Baker's Falls and Lansing Kill Falls

I have yearned to find these falls ever since I came across them on the Black River Canal Museum site. Supposedly located 2 miles south of Boonville, Baker's Falls is created by the waste weir of lock 64 of the Black River Canal.

And so on our most recent bike ride on the canal towpath, we were determined to make this discovery. As we rode along the trail, just above a deep gorge, the sound of rushing waters below heightened our excitement.  Finally, we reached this partially barricaded bridge, below which, the roaring waters diverged from the canal, cascading downwards to what is most likely to be the elusive falls.

Just beyond the other side of the bridge is a barely noticeable foot path.  Narrow, slippery and steep at some points, the path led down to one of the most magnificent sight near the towpath.

Baker's Falls is indeed an awesome thing to behold.  It's amazing to think that this water actually had come all the way from beyond Kayuta Lake, to Forestport , the feeder canal and down the Black River Canal.

Just opposite Baker's Falls is the Lansing Kill Falls.

Water from the Black River Canal join the Lansing Kill to form a partially underground stream, eventually reaching Pixley Falls.

A Bike Ride on the Black River Canal Towpath Trail - Part 2

This time, we drove south about 1.8 miles from where we ended our bike ride last time, to a parking spot alongside Route 46.  Judging from the overgrown weeds, not that many people enter the trail through this gate.

 Golden rods border the trail most of the way, interspersed by a variety of other wildflowers.  How much more beautiful it must be when all these flowers are at their peak.  The grassy trail appeared more manicured than most lawns this time of the year.

Below this partially barricaded bridge, the canal appears to have been dammed so that the water was now diverted downwards, forming the impressive Baker's Falls.  But more about that next time.

South of this point, the canal is mostly silted, overgrown with grasses and wildflowers.

A Bike Ride on the Black River Canal Towpath Trail

9/2/2010

From Boonville to Route 46...

After riding the Black River Canal Feeder Trail, it is but natural to continue onward to the Black River Canal Towpath which also is a cross-country ski trail maintained by BREIA. We have hiked parts of this trail before but today, we brought our bikes and started the ride from Boonville.

The Black River Canal has the record for the most number of locks per mile, 109 locks along its 35 mile course from Rome to Lyons Falls, NY.  The 25mile southern section from Rome to Boonville had 70 locks, rising 693 feet.  Riding this trail will not be a piece of cake.








Heading south from Boonville, the grassy trail was fairly flat for about a mile, until lock number 70.  It was quite uneven though because of the numerous tree roots crossing the trails.








We crossed Route 46 and passed a few locks on the way.  Water rushing down the locks make for small waterfalls, like this one just across the Domser Road trail turnoff.









The mainly downhill ride was fairly easy.  Once we reached the other Route 46 intersection, we made our way back.  As expected, the uphill ride back was more strenuous, making it more difficult to outrun the mosquitoes patiently waiting for us on the trail.

Black River Canal Museum revisited

When we first visited the museum, we found the displays at the Hemlock Mercantile building (opened June 2, 2007) quite interesting. The life-sized canal boat replica (which had been christened the Walter C. Pratt on July 5, 2008) had pictures and displays depicting life in the boat and on the canal. Although the activity center inside the reconstructed warehouse had been completed in the summer of 2007, it was for some reason closed at the time of our first visit.


This time, we were able to thoroughly immerse ourselves in the interactive displays which amused and educated not only the young but the not so young amongst us. Navigating the mini-canal in our chosen canal boat allowed us to understand how the locks work.

The archives building that will house historical memorabilia and documents has also been recently completed. Eight years ago, a group of Boonville area volunteers first decided to preserve and provide education on the canal's rich history.

For more than 70 years, the Black River Canal had been the major thoroughfare in the North country, transporting goods to major cities. It has brought prosperity to Boonville and now the museum is giving its proper tribute to this man-made wonder.

The Five Combines on the Black River Canal

We have visited portions of the Black River Canal towpath before. This time, after a brief visit to Pixley Falls, we decided to look for the 5 combines.


The Black River Canal was designed to connect the Erie Canal to the Black River. From Rome to Boonville, a distance of 25 miles, 70 locks were built to lift the boats and water 693 feet. From Boonville to Lyons Falls, where the canals met, 39 locks were built over a distance of slightly over 10 miles lifting their cargo 386 feet.


From the park, we drove south on Rt. 46, to the parking lot to the end of the towpath. We could have walked the 1.6 mile trail to get there were it not for the mosquitoes. After walking a short distance from the parking lot. the Five Combines can be seen.



This portion of the canal required 5 consecutive locks to handle the sharp incline of the land, as seen in the illustration.

Pixley Falls State Park and the Black River Canal Towpath

The Black River Canal towpath begins in Boonville and ends below Pixley Falls State Park at the 5 combines. On one visit to the park, we decided to take the trail northwards.




The canal is now completely silted and barely discernable but remains of the old locks are still visible beside the trail. We counted 15 locks along 2.4 miles of gradual uphill climb. No wonder this canal has the record for the most number of locks. From Rome to Lyons Falls, NY, the Black River Canal had 109 locks over 35 miles, the summit being here in Boonville. In contrast, the Erie Canal only had 83 locks along its 350 mile course.

Black River Canal walkway and towpath, Boonville NY

Whereas the Black River Canal was an avenue for commerce in the past, it is now principally a recreational venue. Volunteer organizations have been working to preserve sections of the canal for the public's enjoyment. Click here to see what the canal looks like today.



In Boonville, a new walkway lined with early 20th century street lights run south of the Main Street bridge. It features one of the few remaining Whipple bridges in existence. This bowstring cast-iron truss bridge that was patented in 1841 by Squire Whipple of Utica was eventually adopted by the Canal as the standardized bridge for canal crossings.



The canal walkway connects with a cross-country ski trail maintained by BREIA. Open for biking and hiking in the summer, this trail extends south along the towpath for 10 miles terminating below Pixley Falls State Park.



After a visit to the Black River Canal Museum, our group went on a short hike on this grassy trail that run alongside the canal.



This was lock no. 70. Obviously, the shed was not part of the operation.




This waste weir a little north of the lock served to drain excess water from the canal.



Along the way, we said hello to one of the natives.

Black River Canal Museum

The Black River Canal Museum in Boonville, NY is a testament to the contribution that the canal brought to the development of the region. The exhibit hall displays artifacts, photographs that trace the development of the canal as well as a full scale replica of a canal boat.






Inside, one can see more artifacts, the living quarters of the crew, as well as a life-size mule model.







You have to visit the museum to appreciate the true value of the Black River Canal.


The museum is located at the intersection of Main Street and Route 12 in Boonville.