Clark's Gully - Naples

[Matt]

Discuss Clark's Gully both upper and lower portions here.

[Matt]

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.

[cbobcat49]

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

[Mark J]

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!

[cbobcat49]

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.

[Matt]

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]

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/clarks-glen-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/clarks-glen-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/clarks-glen-naples-ny
http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/78285023/clarks-glen-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/tannery-creek-naples-ny
http://bremer.tumblr.com/post/78977614/grimes-glen-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.

[cbobcat49]

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

[Mark J]

Bremer has done a nice job describing the entrance into the gully. Between his and the description in the Footprint Press book, it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Also see the Footprint Press blog for more info. http://newyorkoutdoors.wordpress.com/ and http://newyorkoutdoors.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/hi-tor-is-setting-for-muddy-sneakers-race-april-18/

[bremer]

Thanks Chris, I appreciate the welcome. I will try to periodically add information/fill in the gaps on the finger lakes falls. I have info on a few more that have not been covered yet and will try to add some more info periodically.

[hobkyl]

Despite all the rain we've been having Clarks wasn't flowing as much as one might hope. Where do you consider lower and upper Clarks to divide? I climbed up as far as I could safely manage until I got to a large falls. Guessing 70'+. Unfortunately the sun was directly overhead so pictures were all scrapped. I've gone in at the top before but could not find a safe way into the gully.

[cbobcat49]

Thanks for posting these! I've never seen photos of the upper falls. I've only seen the lower one, in your last shot.

[hobkyl]

You are welcome, wish I could have gotten some decent photos of the top falls though

[Matt]

I would say the divide would be at the falls in your last photo. Not one I would recommend climbing.

[hobkyl]

Those falls are actually pretty easy to climb over. Right up the right side of the falls. Those are the first of the falls that you come to. The first two are beyond that but before this....



I didn't see a safe looking way up those. That is where I turned back.

And the rest of these are somewhere in between those in no particular order. Unfortunately I had the sun directly overhead.








There are a handful of other channels flanking the sides of the gully as well that could hold some falls, but those were bone dry.

[hobkyl]

Some pics from Clarks...

[Forge]

the second from the bottom is a picture of me and andy half way up the scree bank on the left of the big falls, its about the only way to get past them

[hobkyl]

Yeah crazy Ben and Andy! Lol. I hate that Ive never been able to get a good pic of that falls! Im working on the video...just so much to do and so little time. I opened a Youtube account and will get them uploaded as soon as I can.

[Matt]

I forgot I took this picture. This is the uppermost falls in Clark Gully that Ben and I saw that day, above the unclimbable falls in Kyle's pics (last one). I took this with my point-and-shoot camera after Ben and I climbed up the gully wall to get past the unclimbable falls. Not the greatest pic, but enough to get the idea.

This one is easily climbable on both flanks. Ben went up the left, I went up the right and we continued on above this falls for a bit, but didn't come across anything else major, and the gully was starting to get quite shallow, so we presumed this to be the last large falls (or first, depending on if you're going up or down) on the gully. There were a couple smaller (3-5ft) falls, but that's it.