Carpenter Falls Unique Area

New York State’s 37-acre Carpenter Falls Unique Area was created for the purposes of recreation and watershed protection. There is a 0.59-mile trail that runs across the length of the property providing scenic views of Bear Swamp Creek and two sets of waterfalls. An ADA accessible, elevated boardwalk and a viewing platform allow all visitors to traverse through the forest to view spectacular Carpenter Falls as it cuts through a notch in the massive overhanging limestone caprock and plunges over 80 feet into a deep pool.

Approximately 2/3rds of the property is dominated by a Northern Hardwood-Hemlock forest type, which is characterized by steep slopes and exposed shale outcroppings towering above Bear Swamp Creek. These gorge areas have likely seen little to no human manipulation since European settlement and contain multiple age classes with very large eastern hemlock and sugar maple dominating. The remaining portions of Unique Area on the more accessible ground host a somewhat younger, transition hardwood forest type with red oak dominating and has an even age structure that shows evidence of previous logging operations.

This trail also connects with the adjacent Bahar Preserve which is managed by the Finger Lakes Land Trust and provides access to an additional 1.6 miles of trails and access to a picturesque waterfall.