Clark's Gully - Naples

A place to discuss waterfalls. Including the parks that house them and the hikes to get to them.

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Rate Clark's Gully

1 - Ugly, Not worth the trip
1
8%
2 - Could be better
0
No votes
3 - OK, See it if you are in the area
2
17%
4 - Beautiful, worth the trip.
6
50%
5 - Must see, worth revisiting
3
25%
 
Total votes: 12
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Matt
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Discuss Clark's Gully both upper and lower portions here.
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Matt
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this place is nice, just for the fact not many people know about it. I haven't seen the upper portion yet, which is suppossed to have more than the lower.
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cbobcat49
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We were there a few years ago and it was bone dry, so we didn't bother hiking in. We were there last summer and hiked up to the first falls which is very pretty. Since you can't climb up this falls, we decided to go down into the gully from the top but we couldn't seem to find an easy way in. I guess there's two more falls in there?

Chris
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Upper Clark's Gully is fabulous as I've discussed in another thread. However it is very steep and trails are not well marked. This is for skilled and cautious hikers, and check the brakes on your vehicle before going up there and again before coming down! I was there in July, 2006, water flow was moderate -- enough to splash around in and get good pics. Where the trail reaches the stream, there's a pair of boulders in the stream bed resembling a baby grand piano and its bench. We ate our PB&J's sitting by these rocks. The main cascade is just below them. It's possible to climb down the side of this cascade, but very carefully. Had the whole darn place to ourselves for about two hours on a summer day. Nice!
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cbobcat49
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I've seen the lower falls once... and couldn't figure out a way to climb up it.
On that same trip we tried to get down in the gorge from the top but couldn't find a safe way in.
I'd love to see the upper falls and gorge someday.
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~Henry David Thoreau
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Matt
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this is one of the first falls I profiled for the site. I haven't been to the upper part yet. I'm hoping I'll be able to get out there this summer.
bremer
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Ive been to Clarks several times and have had trouble finding the "ideal" amount of flow. This gorge is so narrow and has such a small watershed that most of the time its bone dry and if you go after a rain its too dangerous to walk down the creek. Despite this, it may be my favorite glen due to its wild nature. As others have pointed out, this place is a bit dangerous and I would suggest bringing a rope. The first falls is climbable if you aren't afraid of sliding back into the plunge pool but I wouldn't really recommend doing this. If you do climb the lowest falls you will be immediately met with 2 more falls of similar height/difficulty level.

Heres part of the set of falls right above the lowest falls:

http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/90254579/ ... -naples-ny

I would recommend using the upper parking lot. From here you walk across the grassy field and find the trail at the other end of the field going into the woods. Follow this for a few hundred yards and look for a relatively gentle slope on your left. If you miss this there aren't any easier spots as others have pointed out. Heres a photo of where I'd recommend entering the glen:

http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/82196068/ ... -naples-ny

You will find a half dozen 3'-6' cascades and falls before arriving at two 60+ ft. falls. Unfortunetely most hikers won't be comfortable climbing down these falls and I wouldn't advise trying unless you are really comfortable with your abilities. I have made it down but even in dry weather its dangerous.

I will let everyone explore the rest for themselves since thats the main attraction to gorge hiking in my opinion, but heres a taste of the upper creek:

http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/96384355/ ... -naples-ny
http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/78285023/ ... -naples-ny

For comparison, the summer-time photo was taken the same day as these photos at tannery creek and grimes glen:
http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/80153742/ ... -naples-ny
http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/78977614/ ... -naples-ny

This will give you a really good idea of what type of flow to expect at clarks glen. Given how difficult the hike is I would try to pick your day carefully.
"Now I see the Secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth" - W. Whitman
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cbobcat49
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I would recommend using the upper parking lot. From here you walk across the grassy field and find the trail at the other end of the field going into the woods. Follow this for a few hundred yards and look for a relatively gentle slope on your left. If you miss this there aren't any easier spots as others have pointed out. Heres a photo of where I'd recommend entering the glen:

http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/82196068/ ... -naples-ny
We tried to access the upper glen once before. I believe we were in that grassy field you're talking about but couldn't find a way down. I hope to try it again this summer. Welcome to the community, bremer! Sounds like you have a lot of info on Finger Lakes area waterfalls.

Chris
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~Henry David Thoreau
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