| Directions
The hamlet of Hannawa Falls is just
south of Potsdam, New York on NY 56. After you enter
the village, you will traverse a bridge over the Raquette
River. Immediately after the bridge, take a right on
Mill Street. There will be a parking area for a
river access site on the right. |
| County: |
St. Lawrence |
| Town: |
Potsdam |
| USGS Map: |
Colton |
| Waterway: |
Raquette River |
| Latitude: |
N 44.61204o |
| Longitude: |
W 74.97529o |
| Type: |
Rapids |
| Drop: |
NA |
|
The hamlet of Hannawa Falls got its name from the waterfall
there. Back in the 1950s, the Niagara Mohawk Power
Corporation constructed several dams in this area. Like many
other similar communities, there no longer is a waterfall here.
There is a parking area here but it is a tight fit for three
vehicles. Given the proximity of this area to two local
colleges and the very popular hiking trail system, you may end up
parking on the shoulder of the road. That is not a problem
because the traffic on this side road is not excessive.
There is a parking lot across the road from this site behind the
local fire department. Signs at the trailhead caution hikers
to not use this parking area. In the event of an emergency,
cars there might impede fire-fighting or other rescue or emergency
efforts.
This area is the southern trailhead for the Red Sandstone
Trail. Named for the rock indigenous to this
area, this trail is a 3.5 mile loop along the Raquette
River. The Brookfield Power Company operates the Hannawa
Falls Dam, which is within site of the parking area, and
powerhouse, which is just downstream, and the Sugar Island Dam and
Powerhouse, which are further downstream. Another parking
area is available about half-way down the trail.
This trail is several feet above the level of the river.
There is also a trail from the parking area labeled
"whitewater access". This leads to the river at
the base of the dam. Only serious kayakers need apply.
This is not a section you will want to do in the family canoe.
Below the dam, there is a stretch of several hundred yards of some fairly serious
rapids. In this section, there are two drops of a few feet that
might be considered small waterfalls. Even with these two
drops, this area is best classified as rapids.
The Raquette River empties into the St. Lawrence River in
Massena, New York.
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