Double Drop Falls

PHELPS WEATHER

AKA: Ontario Pathways Falls, Flint Creek Falls

Flint Creek has its beginnings in the Italy Hill region southeast of Canandaigua Lake near Middlesex and heads 25 miles north and into the Canandaigua Outlet at the village of Phelps. With its wide basin, moderate slope and consistent flow, the creek helped pioneers settle this region by powering a variety of mills and allowing for growing industry. Double Drop Falls is supposedly the site of at least one of these mills, with only a few hidden signs of their existence left today.

The trail system that leads to the falls is reclaimed land, once part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system and now a clean and level multi-use path that cuts south along the creek. Thanks to the efforts of Ontario Pathways, Inc, a non-profit centered in Canandaigua, the namesake trail is open to anyone as long as they respect the property and others who utilize it. The organization, since its inception in 1994, has purchased land, rebuilt bridges, kiosks and parking lots, and cleared and maintained 23 miles of the 12 foot wide trail. The result is a highly enjoyable sliver of reclaimed nature that allows for excellent recreation opportunities, access to the waterfalls of Flint Creek, a place for nature to thrive in the developing Finger Lakes Region, and a natural buffer for Flint Creek from neighboring development and agriculture.

Although not a grand drop, the first falls along the trail carries a lot of water, even in the dry days of summer. Its roar can be heard quite a distance down the trail and the banks are a nice break for those walking along. The massive limestone cuts of rock that shape the falls also line the embankment, allowing for people to get right up to the creek for a closer look and make for interesting photography compositions. For the quick and easy walk to get to the falls, it is certainly worth checking out.

The second falls is easily reached further south along the trail just upstream from an old rusty rail bridge and crumbling trestle. Not much of a falls, it barely reaches 3 ft high, but since you are already here, take a quick look.

The town of Phelps began as the district of Sullivan (after General John Sullivan) and was changed to Phelps (after town pioneer Oliver Phelps) when it was founded in 1796.

The village of Phelps began when one of the first settlers of the town, Seth Dean and Oliver Phelps, erected a grist mill on Flint Creek in 1792. In 1812, Luther and Francis Root and Erastus Butler constructed a large woolen mill in the village. The mills and hodgepodge of industries that relied on them brought great prosperity to the village, growing its population to over 5 thousand. It was around this time that postal routes and railroads arrived, further opening the village to remote markets. The Pennsylvania Railroad’s Northern Region of lines passed through Phelps (at what is now the Ontario Pathways trail) connecting Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with the resorts at Sodus Point on Lake Ontario.

Ontario Pathways began acquiring sections of the railroad in 1993 with the completion of the pedestrian bridge over 5&20 happening in 2006. The organization keeps it in tip-top shape, and organizes several annual events along the trail.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 1.5 miles to the second falls and then back.

Markings: Clearly marked trail.

Description: The Ontario Pathways Organization has done a fine job maintaining this easygoing trail for multiple use. Hikers, bikers and horse-back riders can all enjoy this 19 mile long, 12-foot wide trail. Although some sections are detoured around private property, that is no concern to folks who are here to see just the waterfalls.

From the parking area and information kiosk, head south. After about 1,300 ft, cross a wooden bridge. 600 ft down the trail you will begin to hear the first waterfall. Scramble down the embankment to get a closer view. The land across the creek is private. The second waterfall is about 900 ft further south along the trail, just past the old railroad trestles. It is located just upstream from the rusty metal bridge that takes you across Flint Creek. This is the last waterfall on the trail. Turn around and head back the way you came.

Map: Trail-Map; Interactive.

Double Drop Falls Audio

Double Drop Falls Video

Shoot wide

• These falls are wide and not very high, so they will not fill the camera’s frame very well. Either include more foreground and put the falls in the top of the frame, or include a dramatic sky if it’s there.

Low flow

• In low flow, these falls have a lot of character. Zoom in and photograph all the little drops and details of the falls.

Silky Water Effect

• To get that smooth cotton-candy look to the falls, you need to use a Neutral Density (ND) filter on your lens. The ND filter will block some of the light from entering the lens without altering the color, and thus allow your shutter to stay open longer. This blurs the water and creates a soft white gloss to the foamy areas of the falls.  Check out the article for the all the details.

More tips

• See the Articles for more photography tips.

Ontario Pathways, Inc.
PO Box 996
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Phone: (585) 234-7722
ontariopathways.org