Sometimes visiting New York’s most noteworthy attractions can mean that there will be a significant amount of physical effort required on our part. Whether you’re interested in an easily reachable adventure because you don’t want to strain yourself or maybe because you’re simply looking for something that doesn’t have to take you too long to explore, we’ve got the perfect place for you.
Ready to see one of the most powerful waterfalls in our state? You won’t believe this easily accessible waterfall in New York:
Pictured below, we've mapped out where this adventure will take you while you visit Cohoes Falls.
That's right! One of the most underrated waterfalls of our state that's hiding right in plain sight, you'll love how easy it is to get a nice view of the falls. Using the image from Google Maps, you'll find the yellow stars showing you where the parking lot and main overlooks for the falls are. You'll also find red stars that point out areas of the two parks that you'll see captured below.
Click here, for directions to where you'll park to get to the falls.
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Once you park your vehicle, you'll cross over North Mohawk Street and begin your voyage to the views of the falls!
After crossing the street, you'll have to make your way across the 192-foot bridge to explore Falls View Park.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
You crossed the bridge, hooray! Now, if you go towards the left you'll come across picnic tables and get your first glimpse of the falls.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
You'll also be able to go out onto the fishing platforms.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
On the right side of the park you'll also find another fishing platform to visit!
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Continue walking down this path and you'll find what some consider to be the best lookout point of the two parks.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
The view is quite spectacular from here! And that's right, there are technically two parks that you can view the falls from, but we'll get to that in a moment.
Make your way back towards the center of the park and you'll find panoramic views and an amphitheater waiting for you.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
The main area of the park, here you'll be able to enjoy unforgettable scenic views. The amphitheater holds up to 80 people and has trees that provide shaded areas for visitors of the park.
Continue walking along the lower area of Falls View Park and you'll discover the stairs leading you down towards the water.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
If there's any part of the park that will require some physical effort on your half, it will be these stairs and the path leading you down to the water. With that said, these stairs truly aren't troublesome and shouldn't be difficult for most visitors.
Get to the bottom of the stairs and you'll begin to follow the paved pathway.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
The paved pathway is short but sweet, bringing you down the hill while you're able to have a view of the Mohawk River and the falls. Once you reach the bottom and the pave path ends, you'll see a gravel pathway begin.
The gravel pathway will bring you to a viewing platform that has wonderful views of the surrounding area.
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In this area of Falls View Park and on your way to the platform, you'll have a closer view of the water.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Here, you'll usually begin to see wildlife and start to fall in love with the park.
Before you know it, you'll reach the platform!
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Down on the platform and throughout the park you'll find informative signs explaining the history of Cohoes Falls and what types of fish you can expect to find in this area of the Mohawk River!
The Falls View Park was created less than 10-years ago and has been a greatly appreciated addition to the city.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
The park is owned by the company that generates electricity at the falls. Before Falls View Park was created, Overlook Park just down the road, was the only park that you could view the Cohoes Falls from. While the park always remained a hidden treasure in the area, you can get much better views of the river and falls from the newly created park.
After you're done exploring Falls View Park, you can walk .03 miles down the road to Overlook Park!
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You'll make your way back to the road as if you're heading to the parking lot, except you won't cross the road!
You'll walk until you reach the corner of School Street, where you'll see a sign pointing you towards the falls.
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If you didn't feel like taking the less than half-mile walk to the next park, you can also find parking over off of this street.
Take the left at the corner and walk until you reach the Cohoes Falls archway!
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It's so easy to get here! We still can't believe it.
From here, you'll be able to see the view visitors have long had from Overlook Park.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
The view from the original park is clearly wonderful, but there's no denying that the new park offers much closer views of the falls.
Like the newer park, Overlook Park features a smaller amphitheater, picnic tables and benches for visitors.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
After you take the time to visit Cohoes Falls, you'll better be able to understand why people often compare it to our famous Niagara Falls. Cohoes Falls is roughly 1,000-feet wide and reaches up to 90-feet in height. In comparison, the American Falls are 830-feet wide and reaches up to 110-feet in height! You probably weren't expecting all of those numbers to be so close, were you?
The park is open from May through November, with daily hours of 7AM to 7:30PM.
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