HIGH FALLS GORGE PHOTOGRAPHY

We traveled here and provided detailed information on photographing High Falls Gorge. This is real travel, not generated by AI. We use Lightroom filters to achieve an artistic effect on some of our photos.

Article is not AI generated. We traveled here showing Pamela Goodyer and her camera.

This is an absolute must-experience location, with or without a camera.

High Falls Gorge is a 22-acre nature park. Since the 1890s, they have provided safe trail access with four spectacular waterfalls to view and/or photograph. The location in the Adirondack Mountains is well worth the drive. The entire area is a peaceful place for exploration and photography.

HIT THE FULL-SCREEN BUTTON ON THE 360 IMAGE!! We will take you there if you can’t travel.

Takakkaw Falls Canada Photography Location

High Falls Gorge – N.Y. Adirondack Mountains

Summer Season (May – October): Plan on at least 45 minutes; this is recommended. You can approach the falls two ways. The first route wound a half mile over packed gravel and wooden decks, its gentle slope uninterrupted by steps. Scattered benches offered respite along the path, allowing groups to pause or separate without losing one another.

For those craving closer contact with the churning waters, the second option traced a suspended loop above the river. Wooden walkways trembled underfoot, their glass panels revealing the torrent below, while open stairs with metal rails led daring sightseers into the spray. Both paths delivered the falls in full spectacle, each vantage point framing the cascade’s raw power differently.

Winter Season ( December – March): Throughout the winter months, staff maintained the waterfall paths with snow blowers and shovels, keeping the trails accessible despite heavy snowfall.

For added safety, Yaktrax devices were supplied to slip over visitors’ shoes, providing better grip on icy surfaces. On weekends and holidays, guests gathered around crackling fires to roast marshmallows, their laughter mingling with the crisp air. To protect the wooden decks, personal equipment was prohibited, ensuring the walkways remained in pristine condition for all to enjoy.

PHOTOGRAPHING HIGH FALLS GORGE

Whether you’re a professional photographer or a casual snapshot taker, High Falls Gorge is a must-visit, and it offers raging waters for long exposure photography. There are several different vantage points from which to view and photograph. They say it takes 45 minutes to walk through. We suggest at least 2 hours to photograph it properly.

See below if you need help with your long exposure shot. Or visit our How to Do Waterfall Photography Page.

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR TO BRING

WHAT ELSE TO BRING

WHERE IS HIGH FALLS GORGE LOCATED?

Drive Distances:

Plattsburgh, NY: 40 miles | 1 Hour
Lake George, NY: 78 Miles | 1.5 Hours
Albany, NY: 140 Miles | 2.5 Hours
Montreal, Canada: 150 Miles | 2.5 Hours
New York City, NY: 286 Miles | 5 Hours

WHAT IS THE ADDRESS FOR THE GPS?

4761 NYS Route 86
Wilmington, NY 12997

HIKE 

Distance: 

Easy Path – 1/2 mile round trip (no stairs)
Waterfall Path – 1/2 mile round trip.
Natural Trail – 1 mile round trip

Level: Beginner-friendly spots and medium-level hikes.

NEARBY PHOTOGRAPHY

Ausable Chasm

See below for the full list.

WHERE TO STAY – THE LEDGE ROCK AT WHITEFACE

HOTEL INFORMATION – LEDGE ROCK

Our favorite hotel in the area is The Ledge Rock. We had a beautiful, large, very clean room and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We also did a lot of photography on the grounds.

Ledge Rock signed the hotel sign.
LED Rock hotel rooms up close.

HIGH FALLS GORGE WATERFALL PHOTOGRAPHY

Learn how to do waterfall photography. We explain waterfall photography here.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR SHOT

Step 1: Put your camera on a tripod. You will also want to use a remote shutter release to expose the image. If you don’t have a self-timer, you can use the camera’s timer. You absolutely must use a tripod.

Step 2: Use live view

Step 3: Put your filter on your camera. Even on a cloudy day, you will want to use a Neutral Density Filter. It’s like sunglasses for your camera. You can do a more prolonged exposure, making the water movement silky. The darker the ND Filter, the longer you can expose it.

Step 4:  Camera Settings

  1. Set your camera to Manual mode
  2. Set the aperture to the smallest one (most will be f/22; some may be f/29).
  3. Set your ISO to 100 or the lowest setting your camera allows.

Now, looking through the camera, roll the shutter speed so that the exposure level indicator reads ‘0’ on the exposure scale at the bottom of the screen. Without a filter, you may not get lower than 1/15th of a second, or even that low on a sunny day.   This is why a neutral density filter is so important.

Step 5: Set your camera to a 2-second timer or use your shutter release to take the image. Evaluate the image. If your image has hot spots (areas of overexposed white spots), adjust your shutter speed and test again until it is just right. Remember, the darker the filter, the longer the exposure, and the milky flow looks better. Be sure to read about filters if you are not familiar with them.

RESTAURANTS

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HOTELS

Where did we stay?

Ledgerock at Whiteface

Where is the Ledge Rock At Whiteface? 

Ledge Rock at Whiteface Hotel address: 5078 NYS Route 86, Wilmington, United States  
BOOK DIRECT

 WEATHER

Click here to check out the weather

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