This is part of the Cranberry Lake Waterfall Tour, and is just as impressive in winter as in summer, making this tour a year-round Adirondack experience. None of the trails on the tour are marked, other than with a trailhead sign. The trails are very easy to follow, but slightly difficult to locate, bring a road map with you for better trail locations. You should always be careful around rapids and waterfalls, no matter the season. In winter the conditions can be even more hazardous with ice and snow lining the edge. 

Key takeaways

• Distance: 1.0 mile round trip
• Elevation gain: Around 80 feet

Hiking to Copper Rock Falls

From the road you will start off on a flat course that leads back to the Grass River. Quickly you come to the river as the trail follows the course of the rapidly moving water. A copper-colored rocky area soon comes giving the waterfall area its appropriate name. You can continue up along the river’s edge, following a very lightly marked canoe carry. There are a couple more waterfalls up further and one in particular cascades deeply to rapids below.

Copper Rock Falls in the winter

Be prepared for slipper conditions, bring microspikes, and be careful around frozen and rushing water in the winter.

Discover more trails in Tupper Lake

Looking to find some more trails to hike in Tupper Lake? With endless mountains, lakes, and waterfalls to visit in the Adirondacks, there are always more trails to discover!

How to get there

From the intersection of Route 3 and Route 30 in the Village of Tupper Lake follow Route 3 toward Cranberry Lake. Follow Route 3 for 27 miles through Cranberry Lake to Tooley Pond Road. Turn down Tooley Pond Road and continue for 8.25 miles to the small trailhead on the right. Look for an 8 x 11 inch sign on a tree. Tooley Pond Road is a dirt road in sections and in winter can be very rough and slippery, drive carefully.