Basford Falls, Part 1

I'd hiked the eight consecutive waterfalls along the Grasse River back in March - except that I'd missed both the first and the last. Well, this was the day I would remedy that omission. I drove to the tiny hamlet of Degrasse and turned onto Tooley Pond Road. At the 1.5 mile mark I found this small sign and two steel posts. It's no wonder I missed Basford Falls the first time:

I parked and let the dogs out. Tooley Pond Road is so very remote that I had no fear of traffic. We entered the forest and began following the unmarked trail towards the Grasse River:

It was an altogether pleasant experience, and I walked with my four very happy dogs through emerald woods, not yet showing any signs of autumn:

I heard the roar of the falls first and then just ahead and down a hill, I could see the river:

The dogs broke into a run and headed right for the water:

There was a cleft in the rocky shoreline where water drained from the forest and, just beyond that, the beautiful Grasse River:

The water was not so high as it was in the springtime, and I was less nervous. So the dogs ran freely across the rocks, exploring every inch of this magnificent scene:

You probably didn't see her in this photo, but if you'll look to the bottom right of the picture, you'll see Clover sniffing at something. This will give you a better idea of the grand scale of things:

From above, Basford Falls looked more like a rapids. From below, I could see that it was a real waterfall:

My two Papillons, who I often refer to as the "Silly Sisters," frolicked and had lots of fun:

And ran full speed through the forest and along the riverbank:

I confess that I got a little nervous when they were near the roaring water, but I'm getting a little more used to it now. This was a lovely site and I was glad I'd come back to experience it. But I'll post more about our walk to Basford Falls tomorrow:

Rainbow Falls (Part 1) At 6.1 Miles

I was making the Grand Waterfall Tour along the spectacular Grasse River, an Adirondack waterway just south of Canton, New York. I'd so far stopped at Lampson Falls, Sinclair Falls, Twin Falls, Adrenaline Falls and Bulkhead Falls although I'd failed to find the trail head for Basford Falls. The Big Kahuna of cascades, second only to Lampson Falls, was just ahead at 6.1 miles from the hamlet of Degrasse, New York along Tooley Pond Road. I noticed, as I drove along, that logging had cleared the land abutting the road. I found it fascinating to see the lay of the land all exposed, without many trees. The scattering of large rocks, I guessed, was debris left behind by the retreating glaciers many eons ago:

I didn't find the trail head but I did find a marked canoe carry at about the right distance. Thinking this might take me to the falls, I parked and began walking down it toward the Grasse River. Fergus led the way:

I didn't know if this was the trail or not, but it was lovely so I just enjoyed the experience:

When we arrived at the Grasse River I marveled at its beauty but there were no waterfalls and no indication of whether the falls were upstream or downstream:

The Grasse River here, although powerful, was calm and scenic. The dogs played along its shore:

I looked both upstream and downstream for some hint of where to find the waterfall but saw none and heard no roaring:

When I turned to go, however, I saw this sign for canoeists indicating there were dangerous falls just downstream. I can't imagine how someone in a canoe would see that sign, however, and wondered how many people had died going over the falls. But perhaps there was another, more visible sign downstream and a place to get one's canoe out of the water. But I now knew that the falls were downstream:

In that direction. I strained to hear them but heard only the breeze and bird songs. I imagined how an unsuspecting canoeist might be lulled into thinking this was a perfectly safe stretch of placid river:

But we were seeking Rainbow Falls, so we started back up the trail toward the road:

It was pleasant and scenic, enjoyable with or without waterfalls:

We'd been having 70 to 80 degree days and yet there was still snow in many places:

I got back into my car and drove downstream along Tooley Pond Road until I saw this small sign. Now I knew where to find the trail head! But I'll post more tomorrow:

Bulkhead Falls At 3.5 Miles

Adrenaline Falls had been at 3.3 miles from the hamlet of Degrasse along Tooley Pond Road and Bulkhead Falls was to found at 3.5 miles. So I had to keep alert as I watched for a trail along the road. I thought I found one near a large boulder beside the road so I parked and let the dogs out:

The whole forest was dotted with giant boulders, presumably glacial erratics, which were covered with mosses and lichens:

The dogs and I walked down to the Grasse River and enjoyed the stunning view of Adirondack forest and churning, roiling waters:

Seamus began to wade into the water. I was at first alarmed, but decided he was in no danger there. In the end, he only got his feet wet and quenched his thirst:

Little Clover wanted no part of the water but happily explored the rocky shoreline. She looked so tiny in all that grandeur that I found it a striking contrast:

We walked downstream to see the falls, climbing over giant rocks:

And there it was, Bulkhead Falls:

It was such a pleasant spot and a warm day that we hung around and enjoyed a bit of rock hopping near the water:

As you can see, the Grasse River here was quite powerful. Nonetheless, I let the dogs do their exploring and they were careful, not going too close to the rapids:

Seamus was less adventurous, preferring to strike dramatic poses instead of adventuring:

We got close to the top of the falls and looked down. I suppose that this would be considered by some a rapid instead of a falls, but I'd bet any unfortunate soul who went over it in a canoe would not quibble:

The river quieted down to a calm and peaceful waterway just below the falls:

The views were stunning:

We began climbing back uphill toward our parked car, but Clover and I stopped for one parting shot of lovely Bulkhead Falls before leaving for our next waterfall:

Adrenaline Falls At 3.3 Miles

The next waterfall in our tour was Adrenaline Falls at 3.3 miles from the hamlet of Degrasse, New York. Tooley Pond Road was following the Grasse River and I was finding the trail heads by mileage. At more or less the 3.3 mile mark I spotted a trail so I parked the car and let the dogs out:

We hiked a short distance downhill to the Grasse River through a beautiful forest:

I was surprised to find a sandy beach along the Grasse River and Seamus was delighted. He went right in but the other dogs wanted no part of it:

Delicate little Clover has an adventurous spirit and walked right out onto the rocks of the falls, stopping only when her feet were immersed. I was just about to call her back when I realized she was going no farther. She just wanted to take a closer look:

Adrenaline Falls is also called Stewart Rapids. The "adrenaline" part, I imagine, was a word offered up (along with lots of swear words) by those unfortunate explorers whose canoes were swept over the falls. Those who lived to tell the tale, that is:

The Grasse River roiled and churned with great power as it made its way downstream, heading toward its rendezvous with the St. Lawrence Seaway:

Yet there were quiet inlets and gorgeous, peaceful woodlands:

Daphne and Clover seemed to recognize no danger. To them this was just another play time in the forest:

I'd walked out onto a piece of land jutting into the river and then noticed that I only had three dogs with me. Seamus was not there. Where was Seamus?!? I started to panic but then saw his frustrated face beneath that fallen tree behind us. He was too fat to jump over the tree and too big to crawl under it. But he was still trying:

But we had more waterfalls to see so I began walking uphill back toward our parked car (you can just see it up on the road):

Clover struck a winning pose alongside a couple of very large trees. Now, this is the life for a Papillon, much better than silk pillows and pink bows!:

We all climbed uphill with the dogs continuing to frolic. This was all a great deal of fun for them even if I did get a little loud when they got too close to the falls or rapids:

This was during that patch of 80 degree (F) weather we had in March but it was still morning and not yet too hot:

As soon as this romp was over, we hopped back into the car and headed farther down Tooley Pond Road toward the next waterfall: