Activity
Walking / Waterfall & Geology
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Distance
0.7 mi round trip
Elevation gain
~120 ft
Duration
~45–75 min
Route
Out & back / upper and lower waterfall overlooks
The adventure
Cross the power canal on a 192-foot pedestrian bridge, see the Mohawk spread across Cohoes Falls from above, then descend the steep lower-level stairs for the closest legal public view.
What you'll do
Start at Falls View Park off-street parking on North Mohawk Street, then follow the route about 0.7 miles round trip. upper overlooks plus lower viewing deck when open
Expect roughly 120 ft of climbing along the way.
What you're looking at
- rapid and unpredictable level changes possible
Once you're there
Use the off-street Falls View Park parking on North Mohawk Street. Enter through the signed park gate and cross the 192-foot pedestrian bridge over the power canal.
Visit the established upper viewpoints first. If the lower level is open, use the designated steep stairway down to the lower viewing deck behind the powerhouse.
Do not enter the riverbed. Return up the same stairs, cross the bridge and finish back at the parking area.
Don't miss
After seeing the falls from the main park, walk the short connection toward Overlook Park and compare the wider upstream angle. Same waterfall, completely different personality.
Good to know
- Dogs
- not allowed
- Hours
- approximately 7:00 AM-7:30 PM during operating season
- Season
- Falls View Park generally open May 1-November 1
- Parking
- off-street visitor parking
- Alternate view
- Overlook Park offers a year-round view
- Water
- rapid and unpredictable level changes possible
- Riverbed
- Deep channels, fast water, slippery silt, falling rock
- Lower stairs
- physically strenuous for some visitors
- BRIDGE INTO THE PARK
- Falls View Park crosses the School Street power canal on a 192-foot pedestrian bridge before reaching the primary overlook.
- SAVE SOME LEGS
- The lower viewing level requires a steep stair descent and climb back out.
- THE RIVER THINKS BIGGER
- The Mohawk drains more than 3,450 square miles above the falls, so water can rise quickly even when local weather looks fine.
- STAY ON THE VIEWING ROUTE
- Riverbed access is closed because of fast-rising water, deep channels, slippery rock and falling-rock hazards.
- SEASONAL LOWER ACCESS
- The park is seasonal, but nearby Overlook Park provides a year-round waterfall view.
- Safety
- rapid and unpredictable level changes possible. physically strenuous for some visitors.
- Managed by
- City of Cohoes / Brookfield Renewable.
Please respect the place
- Falls View Park is seasonal, generally May 1 through November 1
- Dogs are not allowed
- Riverbed access is closed
- Obey alarms, gates and park-staff instructions
- Lower-level stairway is steep
Photos