Ironically, at the turn of the century, this neglected section of Flint Creek was a common spot for picnics and was known as “Lover’s Retreat.”ĭistance: A roadside falls, just a few feet from a parking area.ĭescription: Old Mill Falls is easily seen from the Rt-96 bridge over Flint Creek. They are small drops, no more than 3 ft high, but the wide cascade just below the railroad arch bridge is very picturesque, even if when we visited in the spring of 2009 it was littered with trash, including a twisted rusty shopping cart and smashed 36 inch TV. If you take the short drive or walk to William Street and head upstream along the trail that starts behind the cemetery (adjacent to the bridge), you can visit the waterfalls along the way. If you are willing to explore a little, Flint Creek offers several more cascades, including two on the Ontario Pathways Trail (see Double Drop Falls) and a few drops to the south of this one (between William and Eagle Streets).

Disappointingly, the traffic from Main St, with countless speeding vehicles, detracts from this little slice of peace. The falls can be easily seen from the Main St bridge, but for a more intimate view, a small community park on the eastern bank allows for a glance across the crest towards the Old Mill, which has been drastically reconditioned into retail space (Waterside Spirits and Wine Bar when we visited in 2009). The crescent shape of the man-made stonework, along with the straight drop of water that is abruptly broken by the natural rock below, gives this waterfall a unique and beautiful personality. Old Mill Falls is a man-made dam, constructed of limestone bricks atop a smaller natural falls. Old Mill Falls is the site of one of the first grist mills constructed in the area, built in 1792 by Seth Dean. With its wide basin, moderate slope and consistent flow, the creek helped pioneers settle this region by powering a variety of mills and allowing for growing industry. Handicap accessibility: Yes, to see Old Mill Falls from the bridge.Īccommodations: Historic markers adjacent dining small park with benches trash cans.įlint Creek has its beginnings in the Italy Hill region southeast of Canandaigua Lake near Middlesex and heads 25 miles north and into the Canandaigua Outlet at the village of Phelps.

It is probably not a good idea to explore upstream in the dark or in the icy conditions of winter. 30 minutes or more to see the small cascades upstream. Time: 5 minutes to check out Old Mill Falls. Right after it passes through the village of Flint it joins with the Canandaigua outlet, which heads north to Lyons, where it joins the Erie Canal. Waterway: Flint Creek, which originates southwest in the Italy Valley near Naples, NY. Upstream there are several more limestone drops less then 3 ft high.īest time to visit: Spring, fall, winter.įlow: Generally consistent. Water falls roughly 7 ft straight down the cut stone blocks of the man-made top and then cascades across the 4 ft of jagged limestone at the base. Size/Types: Old Mill Falls, or Flint Creek Falls, is a crescent-shaped, 11 ft high, man-made and natural falls. Parking for the upstream cascades: Room for two cars in a small lot just to the north of the William St Bridge (on the right if coming from Main St). Parking: Parking for roughly a dozen cars along Flint Rd (off of Main St near the creek). Old Mill Falls is just north of where Main St crosses the creek. Turn right (south) onto Flint St and park on the side of the road. Immediately turn left (east) onto Rt-96 and follow it to the village of Phelps. Old Mill Falls is just north of where Main St crosses the creek.įrom Rochester and points west: Take I-90 to Exit 43 and head south on Rt-21. Turn left (south) onto Flint St and park on the side of the road. Turn right (west) onto Rt-96 and follow it through the village of Phelps. Upstream falls: (N 42.95777 / W 77.06552)ĭirections: From Syracuse and points east: Take I-90 to Exit 42 and head south on Rt-14 for about a half mile. Maps: Google Map Topographic Interactive map. in the village of Phelps Town of Phelps Ontario County New York.

Flint creek