Pratt's Falls - Photos, Maps, Information

Pratt's Falls

Location - Six miles south/east of Syracuse. Within Pratt's falls County Park, Town of Pompey, Onondaga County
Maps: Google Map, Google Earth, Multi
GPS/Locations: Falls: N 42.93116 / W 75.99398
Park entrance: N 42.92713 / W 75.99464
Directions: Take 81 to Exit 15 and follow Rt. 20. Make a left (North) at Pompey and Pratt's Falls County Park will be on your right. Park in the first parking area (across from the archery fields).

Information
Number of falls: 1
Size/Types: 137 ft tall ribbon cascade
Best time to visit: All year. Better view of the falls when the leaves are off the trees.
Flow: Consistent/medium
Waterway: A tributary into Limestone Creek.
Time: 20 minutes.

Accessibility
Seasons/Hours: Park open all year. April: 8:30am-6:30pm May: 8:30am-7:30pm June-August: 8:30am-8:30pm September: 8:30am-7:30pm October: 8:30am-6:30pm November-March: 10am-4pm.
Parking: Plenty of parking and pullover areas throughout the park.
Admission: $1 vehicle fee.
Handicap accessibility: Yes, at the crest of the falls.
Pets: Allowed on leash.
Accommodations: Restrooms, trails, archery field, picnic tables, community lodge.

Trails
Difficulty: Easy
The falls is easily seen from the viewing platform at the crest. (As of summer '06 this viewing platform was closed due to a rockslide). One can also take the trail that begins at the adjacent parking lot down the gorge to the viewing platform, about at the half-way point of the falls. From the Parking lot, follow the trail down, keeping left until you reach the platform. Due to the unstable slopes in the gorge, it's not recommended you cross the boundaries and climb down to the creek-bed.
Map: Park Map (PDF)
Markings: Trails are well defined and lined with rails. There is a mix of dirt, rock and cement pathways.

Description...
The centerpiece of this county park is its sole falls. Although it resides in a deep gorge, covered in trees, it is seen perfectly from the provided lookout area. At 137 feet high, Pratt's Falls spreads the tranquil sound of the tumbling water to the adjacent areas of the park. An Excellent case of a "buttermilk" falls, it bounces continuously, frothing and generating rainbow-producing mist.

History...
Beginning as a Seneca settlement, the area was then taken over by European settler's who built the first mill in the area which is now Onondaga County in 1796. The mill was built at the crest of the falls where a dedicated plaque is today.

Do not miss...
The pond just above the falls (the one almost completely taken over by geese) was created by damming the tributary.

Instead of taking the path where it forks to the left towards the falls, take it to the right to continue down the gorge to hike around the gorge.

Mix a bright near-noon sun and a heavy flow and your see plenty of rainbows.

Photography Tips
▪ Come when the wind is low and the leaf coverage on the trees is minimal.
▪ To get the whole falls in frame, a wide-angle lens is a must
▪ Due to the intense contrast between the shadows in the gorge, and the sunlight that hits the trees, it's near impossible to shoot this falls in direct sun. Shooting before sunrise and around golden hour is possible.
▪ See the Articles section for more waterfall photography tips.

Weather

Contact
Pratt's Falls County Park
7671 Pratt's Falls Road
Pompey, NY 13138
(315) 682-5934
e-mail: pratts@ongov.net

Links
Book a lodge in this park
Official Park Website