Conklin Gully

Naples, NY

This trail is listed on our Great Fall Hikes in Western New York page.

For more detailed information about Conklin Gully and how to get there, go to http://naturalhighs.net/waterfalls/falls/conklingully-lower.htm.

Our family did this hike in early fall, just as the leaves were starting to turn. Somehow, we missed the beginning of the trail because we were drawn to the creek, and because it had been extremely dry, we assumed that the creek was the trail. Before long, we found ourselves climbing up a waterfall! It was a great experience, but it was only possible because it had been an extremely dry summer, and the leaves had not yet begun to fall (it would dangerous in spring or on wet leaves). But it was still wet and quite slippery, and probably a little beyond what our family should have attempted. Nevertheless, the payoff was great once we reached the gully itself.

It started off easy:

Then got a little harder:

Harder still

Someone left a handy rope:

Here they are in the gully. It took about 45 minutes to climb there.

You can reach a view of the upper part of the gully, though, by taking the proper trail. When you get to the small parking space at the base of Parish Hill Road, search for the trail more carefully than we did! Once we had finished climbing up to the gully, we found the trail to the left, and took that back down.

Back to Great Fall Hikes in Western New York.