This is a lovely spot located in the Town of Wolcott, just off Main St. This park is small and, at first glance, doesn’t look like anything special. However, as so often is the case, things aren’t always as they appear. This park has a glorious surprise for those who are willing to look beyond the parking lot.
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Scenic Overlook
When you pull into the parking lot, you will see a scenic overlook that gives guests a partial view of the falls. Unfortunately, the view is partially obscured by trees and shrubbery. If you are looking for a quick view of waterfalls without spending much effort, you can’t make it any easier than this. These falls seem to run full, even during the dry weather. The view from here is beautiful, but the park offers a better one.
Hike to the Falls
If you walk to the very back of the park, past the picnic pavilion and playground, you will find a trail. The trail is not long at all, and it will bring you right down to the falls. The trail is narrow, and it probably isn’t suitable for strollers, but if your kids are mobile enough, the incline isn’t steep, and they can easily walk to the falls and back.
The trail does run straight through a bamboo jungle. This part of the trail is actually quite charming with all the flowers. However, you should know that there are lots of bees flying around these flowers—hundreds of them. So, if you are allergic or afraid of bees, this trail might not be for you.
The Falls
Upclose, Wolcott Falls is splendid and can seriously rival some of the other larger and more famous falls throughout the state. The immense greenery and the way that the surrounding hills form a cove around the falls actually reminded me of some of the waterfalls I had seen in Hawaii. This waterfall is truly stunning. Wolcott Falls is a fantastic place to come and get great pictures (both natural and family portraits.)
There is a pool in front of the falls that, I suspect, makes a great swimming hole in the hot weather. A creek also runs alongside the trail down to the falls. The creek is fairly shallow and is a great place to cool off and play. If you want to explore some more, you can hike down the creek a short way to appreciate the natural beauty of this area.
Wolcott Falls in Winter
This waterfall is equally impressive in the wintertime and well worth the visit. Word of warning: If the parking lot has not been plowed, park somewhere close by but not in the parking lot. It is not easy to get out of when it is full of snow. In fact, without 4-wheel drive, it’s almost impossible.
Wolcott Falls Park
The park area itself is not large but has a small playground and a picnic pavilion that provides shelter and can be rented from the town for events. We found this park to be almost completely deserted. Most people do not explore farther than the scenic overlook. This park and its hidden depths are a rare and amazing find.
Getting There
Address: 6063 Auburn St., Wolcott
Google Map Link
GPS location: (43.2217419, -76,8120695)
Other Places to Visit
Chimney Bluff State Park
Chimney Bluffs State Park is a natural wonder located on Lake Ontario’s southern shore in Wolcott. Glaciers created these giant formations in the last ice age and have changed over time due to erosion from the weather. They are an impressive sight when viewed up close.
Beechwood State Park
This is one of the most interesting state parks in all of New York State. It has a gorgeous view of Lake Ontario with the remains of an abandoned Girl Scout Camp. This park has a lot of natural beauty.