As part of a camping trip to Heart Lake in late July, we did a day hike up to Rocky Falls directly from our campsite. On a hot summer day, the falls are paradise and a dream come true: cool, refreshing mountain water gently plunging into inviting swimming pools, surrounded by shady forest deep in the High Peaks Wilderness of the Adirondacks. There is a small beach area just below the lower falls, right next to a nice swimming hole, which makes a perfect picnic spot. We had the place to ourselves. Granted, our visit was on a Monday in pandemic-influenced 2020, but even in more normal times, most people at the crowded Van Hoevenberg trailhead at Heart Lake (ADK Loj) head up to some of the 4000-foot high peaks summits nearby.
The trail takes you directly to the lower of two small waterfalls. The second (smaller) one is a very fun rock scramble and boulder-hop above the lower site. Below each of the waterfalls is a nice and deep (but not deep enough to dive) pool for swimming. Our kids had a lot of fun swimming and scrambling around the boulders. We brought a picnic and celebrated Lena’s fourth birthday with cupcakes.
The trail itself is just over two and a half miles one way, starting from our campsite at the Heart Lake campground, and taking the trail around the north side of the lake (there is also a trail around the south side of Heart Lake). We followed the signs to Indian Pass and after some time the trail begins to parallel Indian Pass Brook. There is no steady elevation gain and is relatively straightforward, but the trail does have some ups and downs as it crosses some small tributaries.
Rocky Falls is a wonderful place to be on a hot day in the High Peaks. Bring a picnic and enjoy a remote piece of heaven.
Abbey Pond, Vermont