Description
Densmore Creek begins northeast of the City of Rochester and flows through the highly developed town of Irondequoit and eventually empties into Irondequoit Bay. Passing through such a densely populated area, the creek picks up quite a bit of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, among other contaminants. The water here is not crystal clear, but this small glen remains a beautiful hidden treasure in the seemingly least likely of places.

In Densmore Glen, the creek drops down several small ledges, totaling no more than 10 feet in height, just before it reaches Densmore Falls. The falls, nearly 15 feet high, is a classic cascade over a large block of jagged shale, sandwiched between Maplewood Shale and Medina Sandstone.  The Medina layer, which contains high amounts of iron oxides, gives the soil in this area a reddish tint.

The glen is littered with rusting car parts, empty cans and various other odd pieces of trash, many of which seem to have been dumped decades ago. The creek bottom is a bit slimy at times and the water takes on a reddish tint due to the large concentrations of iron in the bedrock, but it certainly does not detract much from the picturesque beauty of this place.

Trails
Difficulty: Moderate
Markings: None.
Details: From the Densmore Rd bridge, follow the trail to the east. It runs along the south side of the creek. You may have to creek-walk briefly to avoid posted land. The crest of the falls is no more than 500 feet from the bridge. Scramble along the southern sides to get to the base. If you are coming from the adjacent retirement community or apartment complex, trails cut through the brush from the rear lots and connect to the trail that leads to the falls.

History
Early settlement in the Irondequoit region was slow, primarily due to the vast swampland that plagued this region and festered disease. Pioneers eventually drained the land and were able to settle and plant crops. The Town was founded in 1839 and with its vast lakefront and calm bay, the rail and trolley lines brought people by the thousands to its numerous waterfront resorts.

We are not sure what stood on the Densmore Falls site. If you have any information, please contact us.

Do not miss...
Experience a classic American lakeside amusement park at Seabreeze. The park opened in August of 1879 and is now the fourth oldest operating amusement park in the United States. In 1920, the Jack Rabbit wooden roller coaster opened as the fastest coaster in the world, and still operates today (as the second oldest coaster in the US).

Paddle Irondequoit Creek and the Bay. Visit BayCreek Paddling on Empire Blvd for kayak and canoe rentals, lessons, tours and more.