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Shelving Rock Falls
Please note: this article is intended as a reference only. It is not a substitute for an updated guidebook and map. Also, travel in the wilderness requires experience and preparation that a guidebook can offer. Always check trail conditions on the DEC website to make sure the trail is open. The Adirondacks are prone to slides, flooding, and trail erosion.
This is a hike I’ll have to revisit in the Autumn, to see if foot traffic is not as bad. The problem is that the falls can be accessed from Shelving Rock Bay in Lake George, a nearby overused motor boating area. As a result, many people scramble around the falls, sometimes dangerously.
However, it may be worth the visit if you’re in the area, or it’s not summertime, as the falls are very attractive and peaceful. Unfortunately, there is no deep portion of Shelving Rock Brook to swim.
As a reference, I posted an image gallery of the hike, with prints for sale.
Trailhead: From exit 20 on I-87, follow signs for NYS route 149 east. Follow 149 east. At 1.6 miles past the intersection of NY 9L, you’ll see Buttermilk Falls Rd on your left. As of this writing, there is a big sign in front of a stove dealer that says “Black Rooster,” just where you want to turn.
Turning left on Buttermilk Falls Rd, you may notice it eventually becomes Sly Pond Rd. Just past this point, the road turns unpaved. I’ve seen every type of car drive on this road, but it’s worth going slow, because there are some deep potholes and sharp turns, with narrow portions.
Sly Pond Rd becomes Shelving Rock Road, with the worst turns and hills paved. At 9.4 miles from NY 149, you’ll encounter a sign for Hogtown trailhead, with a parking area. Mark this point with your trip odometer as a reference to the trails ahead, as there are many unrelated trails along the road. Continue on, bearing left.
Three trails on the left of the road lead to Shelving Rock Falls. The east access is at 2.5mi from Hogtown Parking. It is just before the bridge over Shelving Rock Brook. There is a small parking area on the left before the bridge, just enough for two vehicles. There are no discernible signs for this trailhead.
The north access is 1.1 miles farther along, 3.6 miles from Hogtown Parking. There is one more access point on the left, however I couldn’t obtain an accurate reading of distance. I suggest the Guide to Adirondack Trails: Eastern Region (The Forest Preserve, Vol. 6) (The Forest Preserve Series, Vol 6)
In this review, I will be addressing the east access
From the small parking area of the east access, there is a short walk down Shelving Rock Rd. to the bridge over Shelving Rock Brook. Immediately before the bridge, there is a trail that follows Shelving Rock Brook on the left. Follow this trail.
The trail follows Shelving Rock Brook a short, and picturesque distance to the top of Shelving Rock Falls. A dam crosses over the top of Shelving Rock Falls, and has been reported to be the source of injury, due to people slipping and falling down part of the falls. On either side of the falls, unmaintained, steep trails lead down to the bottom.
In case you are interested in viewing Lake George, an easily navigable trail continues from the falls, down Shelving Rock Brook, a short distance to Shelving Rock Bay. In the summer, the bay is often congested with motor boats fulfilling family oriented recreational activity. However, the view is worthy of remark.
As a reminder, I posted an image gallery of the hike, with prints for sale.
Resources:
- Thomas-Train, David. Adirondack Trails: Eastern Region. vol.6 3rd ed. Lake George: Adirondack Mountain Club, Inc., 2008. Link
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