High Falls is a waterfall in Franklin County, New York, about 11 miles east of Malone. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.
At a glance
- Location
- Franklin County, NY
- Nearest town
- Malone (11 mi)
- Visitor rating
- 4.3 from 30 reviews
- Crowds
- Quieter
- Coordinates
- 44.90949, -74.08627
- USGS topo
- Chateaugay quad
Weather at High Falls
Full NWS forecastForecast for the waterfall's exact location, not the nearest town. Mountain weather can change quickly.
Loading the forecast...
Source: National Weather Service.
Conditions at High Falls
Sun and Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- —
- Sunset
- —
- Daylight
- —
- Golden hour
- —
Times in New York time. Canyons and steep valleys lose direct sun earlier.
Elevation
—
At the mapped waterfall point, from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Expect cooler temperatures than in nearby towns at lower elevation.
Nearest Stream Gauge
Checking for USGS gauges within about 8 miles...
Live discharge in cubic feet per second (ft³/s). The gauge may be on a different stream than the falls; use the trend as a rough guide to how much water is running in the area.
Getting there
High Falls sits about 11 miles east of Malone in Franklin County. Google lists the address as Chateaugay, NY 12920.
Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the High Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.
Most well-known falls are in state parks managed by New York State Parks or on state Forest Preserve and other lands managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation; the Adirondack and Catskill parks are a patchwork of public and private land, so posted boundaries matter. Popular parks such as Watkins Glen, Taughannock and Niagara Falls charge vehicle fees and become crowded on summer weekends, and Kaaterskill Falls parking fills early. Gorge rims are the chief hazard: shale and limestone edges crumble, ledges are wet and slippery, and fatal falls have occurred at several sites, including the upper ledges of Kaaterskill Falls. Swimming in gorges is often prohibited outside designated areas. Stay on marked trails and behind barriers.
What to bring
This checklist is tailored to High Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of New York. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.
- Offline map and coordinates. Save 44.90949, -74.08627 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
- Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
- Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
- A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
- Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.
How to prepare
Timing
Spring is prime waterfall season across New York. Snowmelt and rain usually push the Adirondack and Tug Hill rivers to their highest levels from April into May, and the Finger Lakes gorges run strongly through spring. Many smaller gorge falls drop to a thin veil in July and August, though Niagara and other large river falls flow steadily all year. Autumn brings outstanding foliage, peaking in the Adirondacks in late September and early October and later in the Catskills and Finger Lakes, and fall rains often restore flows. Winter freezes many falls into ice sculptures, but some Finger Lakes gorge trails close for the season because of ice and rockfall. With 30 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.
Safety
Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.
Respect the place
Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.
What visitors say
High Falls holds a 4.3-star average across 30 Google reviews, and 73% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the most reviewed waterfall in Franklin County. Visitors have shared 40 photos.
See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.
History of the area
High Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on January 23, 1980, and it appears on the USGS Chateaugay 7.5-minute topographic map.
Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Bailey Brook (stream, 1.3 mi).
Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence Valley. Northern New York holds the largest concentration of named falls in the state. Rivers draining the Adirondack dome drop repeatedly as they cross from hard Precambrian rock onto the lowlands, and many of these falls are near small towns such as Hannawa Falls, Canton and Gouverneur, where they once powered mills and now feed hydroelectric plants. In Essex County, falls in the High Peaks around Lake Placid and Elizabethtown are wilder, often reached by forest trails along mountain brooks or found in rocky gorges cut by the Ausable and Boquet rivers. Hamilton and Franklin counties add falls deep in the lake country around Tupper Lake and Lake Pleasant.
Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip
More around here: waterfalls near Malone · Franklin County waterfalls · all New York waterfalls
Frequently asked questions
Where is High Falls?
High Falls is in Franklin County, New York, about 11 miles east of Malone. Its coordinates are 44.90949, -74.08627.
Is High Falls crowded?
With 30 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.
What should I bring to High Falls?
At minimum: offline map and coordinates, shoes with real grip, water and a snack, and a light rain layer. See the full checklist above, which is tailored to what visitors report about this waterfall.
When is the best time to visit High Falls?
Spring is prime waterfall season across New York. Snowmelt and rain usually push the Adirondack and Tug Hill rivers to their highest levels from April into May, and the Finger Lakes gorges run strongly through spring.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to visit High Falls?
Fees and permits depend on who manages the land. Check with the managing agency before you go. Our New York waterfalls page covers access in the state.
Summary
High Falls about 11 miles east of Malone is rated 4.3 out of 5 by 30 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.
See the full High Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.