Tenant Creek Falls – An Easy Walk

 

Elevation: 350 ft first falls - 400 ft last falls

Ascent: 25 ft  or 75 ft

Distance: 0.7 miles 0r 2.1 miles

Location: Hope Falls Road off of County Road 15 north out of Northville.

The hike to the lower Tenant Falls is a very modest walk in the woods suitable for most families with young children and dogs. 

 

The trailhead is the same as the one of the trailheads for Wilcox Lake.  It is at the end of the road back past the settlement of Hope Falls which is reached on a good road off of Hamilton County road 15.  This road intersects NY State Route 30 about 4 miles north of Northville. However, you can also pick it up in Northville by turning north on any of  1st thru 4th streets and then turning left onto Reed street which become the county road as it leaves town heading north along the Sacandaga River.  There is a big sign for Hope Falls at the only major junction along the county road.  At the first junction on the road to Hope Falls, go straight for the Wilcox Lake trailhead.  At the next place where you could turn or go straight, bend left and stay on this main road.  A little over a mile from the end, the road becomes a good gravel road along the edge of Stony Creek.  Currently, parking and initial trail access for Tenant Creek Falls are on private land for which there is no easement. Although the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) does have a trail easement for the adjacent trailhead to Wilcox Lake, it does not cover the spur trail to Tenant Creek Falls, also part of the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest.  DEC personnel are working on a reroute that will place the trail entirely on public land. In the meantime, hikers are asked to respect the landowner’s privacy by staying on the trail and taking pains not to obstruct the private driveway.  Keep you dogs on a leash at least until you leave sight of their home. 

The trail starts north along Stony Creek on its way to Wilcox Lake, but after 100 yards or so, you come to a bridge.  Don’t cross the bridge, instead take the obvious wide trail to your right and head east up Tenant Creek.  There is very little ascent, but there will probably be a number of muddy stretches.  Looking ahead, you may see the stream valley make a sharp turn to the right.  The first and biggest falls is just around that bend.  You can’t miss it. 

The trail goes on beyond the first falls up to two additional falls.  This section of trail is slightly more challenging, but still pretty tame.  Don’t travel beyond the top of the third falls since then you would have to trespass on private land.

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NOTE: For a more complete description of the trail, please see ADK's GUIDE to ADIRONDACK TRAILS - Southern Region, pp 86-88.

Have a great hike!
Bob Goodwin