Effley Falls

Effley (Eff ... rhymes with leaf) Falls is located just upstream from the hamlet of Belfort.  Take the Belfort Road from the village of Croghan to Belfort.  Turn right on the Long Pond Road and then the first right on the Taylorville Road.  A short distance up this road, there is a "Y".  Bear left behind some old company houses and continue along the penstock.  There are several places to park but your best bet is to locate the last area on your right before reaching the power dam.  There is room for two or three vehicles here next to the penstock.  One of the spaces is identified for handicapped parking.  Walk under the penstock and bear left to the river.

Effley Falls has long been the site of a power dam but it is still an area worth visiting.  Although the dam dominates the area, there is still a waterfall of an estimated 25 feet below it.  Including the dam, the total drop is in the area of 50 feet.

Several hundred yards downstream there is another waterfall that drops about 15 to 20 feet.  It is our understanding that this entire area is considered to be Effley Falls, but this second falls really warrants its own identity.  Located on its own, out of the shadow of Effley Falls, this waterfall would undoubtedly carry its own name and be a destination for hikers.  As it is, this area is a two-for-one special.  We have posted this as Lower Effley Falls.

The Beaver River flows into the Black River, which empties into Lake Ontario at the Black River Bay, just southwest of the village of Dexter.

Hover on any of the thumbnails to see an enlarged image