#7 of 39 sights in Lake George
Sight · Lake George NY
Short woodland approach; the base takes a steep, rocky scramble.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake George Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake George NY. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Lake George audio tourRecorded for this place
Shelving Rock Falls“You're approaching the walking access for Shelving Rock Falls, where the brook drops over rock shelves in the woods. Allow about forty-five minutes for the short walk and a look at the cascade.”
Plays as you drive up to Shelving Rock Falls in the Parkwolf Lake George Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Shelving Rock Falls is a stepped waterfall on Shelving Rock Brook in the Lake George Wild Forest’s east-shore Shelving Rock area. The wooded approach is short, but the closer, fuller view means descending natural rock steps to the base. You can see the upper falls without taking that steeper, slippery scramble.
The main drop is only the start of the cascade. Shelving Rock Brook continues over smaller ledges and plunges before reaching Shelving Rock Bay on Lake George. From the crest you get the upper waterfall; the lower rock steps bring you closer to more of the cascade. They can be wet and slippery, and the cobbled streambed may be underwater when water is high. For the fuller waterfall view, continue to the base only when the footing and water level make the descent comfortable.
George O. Knapp’s summer home once stood on the Shelving Rock promontory above the lake. It burned in 1917; the house had been reached by an electric inclined railway. A concrete abutment near the falls may be a remnant of a dam for the estate’s private powerhouse, though that interpretation is uncertain.
The waterfall is a short outing, while the same day-use area connects to longer east-shore routes. One option follows the Shelving Rock Mountain and shoreline connector trails to the 3.5-mile Lake Shore Trail toward Black Mountain Point. Treat that as a separate hike rather than part of the quick falls visit.
Wildlife
34 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
26 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
22 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
60 sightingsLoonMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
33 sightingsPorcupineMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
84 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake George. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateShelving Rock Mountain Trail3.4 mi · 2.3 hr · 0.2 mi awayA steady woodland climb ends above Lake George.
ModerateLake Shore Trail9 mi · 5 hr · 0.2 mi awayA 9-mile out-and-back to Black Mountain Point on Lake George.
EasyShelving Rock Falls Trail0.8 mi · 45 min · 0.3 mi awayA short brookside walk to a broad, tiered cascade.
ModerateBuck Mountain Trail from Shelving Rock Road4.4 mi · 4 hr · 2 mi awayA steady forest climb ends above Lake George’s island-dotted water.
ModerateBumps Pond Trail3.2 mi · 2.8 hr · 2.3 mi awayA rocky climb ends at a quiet pond with a brushy island.
ModerateSleeping Beauty Mountain Loop4 mi · 3.5 hr · 2.3 mi awayRocky summit views above Lake George, with a Bumps Pond return
ModerateFishbrook Pond Trail5.8 mi · 3.5 hr · 2.3 mi awayClimb to two Adirondack ponds on this out-and-back.
ChallengingGreenland Pond Trail7.6 mi · 4.5 hr · 2.3 mi awayA long forest walk to a secluded pond and lean-to.
Campground · 1.4 mi awayGlen Island CampgroundEven the mainland campsites are reached only by boat.
Picnic area · 1.7 mi awayCommission Point Picnic AreaA boat-in picnic stop with lakeside tables on Lake George.
Lodging · 2.2 mi awayThe Sagamore ResortA historic hotel on a private island reached by causeway.
Picnic area · 2.4 mi awaySarah IslandTwo reservable dock sites make this a useful island picnic stop.
Picnic area · 2.5 mi awayHazel IslandA boat-only picnic stop with two reservable docks.
Beach · 2.6 mi awayVeteran’s Memorial Park BeachA compact beach pairs mountain views with easy family play.
Beach · 2.6 mi awayRogers Memorial Park and BeachLake George swimming, picnic space, and a pier in the village.
Sight · 2.7 mi awayThe Bolton MuseumA former church traces the story of a classic Adirondack resortParkwolf’s Lake George ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
