Roaring Brook Falls is a 270-foot tiered horsetail waterfall in Essex County, New York, where Roaring Brook drops off the west face of Giant Mountain beside NY 73 near St. Huberts, south of Keene Valley in the Adirondacks. It can be seen from the highway, and short trails from the Giant Mountain Wilderness trailhead reach both its base and its top.
The falls
Lidar measurements show three steps of roughly 135, 45 and 90 feet, totaling about 270 feet, with an average width of 10 feet. Earlier surveys listed 325 feet, while other regional measurements give 290 feet. The brook drains only the west side of Giant Mountain, so its flow depends directly on runoff.
Getting there
The falls sit in the Giant Mountain Wilderness, managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The trailhead on NY 73 is shared with the Giant Mountain trail and has a small unpaved lot where parking is limited year round. A pull-off just south of the trailhead gives a roadside view of the falls. An easy walk to the base covers 0.8 mile with 80 feet of gain, and the moderate route to the top covers 1.2 miles with 400 feet of gain. Trail signs place the top of the falls half a mile up the Roaring Brook Trail.
When to go
Spring runoff and early summer bring the strongest flow. The falls weaken considerably in summer and can dry up completely in drought years.
On site
Both ends of the falls carry serious hazards. In March 2016 a boulder fell about 100 feet from near the top and killed a 12-year-old boy at the base; his uncle was injured. In June 2016 a woman taking photographs at the top fell more than 80 feet to the pool below and died. Wet stone creates a serious risk of injury or death from a lost footing near the top or base, especially in high water.
Nearby
Chapel Pond Canyon Falls is about half a mile away, Russell Falls about 1.1 miles, and Mossy Cascade about 1.3 miles. Keene Valley lies just to the north along NY 73.
Distances are straight-line.