Great Falls of Tinker's Creek

Great Falls is a waterfall on Tinker's Creek in Viaduct Park, within Bedford Reservation. The appeal is both the water and the traces of the industries that once used it. Start at Viaduct Park and follow the paved approach to the upper overlooks for a quick visit. After rain, the falls may be louder and fuller.

The paths reach overlooks, a viewing bridge and a balcony, with wayside panels along the way. The upper view lets you take in the full falls without going down to the creek. For a closer look at the ledges and water, continue down the steps toward the old millrace tunnel and creek-side rocks. That lower route is uneven and can be slippery; stay on the upper path if you want the easier walk.

From 1821 to 1913, the falls powered a sawmill, a gristmill and an electric power plant. Daniel Benedict began by using the water for a sawmill, and Luther Willis later established a gristmill. A railroad viaduct carried trains over Tinker's Creek; a sandstone conduit called The Arch carries the creek beneath a rail embankment. The surviving tunnel and stonework make the area's industrial past visible as you walk.

Tinker's Creek carved Bedford Reservation's deep gorge, which is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. At the falls, layered rock ledges frame the water. From creek level, the water's route through the rock and the steep walls of the gorge are easier to read.