"The beginning of the trail to the waterfalls on Goldmine
Stream is well concealed from Powley-Piseco Road. Three
blazes on a tree mark the start of the trail, opposite and just
south of a meadow, about 0.1 mile north of a camping area.
This spot is about 12.45 miles north of NY 29A along Powley-Piseco
Road. There is parking along the wide shoulders of the
dirt road. It is a 1.3 mile moderate walk to the falls
with major wet sections. The path actually follows an
old logging road built before WWII, but the area surrounding
this part of the road was never logged.
"The unmarked path takes hikers to a series of small
waterfalls along Goldmine Stream. This is one of those
beautiful, somewhat unknown spots in the Adirondacks.
Although the trail is not an officially marked DEC trail, it
looks that someone keeps the trail somewhat clear and some work
on the trail was done in the past. Hunters use this path.
"After a short distance the trail reaches a wet area
that someone has placed cut hemlocks as stepping blocks in the
wet section. Be careful the steps are slippery.
At 0.1 miles cross a stream on a plank and log footbridge with
more stepping blocks across the stream. After 0.3 miles
the trail is in the old growth forest with huge mature yellow
birch as well as spruce and hemlocks.
"At 0.6 miles the trail descends to a small stream is
forded. Note this spot as it can be difficult to follow
on your return. The trail now heads into a marshy area
that can be flooded at times. This area will frustrate
most hikers and send them back. What remains of an old
bridge over a stream at 0.7 miles is really inadequate and there
is no way around the marsh.
"The stream is the outlet of Christian Lake and although
is small, it is deep. The old bridge has deteriorated
to a couple of old logs. After crossing the outlet stream
the path heads to a higher section away from the vlei into a
hemlock grove. At 1.0 miles the path takes a steep ascent
as Goldmine Stream is heard on your left, although it may not
be seen through the hemlocks and brush.
"After cresting the steep climb, turn left toward the
stream for views of the series of small waterfalls, which is
the Goldmine Stream Falls. The path continues on past
the falls, to a fern meadow where is seems to disappear.
If you explore this area you might come across an old foundation
and a dug well. Legend has this was the site of a goldmine.
The old logging road actually continued on toward Morehouse
Lake. Major blow downs and other obstacles choke the old
road."
We will post more specifics when we are able to get there.
If anyone has any information on this waterfall or pictures of
it, we would like to hear from
you.
Goldmine Stream flows into the west branch of East Canada Creek.
This empties into the Mohawk River just west of St. Johnsville.
The Mohawk flows to the Hudson River which empties into the Atlantic
ocean in New York City.
