Hector Falls

Location: North of Watkins Glen; in the Town of Hector; on Seneca Lake; Schuyler County; New York.

Maps: Google Map; Topographic; Interactive.

GPS Coordinates:

• Hector Falls and NY-414 : N 42.41802 / W 76.86677
• Old Mill Falls on Hector Falls Creek: N 42.41887 / W 76.85044

Directions: From the village of Watkins Glen, take NY-414 north along the east side of Seneca Lake for 2.5 miles. You will pass over a bridge, look to the right for the falls. Keep in mind that people on this road are going at 45-65 mph. Slowing or stopping unexpectedly could be dangerous. If you are looking for the falls, slow down and put on your flashers.

Or use Google Maps.

Parking: Park on the shoulder of NY-414 either before or after the falls. Room for about 5 cars. Be careful as traffic along this highway goes no less than 500mph and everyone just looks at their phones while they drive.

Number of falls: 1

Size/Types: Although most commonly recorded as 165 ft high, Hector Falls, can be considered a lot taller, if you begin counting the series of cascading drops from what’s commonly seen of the falls. Over 250 feet of waterfalls combined cascade down this hill from near the top and into Seneca Lake. The first third is a sequence of small and narrow, foamy cascades, one right after the other. As the falls approaches Rt 414, it spreads out over one wide triangular cascade that dips under the highway, and down another wide cascade, and then another, past some cottages. The final stretch is yet another fanning cascade, the widest of all. From the road, you can see just the segment above. From the lake and across it, you can see most of the falls, except the upper chain of cascades.

Best time to visit: Spring, fall and after heavy rain.

Flow: Low. Dry summers will leave just a trickle.

Waterway: Hector Falls Creek (or Logan Creek, depending on the source). It begins in a wetland about 5 miles north east of here in Reynoldsville. It ends at the lake.

Time: A few minutes.

Handicap accessibility: Yes.

Seasons/Hours: Roadside; Year-round; all day, all night

Admission: Free.

Pets: Not a good idea to have your pet out along this busy highway.

Accommodations: None.

For the history of Seneca Lake, see the Seneca Lake page. For some history on Watkins Glen, check out this historical timeline.

The town of Hector was first settled as early as early as 1790 by a family of 3, but records are incomplete.

Samuel Seely built the first grist mill here in 1801.  It was the first mill constructed in Schuyler County. Over time numerous mills and factories were constructed along Hector Falls Creek, giving rise to the moniker Factory Falls. Potash production was the chief industry on the creek throughout the industrial revolution.