New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers responded to multiple backcountry incidents from August 18th through August 22nd. These included lost and injured hikers, stranded and injured boaters, an injured cliff jumper and more. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Respond to Lost, Injured Outdoor Recreationists
waterfalls
The Great Blondin: Frenchman Jean François Gravelet
The tightrope is the simplest of spectacles. It relies on a human aerialist strolling along the abyss. In Roman times it was called funambulism, walking on rope.
Amid the golden age of daredevils during the nineteenth century, said to be the greatest of all “rope dancers” was the Frenchman Jean François Gravelet, born in 1824. [Read more…] about The Great Blondin: Frenchman Jean François Gravelet
Campers Rescued from Violent Storm; Injured Cliff Jumper; Many More Rescues
New York State Forest Rangers spent a busy week rescuing numerous people from backcountry dangers, including: a 77-year-old rescued by helicopter in the Adirondack High Peaks; Lows Lake campers stranded by a violent storm; a teen medical emergency near Cranberry Lake; a capsized boat; an injured cliff jumper on the West Branch Ausable River which included a technical rope rescue; and dehydrated hikers and hikers with lower leg injuries in the Adirondacks and Catskills.
Be sure to eat before hiking and bring plenty of water and extra food that’s high in protein and calories. Read the Ten Hiking Essentials. [Read more…] about Campers Rescued from Violent Storm; Injured Cliff Jumper; Many More Rescues
New Watkins Glen State Park Sentry Bridge Installed
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) has opened the new Sentry Bridge at Watkins Glen State Park, restoring full access to the renowned Gorge and Southern Rim Trails.
The bridge reconnects visitors to the park’s iconic waterfalls, overlooks and trail network in one of New York’s most visited parks. [Read more…] about New Watkins Glen State Park Sentry Bridge Installed
Dog Rescued After Fall Over Falls; Ill and Injured Hikers Rescued
New York State Forest Rangers had another busy week with dangerous rescue operations in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and elsewhere. Including a dog that went over the edge at Fawn’s Leap Falls; an unconscious hiker at Kaaterskill Falls; several hikers with lower leg injuries; and more. [Read more…] about Dog Rescued After Fall Over Falls; Ill and Injured Hikers Rescued
Season Opening of the Copake Iron Works
The Pomeroy Family Railroad at the Copake Iron Works, operated by the Friends of Taconic State Park, opens for its third year of operation on Saturday, May 23, 2026 (Memorial Day Weekend). The Railroad runs on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 2 pm to 4 pm through mid-October.
The Pomeroy Family Railroad is part of the Copake Iron Works National Heritage Area in Taconic State Park, which also includes the remains of the iron works, a museum, visitor center and 25 point historic trail. [Read more…] about Season Opening of the Copake Iron Works
Watchable Wildlife: Sugar Hill State Forest
Known for its rolling hardwood forests, diverse wildlife, and scenic overlooks, Sugar Hill State Forest offers an inviting gateway to the natural landscapes of the Finger Lakes region.
Located just outside Watkins Glen, this state forest stands out in the area for its unique blend of hidden ponds and waterfalls, mountainous hills, and a noteworthy fire tower that rewards visitors with 15 miles of panoramic views. [Read more…] about Watchable Wildlife: Sugar Hill State Forest
Surveying The Champlain Canal Route, 1792
What follows is a report made by the directors of the Northern Inland Lock Navigation Company of the country between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. The expedition during which this survey was conducted was led by Philip Schuyler in September 1792 to establish a route for the Champlain Canal.
By the act of incorporation, the navigation of Hudson River, from the mouth of the creek on which the grist mill occupied by Colonel Rensselaer [Nicholas Van Rensselaer, 1754-1848, or Colonel Kiliaen van Rensselaer, 1717–1781] is erected in the town of Troy [possibly the Poesten Kill or Wynants Kill] to opposite the house of Mr. Tibbets [George Tibbits, 1763–1849] in Lansingburg is to be rendered navigable for boats drawing four feet water when loaded. [Read more…] about Surveying The Champlain Canal Route, 1792
A New Guide to the Fabulous Fountains of New York
New York City’s fountains are more than just decorative features — they are historical landmarks, cultural icons, and dynamic works of art that shape the city’s landscape.
In Fabulous Fountains of New York (Fordham University Press, 2025) award-winning author and native New Yorker Stephanie Azzarone takes readers on a captivating journey through the artistry, history, and hidden stories behind these remarkable waterworks. [Read more…] about A New Guide to the Fabulous Fountains of New York
New Upgrades, Permits for Peekamoose Blue Hole
A newly constructed Peekamoose Blue Hole parking lot and first phase of a 3,270-foot accessible connector trail is hoped to improved the visitor experience and promotes sustainable use of natural resources in the three-mile Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor in the Catskills.
