ramp right and turn left at the base of the ramp.
The first left will be the River Road which takes you to a point
where you can see the dam, but not the slide below it. When
we were there in the spring of 2013, construction work was being
done. Although maps show a bridge, it was closed at this point.
We aren't aware of its future.
The town of Forestport claims a storied past. The Forestport
Canal supplied water to the Black River Canal, which in turn fed
the Erie Canal. Without the water supplied from the Adirondacks
through the Forestport Canal, the Erie Canal water levels would
fall.
As railroads took business away from the Erie
Canal, Forestport saw the decline in business too. Several
townspeople conspired to create an intentional break in the canal.
They knew New York State would send hundreds of men to repair the
break so the Erie Canal wouldn't go dry. Those workers would
come to Forestport and make businesses profitable once again.
Three times the banks of the Forestport Canal broke. After
the third time the conspirators were arrested and prosecuted.
The only person convicted had his conviction overturned. The
building where the conspirators met still stands in town.
The Black River empties into Lake ontario in the village of
Dexter in Jefferson County.
Last update: July 29, 2015
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