Shequaga Falls is a 164-foot two-tier waterfall on Shequaga Creek in the village of Montour Falls, Schuyler County, New York. It drops right beside village homes, and a small park lets visitors watch it from a few steps off the street, day or night.
The falls
The World Waterfall Database, surveyed in person, measures two tiers of horsetails: an upper drop of 52 feet and a lower one of 112 feet, about 50 feet wide. Both tiers begin as rounded veils; the lower two-thirds spreads into lacy, pulsing channels over smooth rock and ends in a short leap off an undercut ledge. The rock is gray limestone of the Portage Escarpment, shaped by glaciers about 18,000 years ago. A concrete barrier protects the neighboring houses from flooding.
Getting there
The route runs from NY 14 west onto West Main Street in Montour Falls, with parking along Genesee Street. Parking is on the street only, with a few dedicated 30-minute spaces and more room on side streets. Admission is free. The visit is rated easy: a 0.1-mile paved path, about five minutes.
When to go
The creek drains about 14 square miles of farmland and swamp, and flow drops sharply in summer without rain; November through May is the best season. The falls and the walkway are lit at night all year, and overcast skies are recommended for photographing the frothy water.
On site
A paved walkway runs from the street to a lookout at the end of the park, with benches along the way; it is handicap accessible. Dogs are allowed on a leash. The Mill Street bridge above the falls is another viewpoint, and the Steuben Street bridge is a viewpoint for the upper falls. The park sits among private homes, and visitors are asked to respect the neighbors.
History and name
The name comes from the Seneca "She-Qua-Ga," translated as "tumbling waters"; the falls have also been spelled Chequaga, and the village itself took the name Montour Falls. NYFalls credits Thomas Maxwell (1792-1864) with choosing the name and records a plaster mill built at the base of the falls in 1828. It doubts the often-told story that the exiled Louis-Philippe sketched the falls.
Nearby
Upper Shequaga Falls is about 0.1 miles away, Aunt Sarahs Falls about 0.5 miles and Deckertown Falls about 1.1 miles.
Distances are straight-line.