The two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
visited High Falls Gorge
4761 Nys Route 86
Wilmington, NY 12997
phone: 518.946.2278
September 4, 2014
map of NY showing location of High Falls Gorge

Along the base of Whiteface Mountain, the famous AuSable River flows through a breathtaking 700-foot long gorge into a deep crevice carved a billion years ago by ice, water and wind. The two RV Gypsies walked on groomed paths, steel bridges and walkways with glass floor sections and went down into the gorge for closer access to plunging waterfalls. They watched the river flow through dark pools, pot holes and the splendor of the gorge. They read and photographed signs along the way that tell the story of the formation of this natural wonder. The two RV Gypsies are not real familiar with this area of New York, and some brochures said the gorge is in Wilmington, some brochures said Keeseville, and some Lake Placid. The one thing the brochures all agreed on is that High Falls Gorge is privately owned.

High Falls Gorge sign
entry to High Falls Gorge

Below: Flowers by the High Falls Gorge entry.

Flowers by the High Falls Gorge entry
Flowers by the High Falls Gorge entry

After paying the entry fee, the two RV Gypsies paused on the bridge to admire the AuSable River, one of New York State's most famous trout streams.

bridge over the Ausable River
sign about the Gorge and the Ausable River

Below: Views of the AuSable River as seen from each side of the above bridge.

View of the Ausable River
View of the Ausable River

Below: Karen Duquette stood by the Anorthosite Boulder, which is over 1.5 billion years old.

sign about the Anorthosite Boulder
Karen Duquette stands by the Anorthosite Boulder

In the shadow of Whiteface Mountain, the two RV Gypsies headed off on a short nature walk (about 1/2 mile) to view the AuSable River as it spills over ancient granite cliffs. It was an easy walk but there were a lot of stairs.

Looking to the right of the trail,
the top of the waterfall
could just barely be seen in the distance.

To see the waterfall,
the two RV Gypsies had to go
down a steep set of stairs.

the top of the waterfall
a steep set of stairs

Below: Lee Duquette descended the stairs slowly and carefully, because he still gets LESS pressure on his new knees by going down stairs backwards.

Lee descends the steep set of stairs
Lee descends the steep set of stairs
WOW
sign about the gorge and rocks
High Falls

Below: Looking straight down from the platform to the bottom of the falls at its powerful force, plus the view off to the side of the platform.

the powerful force of the falls
view off to the side of the platform

Below: Then the two RV Gypsies climbed back up the stairs, and a short distance later, they had to go down more stairs to get to the next bridge.

the stairs back up
this way
more stairs down

Below: Karen Duquette went up even more stairs to get to the bridge. Lee Duquette did not climb up to the bridge. Karen waved and called down to Lee to look up.

Karen Duquette on a bigh bridge
Karen Duquette on a bigh bridge

Below: Lee Duquette looked up, and the two RV Gypsies took photos of each other.

Lee on a platform below the bridge
Lee on a platform below the bridge

coolAs Karen Duquette photographed her feet on the glass bottom upper bridge, Lee Duquette photographed his feet on the glass bottom lower deck. Great minds think alike.

glass bottom upper bridge
glass bottom lower deck

Below: View of the Ausable River from the bridge and the path to the left of the river that the two RV Gypsies walked next, and then there was yet another bridge crossing the river.

View of the Ausable River from the bridge
View of the Ausable River from the bridge

Below: From this bridge, the lower falls could be seen, plus the bridge that Karen Duquette was on earlier, and the platform below the bridge where Lee Duquette stood, as they photographed each other.

view from the second bridge
view from the second bridge

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