Sometimes an ordinary roadside stop can lead to an adventure. While in Wilmington we stopped at a small park off of Lake View Terrace. The small park hosts a picnic table and gravel walkway leading to a dam blocking the Ausable River.
Two fishermen were in the parking area all geared up to go downstream. We explore the stone stairway to the water and see why the men are so anxious to get into their fly-fishing equipment. The fish are already at the surface eating the bugs. One man lets us know the fish below the falls are a better catch.
The walk past the falls is less than a ¼ mile. It starts out with a smooth path to the dam. It quickly drops, following the path of the water. There are boulders to explore as well as a herd path to the river. We stay near the falls exploring all the different plants going to seed. The leaves are changing and the night sky is turning the area a variety of colors.
We follow the herd path and watch the fishermen step over river rocks while casting their lines. We don't stay long enough to see if the fish were biting better below the falls. We did see plenty of ripples on the water so we assumed the fish were catching real flies.
We wandered back past the dam and over to the picnic spot to enjoy our dessert. There is even an old Whiteface Mountain chairlift for the obligatory photo op. Though it was a quick stop, it was a beautiful place to witness the distance views of Whiteface Mountain and scenic Ausable River. Enjoy!
Photos are © Diane Chase, author of the Adirondack Family Activities™ guidebook series, Adirondack Family Time™.
