A better look at the Cohoes Falls
It is a long way down.
Believe it or not, Europeans visiting the United States once made it a point to stop in Cohoes and see the falls. They're that cool.
But for the longest time, the falls have been kind of hidden. The one official overlook that did exist was hard to find and the view from it wasn't very good.
That all changed recently.
A new park opened last week that has much better views of the falls. Falls View Park is located closer to the falls on land owned by the power company that generates electricity at the site. And it's a big improvement on the old spot. Have a look:
old
new
The only bad thing about the new park is that it's so easy to find. The old one, tucked behind old mill worker housing, had a certain charming lost quality about it. We'll take the better the views, though.
Speaking of which, make sure you walk all the way to the left side of the park if you stop by -- some of the best views are at that end.
See also: a webcam of the Cohoes Falls operated by the US Geological Survey
Find It
Falls View Park
North Mohawk St
Cohoes, NY 12047
Look for the sign on the right side N Mohawk as you're heading out of Cohoes.
There's a parking lot on the opposite side of street.
Then take the foot bridge across the canal to park.
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Comments
Great Pics! Will the barriers stop Cohoes' finest from exploring further? Its aweful expensive to operate medivacs these days.
... said Jeff S on Aug 25, 2008 at 4:41 PM | link
Are these the falls that you can see from Peeble's Island Park? Or are those other falls?
... said Katherine on Aug 26, 2008 at 9:21 AM | link
These probably aren't the same falls -- it looks like it'd be hard to see them from Peebles. Anyone know for sure?
... said Greg on Aug 26, 2008 at 9:34 AM | link
You're probably right. Either way, both parks have great views of the rivers!
... said Katherine on Aug 26, 2008 at 3:44 PM | link
We visited the new park (and the old one too) on Sunday. It's a nice place and there were quite a few other people checking it out as well. Worth taking a look if (like me before this weekend) you've never been.
... said Elizabeth on Sep 2, 2008 at 9:23 AM | link
Love the new Park about time we get a park there 60 years too late.I use to live on the corner of school and cataract street where the old view was.near the old marsolais grocery.
Great improvement. I use to climb over the fence and go below power plant to fish.when i was 13 or so i am 61 now. and live in florida .Marcel Boulerice marcelb@live.com
... said Marcel Boulerice on Sep 12, 2008 at 11:53 AM | link
To answer the questions above. Cohoes Falls are massive -- about 1000 feet across, I believe. The falls span the entire Mohawk River.
You cannot see Cohoes Falls from Peebles Island (except maybe from the top of the water tower). There is a nice waterfall flowing besides Peebles Island, but that waterfall is only a tiny fraction of the size of Cohoes Falls.
There is a dam across the Mohawk River below Cohoes Falls that you can see from the southern most point of Peebles Island. If the car and train bridges weren't there, it might be possible to see a portion of Cohoes Falls from Peebles Island. But that is not possible now.
Local historian Don Rittner has an excellent post about Cohoes Falls on his Times Union Blog:
http://blog.timesunion.com/rittner/cohoes-falls-an-ancient-wonder-of-the-new-world-%E2%80%93-again/93/
... said Duncan Crary on Jun 22, 2009 at 11:07 AM | link
Easiest way to get to the falls is just go to the very end of Rt. 787 then when you get to the traffic light go straight through the intersection and up the hill. Go past the Harmony Mills and when you do so you'll see a small green sign that says "Cohoes Falls". Take a right at the sign. Their awsome and especially so in the spring or after a good rainstorm.
... said Jeff R. on Oct 11, 2010 at 12:12 AM | link
Went to the Falls for the first time this summer...I couldn't believe how unimpressive they were. When do they turn the faucet on because it looked to be at about 20% power...
... said RocketA on Sep 8, 2011 at 11:54 PM | link
Rocket, All waterways have a low flow rate in the summer. Try spring, when the ice and snow are melting. The falls are a nice spot in the winter too, you can usually see some bald eagles on the ice.
Or, you could try right now with the recent record flooding and all.
... said B on Sep 9, 2011 at 10:18 AM | link