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Elevation: 1,343 ft
GPS: 43.9051, -75.1959
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 77,021 total · 494/month
Shared By: Jim Lawyer on Jun 6, 2011
Admins: Morgan Patterson, Kristen Fiore, Kevin MudRat MacKenzie, Jim Lawyer

Description Suggest change

This crag runs alongside the Beaver River just downstream from Beaver Lake. The rock is brittle in some places, but has unusual hidden holds that make the faces, aretes, and roofs very climbable. The natural crack lines tend to be chossy and, due to the nature of the brittle rock, a bit suspect but the popular routes are worth traveling for.

This cliff is in a pleasant, remote area with open woods and great swimming holes a mere feet away. There is no road noise; in fact, the sound of the pounding rapids is so loud that communication with a leader is often impaired or impossible depending on your route.

The cliff is packed with high quality lines, most of which are in the second edition of Adirondack Rock although another wave of new route activity in the last few years (2015 - 2020) is not yet in print.

Highlights are Class Five and The Hydrofax, two of the largest climbable roofs in the Adirondacks that sit above noisy rapids, Promiscuous Girl, a stunning arete, Go to Bread, delicate face climbing, El Supremo, a tricky, super-exposed face, No Fun at Camp No Sex at Breakfast, Eagle Falls' hardest climbing, and Let the Wild Rumpus Start which Jim Lawyer gave the high praise of calling, "One of the best 5.12c's in the park."

Getting There Suggest change

From Lowville, follow Number Four Road to near its end. About 1/2 mile east of the intersection with Stillwater Road, turn left onto Soft Maple Road. This road is unmarked but there is a brown sign that says, "Beaver River Canoe Route." Go about 2.5 miles, then turn right onto another dirt road signed "Beaver River Canoe Route". Drive 2 minutes along the large green pipe on your right and park on the left.

Cross the road, walk down the stairs under the penstock, then follow a trail south to the cliff.

NEW Alternate North Approach (NO RIVER CROSSING)

From the beginning of Fish Creek Road (where Long Pond Rd turns left) drive 7 miles to a dirt road on the right. The road is not marked, however there are orange and white posts as well as an orange sign that says "13-04-00" that might help. Turn right and drive .1 miles to a grassy pull off and a red trail marker. 

From the start of the trail head down an obvious logging road with red trail markers. Stay on this to cross a stream with a pond on the left. After a few minutes the trail leaves the logging road to the left. After 10 minutes of obvious, relatively flat hiking, you will reach the Beaver River with some small dirty cliffs on the left. A few more minutes deposits you to the far left end of the crag at Grumpy Raccoon. 

River Crossing

Suggest change

One of the most beautiful parts of climbing at Eagle Falls is the river. Unfortunately, it also presents one of the greatest hurdles to climbing access.

Board Crossing:

In late spring, summer, and fall the river is usually low enough to be crossed using boards that are stashed along the river a few hundred feet upstream from the falls. Look for a boulder on the far side with a nice flat spot. If using the board with the cross bean, that side goes on the bank side, the other side goes to the boulder. Make sure to pull the board back up for our paddling friends.

Canoe Crossing

If the river is high and the line is down or you don't feel like using it you can always bring some kind of boat and launch from the beaver river canoe run launch 1/8 mile north of the parking area into Beaver Lake and boat across the lake above the damn. It's about a 3 minute canoe ride and leads to a very obvious heardpath that brings you south to the top of the cliff.

North Approach

Due to the purchase of the Croghan Conservation Easement, there is now an entirely new trail that, while it is a little bit longer, entirely avoids the Beaver River Crossing and is now likely the most logical option for early spring climbing or during some of the fall weekend dam releases.

49 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Eagle Falls

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 33
Seventeen
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 27
Red Book
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 34
Naked Truth
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 33
Prey Tell
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 22
Stihl Water
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 30
Lloyds of Lowville
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 15
Hot n' Stanky
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 31
The Eagle Has Landed
Sport
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 20
Ravenous
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 11
Lichen or Not
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 14
El Supremo
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 8
Class Five
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 15
Promiscuous Girl
Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
The Hydrofax
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
Let The Wild Rumpus Start
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Seventeen
 33
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Red Book
 27
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Naked Truth
 34
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Prey Tell
 33
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Stihl Water
 22
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Lloyds of Lowville
 30
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Hot n' Stanky
 15
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
The Eagle Has Landed
 31
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Ravenous
 20
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Lichen or Not
 11
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
El Supremo
 14
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Class Five
 8
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Promiscuous Girl
 15
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
The Hydrofax
 4
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Let The Wild Rumpus Start
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Eagle Falls »

Sun & Shade Suggest change

Routes Mostly Face: Southwest · West
Sunny Roughly 11am to 6pm during high season
6am
8pm
Details: The north end of the cliff is shorter and much shadier although most the routes have shade for the first half. El Supremo, Hot n' Stanky, Seventeen, and Perky Andrea bake in the sun from the moment the sun comes around until sunset.

Weather Averages

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Prime Climbing Season
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