Peekamoose Blue Hole in the town of Denning in Ulster County is one of the most popular and oft-visited wild places in New York State. [Read more…] about New Upgrades, Permits for Peekamoose Blue Hole
New Keeseville Waterfront Park Opens June 4th
Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) and the Town of Ausable, New York will hold a ribbon cutting and opening of the new Keeseville Waterfront Park on Ausable Street at 10 am on June 4th.
Following years of planning, preparation, fundraising, and construction, AARCH is gifting the Keeseville Waterfront Park to the Town of Ausable for public use. The Park sits on the Ausable River site of the former Prescott Rolling and Slitting Mill (also known as the Red Mill), once a centerpiece of the community’s iron industry. It had been vacant for years prior to AARCH’s acquisition of the site in 2018. [Read more…] about New Keeseville Waterfront Park Opens June 4th
Peanut Leap Cascade: The Lawrence–Tonetti Waterfall in Palisades, NY
On the April 2025 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History the topic of conversation was the Lawrence–Tonetti Waterfall in Palisades, NY.
Also known as Peanut Leap Cascade, this natural waterfall was beautifully enhanced by sculptors Mary Lawrence and Francois Tonetti in the early 20th century by creating stream-fed pools, sculptural fountainheads, and a Roman-style pergola on the shore of the Hudson River. [Read more…] about Peanut Leap Cascade: The Lawrence–Tonetti Waterfall in Palisades, NY
Rangers Respond to Wilderness Rescues at High Tor, Whiteface Landing
On Tuesday, March 11 at about 5:45 pm, New York State Forest Ranger Patrick Dormer responded to a report of two stranded hikers at Conklin Gully in High Tor Wildlife Management Area in Yates County, NY. Mud, erosion, and high-water flows made it difficult for the pair from Manchester and Farmington to return the way they had hiked in. [Read more…] about Rangers Respond to Wilderness Rescues at High Tor, Whiteface Landing
The Movement to Save Niagara Falls
Every year, more than nine million people come from all over the globe to experience the bucket-list waterfalls at Niagara Falls State Park. With attractions like the Cave of the Winds decks and the iconic Maid of the Mist boat tour of the base of Niagara Falls, visitors can experience the power of the Falls first hand.
Established in 1885, Niagara Falls State Park holds the distinction of being the oldest state park in the United States. The creation of the park marked a significant milestone in conservation history. [Read more…] about The Movement to Save Niagara Falls
Watchable Wildlife: Buttermilk Falls State Park
Enjoy both wildlife-watching and snapping some photos at Buttermilk Falls State Park. It’s located near the city of Ithaca in Tompkins County and takes its name from the foaming cascade formed by Buttermilk Creek as it flows through the steep valley toward Cayuga Lake. Its diverse habitats harbor an equally diverse array of wildlife.
As you ascend Buttermilk Creek’s steep gorge, the sound of deep, rhythmic knocking may lead you to spot the impressive pileated woodpecker. Listen and look for the many songbirds and owls as you hike past potholes and waterfalls to Buttermilk Falls. [Read more…] about Watchable Wildlife: Buttermilk Falls State Park
Stony Brook State Park Renovations Complete, More Announced
A new bathhouse, lifeguard station, and playground were recently unveiled at Stony Brook State Park near Dansville, Steuben County, NY.
During the announcement of the completion of these upgrades, new investments were announced to improve parking lots, update tennis courts, and build a new park office. The upcoming renovations are expected to be complete in 2025. [Read more…] about Stony Brook State Park Renovations Complete, More Announced
2 Hikers Injured After Fall At Taconic State Park Waterfall
On Tuesday, May 14th at about 2:30 pm, New York State Forest Rangers Joseph Pries and Aubrey Russo responded to a call for two injured hikers at the bottom of the waterfall off the Quarry Hill Trail near the Massachusetts -New York border at Taconic State Park in Dutchess County, NY. [Read more…] about 2 Hikers Injured After Fall At Taconic State Park Waterfall
Fourth Body Recovered from Genesee River Since October
New York State Police have announced that another body was recovered Thursday from waters of the Genesee River. This time at Letchworth State Park in Wyoming County, NY. Police and a medical examiner are working to identify the remains, the fourth body found in the river since October.
[Read more…] about Fourth Body Recovered from Genesee River Since October
Copeland Covered Bridge in Saratoga County
If you’re looking for a lovely spring ride, a picturesque picnic spot, and a bit of history to boot, why not visit the Copeland Covered Bridge? Located in Edinburg, in the quaint community of Beecher Hollow, this one-lane, 35-foot long bridge has the distinction of being the last remaining covered bridge in Saratoga County. [Read more…] about Copeland Covered Bridge in Saratoga County
A Short History of Finger Lakes Tourism
The geology and climate of the Finger Lakes region presented a landscape of great natural beauty that has attracted tourism and recreation for more than 200 years.
Wealthy elites from the city of New York began building homes at Skaneateles Lake as early as 1809, and mineral springs in Livingston County in the western portion of the greater Finger Lakes region attracted visitors starting in the 1820s. [Read more…] about A Short History of Finger Lakes Tourism