Glorious Glen Falls

Written By: Emily Crowell | Issue: 2018/01 - Winter | Photograph By: Charles Johnson

We’ve all heard of Glen Falls, right?  

Visit on a weekend in spring, summer, or fall and the trail is like a superhighway through the woods. I tend to crave solitude in the woods and thus avoid Glen Falls during these seasons, but can luckily find peace here in the cold and quiet winter months.

Glen Falls is actually a short series of waterfalls, so don’t make the mistake of thinking the first one you come to is all there is.  From the trailhead, follow the trail on the left next to the information sign marked “Glen Falls” to begin your descent along Overflow Creek.  A good portion of the trail is reinforced with wooden stairs, which can be slippery when wet or covered with dry leaves, so be careful with your footing. 

The first observation deck stops you right next to the creek as it begins a long slide down toward the bigger falls.  Be sure to stay on the deck – the rocks are slippery and you definitely wouldn’t want to fall in!

A little further on down the trail is a side trail to the right – this leads to another observation deck at the top of one of the large falls.  There aren’t many places where you can safely look out over the top edge of a waterfall, and this is one of them.  From the deck you can see the water fall over the edge practically beneath your feet down to the rocks a seemingly long way below, and look out at the mountains to the east through the opening in the trees cut by the creek – all at the same time!  Take a moment here to stop and pay attention in wonder.

Backtrack to the main trail and go on the next stop, which is the bottom of the drop you just stood on top of.  The creek breaks up into several different bright strands as it tumbles over the edge. Looking up here, I like to imagine all the individual water molecules lining up at the top as though waiting in line for a roller coaster, eager for their own turn to joyfully leap out in a freedom fall onto the ledge below.  What a ride! 

Meet up with our friendly water molecules further on downstream, where they take a long and bumpy ride down the rocky creek bed in a multi-tiered drop that, if you’re hiking on an empty stomach like I tend to do, might remind you of a wedding cake.  Beyond this you can continue to yet another smaller drop, taking the trail on the right when it forks.  (The left fork goes to Blue Valley.)

Of course, you have to climb all those steps uphill on the way back. Look at it as an opportunity to slow down and appreciate being at peace among the trees.

To reach the trail, take Highway 106 from Highlands toward Dillard for 1.7 miles to Glen Falls Road on the left.  Follow the dirt and gravel road on the immediate right for another mile to the trailhead.