Barnes Creek Falls – Canandaigua, NY

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This is one of the prettiest creek walks we have explored in New York. We first visited Barnes Creek Falls in the wintertime and it was absolutely gorgeous. We decided to revisit in the summer and it was a perfect creek walk for a hot summer day. This is great for families wanting to cool off or waterfalls chasers looking to check a few more falls off their list. There is a series of waterfalls here and hiking for every skill level.

Trails and Hiking

Like most gorge parks, there are rim trails and a gorge trail at Barnes Creek. This trail system is a little more rugged than most, but in my opinion, that is what makes it so exquisite. The creek trail runs along both sides of the creek, alternating here and there. For most of the creek, you can get away with walking on dry ground (a dirt path) about 90% of the time. However, once you get near the end, you will have little or no choice but to get into the creek to reach the waterfalls. We did find that the creek is relatively shallow most of the time, and you really won’t get that wet, but it is a good idea to plan on wearing shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.

The south rim trail takes you into the wood along the edge of the ravine, but you don’t really get a view of the waterfalls. You can view the creek, but for the most part, this is a walk through the woods. It is pretty, nonetheless, and worth exploring. If you are exploring here in the summer and fall, bug spray is a must. The creek is shaded in most places, and the bugs will have a field day on you if you aren’t prepared.

Waterfalls

There are a series of waterfalls at the end of the creek. Unless you are prepared to climb (and I do not recommend this for anyone with small children), you will not catch a glimpse of the biggest waterfall. There are ropes (or at least there were when we visited.), and I was able to use those to help climb up the first two waterfalls. I made sure that the ropes were secure and would break while I was pulling on them before I started climbing. Climb at your own risk, as this can be extremely dangerous. Make sure that you are wearing sneakers or hiking boots if you decide to climb the falls. NO FLIP FLOPS or CROCS. These do not provide you with good traction or support.

If you climb up the falls, there is another rope that allows you to climb to the top of the ravine. Again this is dangerous, and you should only attempt if you are an experienced hiker and very sure-footed. I would never recommend taking any risk if you are unsure of your abilities.

Please note: If you decide to climb the falls, you do so at your own risk. We do not encourage people to climb the falls and put their physical safety at risk. The City of Canandaigua is not liable for any accidents that occur.

Why We Love It

I’m not going to lie; I got a real adrenaline kick out of this place. I loved climbing the falls using the ropes and then climbing out of the ravine. I joked with my husband that I felt like a spider monkey. In addition to that, the creek itself is really beautiful. We only saw a few people on our hike but, for the most part, had the entire place to ourselves. We always love having a place all to ourselves and not having to compete with a crowd.

Wintertime at Barnes Creek Falls

The first time we visited Barnes Creek Falls, we were driving around Canandaigua Lake and just happened upon it. It looked interesting and it was a decent winter’s day, so we decided to hike it. The frozen Falls were quite a sight to see.

I don’t recommend hiking the creek in the winter, as the creek doesn’t always freeze and it can be dangerous. Stick to the Rim Trails, which are safer. I would not recommend trying this in the winter without wearing hiking boots with microspikes or yaktrax.

Rim Trail

We recently revisited in the late winter and the creek was not completely frozen. So we decided to take the North Rim Trail. This is the better of the two, in my opinion, since don’t have to trek straight up a hill for too long. The climb is gradual and eventually seems to level out. Unlike the South Rim Trail, there are numerous lookout points along the Rim Trail. You can get a good glimpse of the waterfalls from the trail.

Out and About With Nova

This is a fantastic dog-friendly destination. Nova had such a great time hiking here. There are doggy doo depositories stationed at the trailhead. The trail is narrow at times, therefore it is imperative that you clean up after your four-legged friends so that no one steps in anything disgusting.

Getting to Barnes Creek Falls

Barnes Creek is located on County Rd 16 (West Lake Rd) in Canandaigua across from Onanda Park. You will actually park in the Onanda Park parking lot and walk across the road to the trails.

Other Places to Visit in the Area

Have you visited Barnes Creek Falls? What do you think of it? We would love your feedback. Please leave us a comment below.