| Directions
The hamlet of Brasher Falls is located
on US 11. There is only one bridge crossing the St.
Regis River in the hamlet and the waterfall is upstream
and under this bridge. |
| County: |
St. Lawrence |
| Town: |
Brasher |
| USGS Map: |
Brasher Falls |
| Waterway: |
St. Regis River |
| Latitude: |
N 44.90655o |
| Longitude: |
W 74.77135o |
| Drop: |
18' |
| Type: |
Rapids |
| Region: |
US 11 in the
hamlet of Brasher Falls |
| Parking: |
Roadside |
| Trail type: |
NA |
| Length of hike: |
NA |
| Difficulty: |
Easy |
| Accessibility: |
Public |
|
The specific location of this waterfall is not indicated on
topographical maps, so it is presumed that it is not officially
named. It would be reasonable to assume that the hamlet of
Brasher Falls got its name from the waterfall there, so it has
obviously been commonly known by that term for a significant
period. It is true that the level of the St. Regis River does
"fall" here, but it is perhaps more appropriate to call
this a stretch of rapids. In the area of the bridge over the St. Regis River, there is a
narrow island in line with the current. The bridge here is
actually two sections. A steel girder bridge crosses from
the east side of the hamlet to the island and a smaller span
carries you across the 50 feet or so channel on the western bank.
These rapids occur over a span of about 1500 feet above and below
the bridge. One of the larger drops in the section is close to 1000
feet upstream from the bridge. The river is close to 250
feet wide at that point and a very short curtain falls covers the
entire width at that point. It is difficult to judge because
it is so far away, but it would appear to be only about five feet
high.
You can view this entire area from the bridge and there are
also a river access from the parking lot of a restaurant/bar on
the river bank at the southeast corner of the bridge. This
eatery is located on a side street that is about 300 feet long
before it takes a right angle turn away from the river. At
that point, you can see the upper drop but be advised that all of
the property along here is private property and in fact is signed
as such. It is apparent that the landowners here grew tired
of waterfall "gawkers" and posted signs to dissuade that
practice.
From this upper drop to the end of the stretch is a series of
rapids and small drops. About half-way between the upper
drop and the bridge is a another drop of about two feet.
Just upstream of the bridge in the main channel, there is a somewhat horseshoe shaped
drop. The volume of water coming through there is
significant which makes it look like rapids, but there is a five
or six foot plunge there. Below the bridge, the rapids continue around a bend
to river right.
On the west side of the river, just upstream of the bridge is
the remains of an old stone structure, probably a mill that once
operated there. Another concrete foundation is on the shore
just upstream of that. Directly across the channel, in the parking
lot of the restaurant, are two old mill stones.
The St. Regis River flows into the St. Lawrence River almost on
the US/Canada border a few miles northeast of Massena, New York.
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