Cow Sheds Falls

The entrance to Fillmore Glen State Park is located on the east side of Route 38 at the south end of Moravia, just past the Elementary School. Park at the large lot next to the picnic shelter and walk across the large field behind the shelter toward the swimming area, then cross the footbridge and follow the trail to the Cow Sheds viewpoint to see the falls - a total distance of about two-tenths of a mile from the parking lot.Cow Sheds Falls is the lowermost of at least three significant waterfalls found within Fillmore Glen. The falls drop a total of 56 feet in three steps, with leaps of 18, 30, and 8 feet respectively. The falls drop into an area of the glen with particularly unique geology; the Cow Sheds. The name comes from the large overhanging cliff opposite the falls where huge chunks of the Tully Limestone have fallen into the gorge. Local legend says that during summer heat waves, cows would often congregate in the shade offered by the overhang. Dry Creek drains an area covering approximately 6 square miles, much of which is forested which should help ensure groundwater retention is more substantial later in the season. When we surveyed the falls in May of 2018, the flow was respectable but edging towards low. There is a flood control dam on Dry Creek about 1.3 miles upstream from the Cow Sheds, which suggests that the creek swells to impressive volumes on perhaps not-so-rare occasions. Visiting the interior of Fillmore Glen during such floods will not likely be possible however. On average, expect just a trickle of water through the summer months outside of persistent rain or a passing summer downpour.Cow Sheds Falls is the most accepted colloquial name for this waterfall, but it has also been known as Lower Falls, and Dry Falls. Fillmore Creek, Glen and it's state park are named for Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States, who was born and raised a few miles from the park.