Rainbow Falls (Part 3) At 6.1 Miles

We'd hiked in to Rainbow Falls and found it to be magnificent, roaring through a narrow gorge and causing mist to fill the air (thus causing the "rainbows"). We'd walked downstream and back uphill alongside a secondary, adjacent waterfall:

The northern forest was quite spectacular all on its own, even without the waterfalls, and a joy to experience:

The trail was lined with mosses and tree roots and quite peaceful except for the constant roar of the falls:

When we reached the top of the hill, I put the dogs back on their leashes and walked over to the edge of the gorge:

Rainbow Falls up close and personal was a powerful and awe inspiring experience. Besides the sight and sound, the air was filled with mist:

And there's the best shot so far of the wave-shaped snow which the Papillons almost climbed, nearly causing me to have a meltdown. You can really see here how dangerous it would have been:

But then we began hiking back toward the trail head. Mosses and lichens covered the rocks along the way:

We crossed back over the little bridge spanning the rapids without incident:

And back through the quiet, peaceful forest where not even the roar of Rainbow Falls could penetrate:

The dogs still felt happy and playful. As for me, I was feeling serene and content although I wanted to get home:

There was yet another waterfall on my planned itinerary, Copper Rock Falls, but I wanted to get back to the farm and take care of Wally and Winky. I also wanted to see how the barn reconstruction was progressing:

Rainbow Falls (Part 2) At 6.1 Miles

In yesterday's post I told you how I'd taken the wrong trail seeking Rainbow Falls. It brought us to the banks of the Grasse River in all its splendor - but there were no falls. Well, now I was sure we were on the right trail and I was excited because Rainbow Falls was reportedly a breathtaking sight. The dogs trotted on ahead of me down the trail through the forest:

I knew we were close when the trail led us across a little bridge (and I could hear the roar of the falls):

My heart skipped a beat when little Daphne's foot slipped through the boards on the bridge but all was well:

And in this photo you can see the raging torrent beneath the bridge - and that torrent led directly to a waterfall, though not the big one:

The trail led us to this patch of snow and both Papillons ran merrily toward it. I could see that it was wave-shaped snow overhanging a deep gorge with the waterfall beneath it and screamed like a crazy person for the dogs to stop! They did stop, probably wondering why their dad had lost his marbles. You'll be able to see in later pictures just how catastrophic their action would have been. I immediately put all the dogs on leashes:

We descended the rocks following the smaller waterfall until we got a good view of Rainbow Falls, named for the refracted light emanating from the constant mist in the air. In fact, I had to quickly shut my camera's lens to protect it. See that wave-shaped snow formation on the upper left of the gorge? That's what the Papillons wanted to run out on!:

I walked downstream along the raging Grasse River until it seemed safe to once again let the dogs off their leashes. Daphne looked up at me as if to ask what was all the excitement about earlier?:

Seamus stood quietly with me, watching the spectacular Rainbow Falls, feeling its mist and hearing the overpowering roar:

Clover quietly explored the moist rocks above the river and Fergus trotted off to see the sights:

The immense power of the torrent below us would have been awe-inspiring even without the falls:

We went even farther downstream to where we could get close to the water. I suppose there are folks who climb out onto that rock, but I was not one of them!:

We'd seen what we'd come to see and it was magnificent. But it was time to return to the car, so we began our ascent alongside the smaller waterfall (below the bridge). It would have been a worthwhile sight all its own  but received no mention in the guide books at all since it was so overshadowed by the much more dramatic Rainbow Falls. But we weren't done yet. I'll post more 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: