Sinclair Falls

The waterfalls of the South Branch of the Grass River are located east of the town of Degrasse in the northwestern part of the Adirondacks. From the junction of Routes 17 and 27 in Degrasse, drive north on Route 27 for just half of a mile, then turn right onto Tooley Pond Road. Continue down Tooley Pond Road for 2 miles and turn right onto Lake George Road. Park in the pullout on the right just before crossing the bridge immediately beyond the junction. A sign tacked to a tree marks the Sinclair Falls Trail, which leads downstream to the rocks below the falls in about 100 yards.The Grass River is one of the most well-endowed waterways in the western Adirondacks, sporting at least 15 named waterfalls along its various branches – though most of them not terribly large. The South Branch specifically harbors eight named waterfalls, and four of them are quite significant. Sinclair Falls is one of the easiest waterfalls to access along the South Branch of the Grass River, but also one of the smallest falls along the river. Here, the river makes a question-mark shaped bend around an outcrop of smooth bedrock, and in doing so it tumbles over two small ledges with a cumulative drop of about six feet. Were it not named, this feature would otherwise not meet the minimum height requirement to be listed in this database (though it does otherwise possess all of the requisite qualities to be recognized as a legitimate waterfall). The South Branch of the Grass River drains from a basin which covers approximately 130 square miles upstream from Sinclair Falls, originating in many lakes, marshes, and wetland areas. The volume of the river will be good at any time of year, but the falls may become overwhelmed during the spring freshet and may actually be more presentable during the drier months of the year.