Toenniessen Falls (Lockport Nature Trail)
Location: Along the John B. Austin Nature Trail; Northeast of the city of Lockport; town of Lockport; Niagara County; New York.
Address: 6674 Slayton Settlement Road, Lockport, NY 14094
Maps: Google Map; Topographic; Interactive map.
GPS Coordinates: Toenniessen Falls: (N 43.19990 / W 78.65537)
Parking and Trailhead: (N 43.20486 / W 78.65850)
Directions: Take NY-31 to the east side of Lockport.
Turn north onto Day Rd, crossing over the canal via the steel bridge.
After 1.8 miles, turn left onto Slayton Settlement Rd.
At about .25 miles, look for the sign and driveway for the Town of Lockport Nature Trail on the left.
The address is 6674 Slayton Settlement Road, Lockport, NY 14094
Use Google Maps for custom directions.
Parking: The parking lot at the entrance has room about 8-10 cars.
Weather
Information / Accessibility / Accommodations
Number of falls: 1.
Size/Types: A 6 ft drop, which can be up to 22 ft wide in high flow.
Best time to visit: Winter snowmelt, spring, and after heavy rain.
Flow: Low.
Waterway: An unnamed tributary to East Branch Eighteemile Creek. This small waterway starts just southeast of here near the County Fairgrounds, so it doesn’t pick up much water, causing it to dry up by summer. Eighteenmile Creek eventually empties into Lake Ontario, and is considered one of the more polluted waterways in the state.
Time: 30 minutes to an hour.
Seasons/Hours: Year-round. Sunrise to sunset.
Admission: Free.
Handicap Accessibility: The trail is dirt with exposed roots and is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Pets: Allowed on a leash.
Accommodations: Trails, benches.
Description
Commonly known as Lockport Nature Trail, this town preserve on the north end of the city, goes by the official name: John B. Austin Nature Trail. While only 100 acres, it’s largely undeveloped, featuring a small parking area, network of trails, and a few benches. Hugging a ridge along the Niagara Escarpment, a small seasonal creek cuts through, leaving the small but peaceful 6-ft high Toenniessen Falls for visitors to enjoy.
Of note are the two giant oak trees that can be found along the trails, one estimated to be 180 years old, and the other at 250.
Despite the natural setting, the John B. Austin Nature Trail is easily accessible, being just outside the city of Lockport, and has mild, well-maintained trails. It fits that sweet spot between wild area and neighborhood walking park. If you are in the area to see the Flight of Five, Toenniessen Falls is worth a quick stop.
Hiking / Walking Trails
Difficulty: Easy. The trail may get slippery in winter.
Markings: Dirt trail, some signs.
Distance: About a half-mile one way.
Description: From the parking area, head south through the entrance gate. At about 1,000 ft, the trail will reach an opening. Look for a branching to the left and follow it. This branch will head toward the stream, passing a large old oak tree along the way. At about a half-mile, the trail will pass by the falls. If the stream is dry, you may just miss it. There’s a wooden bridge just upstream from the falls.
You can either continue on and it will loop to the main trail from the parking area, or head back the way you came.
There are multiple branches of trails along the way. If you get lost, just take the wider, more established trails, which all form a loop.
Map: See the pathway marked in Blue on the Interactive map.
Toenniessen Falls Interactive Map
History
This land was once pasture owned by George Gallagher, a farmer. In 1954, the town of Lockport purchased 100 acres of it to build a stone quarry to supply materials for local roads. After the purchase, they discovered the stone was simply too soft to use for roads, so the land was abandoned.
In 2001, it was opened as the town’s first park, named after John B. Austin, Town Justice and Supervisor.
Toenniessen Falls Media
Videos
Contributor Photos & Art
Credit for some of the photos on the page go to the talented Lee Williams @pugbullystudio.