Information
Landmark: Ausable ChasmCity: Adirondacks
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Ausable Chasm, Adirondacks, USA New York, North America
Overview
Ausable Chasm cuts through layers of tawny sandstone in the northeastern Adirondacks, just outside Keeseville and only a short drive from the blue expanse of Lake Champlain.Famous for its dramatic rock formations and storied past, it’s among the oldest natural attractions still running in the U. S., welcoming visitors since 1870.Over thousands of years, the Ausable River cut deep into the rock to form Ausable Chasm, and its cold, rushing water still winds through the gorge today.The chasm slices through Potsdam sandstone, a warm, reddish rock formed nearly 500 million years ago during the Cambrian Period.This ancient sandstone holds ripples frozen in stone and faint fossilized trails, like the delicate paths of creatures that once crawled across wet sand.The gorge runs for more than two miles, with cliffs soaring over 150 feet high, waterfalls tumbling into deep green pools, and rock formations carved over thousands of years by rushing water and relentless wind.Top things to see and do-like the lighthouse at sunset.The Scenic Trails Inner Sanctum Trail guides you deep into the gorge, where you can stand just feet from towering rock walls and intricate stone formations.The trail winds over wooden bridges, along narrow walkways, and up steep stairs.Rim Walk winds along the cliff’s edge, giving you sweeping views from high above where the wind whistles past your ears.As you walk, small signs tell the story of the land’s rugged rocks and its past.Dry Chasm Trail winds through a quiet, tucked-away stretch of the gorge, a hidden path few hikers ever find.Number two.In the warmer months, you can raft or float in a tube down the Ausable River, drifting past the gorge’s steep, sunlit cliffs-a favorite adventure for many.On a guided raft trip, you drift through the lower chasm’s gentle waters, with sheer cliffs rising overhead and jagged rock formations close enough to touch.Tubing’s perfect if you want to drift lazily downstream, setting your own pace while the water laps against your feet.Number three.In Ausable Chasm, you’ll find some of its most famous rock formations, like Elephant’s Head-a jagged cliff face shaped uncannily like an elephant’s profile.Devil’s Oven is a small cave carved into the rock wall, its dark mouth tied to whispers of old local legends.Jacob’s Ladder is a long wooden stairway that drops steeply into the chasm, its steps worn smooth by years of boots.Sentinel Rock rises alone from the river, a tall stone pillar with water swirling at its base.Number four.Adventure Trails (Adventure Trail Course) Thrill-seekers can tackle Ausable Chasm’s ropes and cable course clinging to the cliffside above the rushing river, with via ferrata-style traverses, swaying cable bridges, and tightrope walks that make your palms sweat.We provide safety gear, then clip each participant into a snug harness that locks with a reassuring click.Five.In winter, the chasm turns into a frozen wonderland, its walls glittering with icy lace.Frozen waterfalls crash in silence, ice formations glint in the sun, and frosted cliffs rise in a scene you can’t look away from.In the off-season, guided tours run on a limited schedule, and only if the weather cooperates-think crisp air and clear skies.The Visitor Center offers a gift shop, a cozy café with the smell of fresh coffee, a ticket office, and displays packed with useful information.Ausable Chasm Campground has tent sites, cozy cabins, and roomy spots for RVs, so guests can settle in for the night under the pines.Seasonal interpretive programs feature lively geology talks, evening lantern tours that flicker against the stone walls, and engaging historical presentations.Photography: Photographers flock to the site for its striking play of light and the rugged textures that catch every shadow.Ausable Chasm was first recorded in the early 1800s, and by the late 19th century trainloads of American tourists were coming to see its towering sandstone walls.Back in the early Victorian days, visitors made their way through the gorge on creaking wooden ladders and small rowboats that bobbed in the water.Samuel de Champlain named it “Ausable” in 1609, borrowing from the French “Au Sable,” or “of sand,” after spotting the pale, gritty shoreline at the river’s mouth.You’ll find it at 2144 Route 9, Ausable Chasm, NY 12911-about twelve miles south of Plattsburgh, ninety miles from Albany, and just a half-hour drive from the ferry that crosses to Burlington, Vermont.Access is simple - just drive right up and park by the front door.You can park right here on the property, just steps from the front door.Hours change with the seasons-on a bright July day, you can stay from morning till dusk, but in the quieter months, the schedule’s shorter.Admission fees change based on what you pick-maybe a hiking pass, a rafting-and-hiking combo, or the adventure course with its rattling rope bridge.Late spring to early fall is your sweet spot-plenty of things to do, and the river’s open for rafting and tubing under the warm sun.Ausable Chasm welcomes just about everyone-from families with kids (though a few activities have height or age limits) to hikers chasing quiet trails, photographers drawn to the cliffs’ rugged lines, geology buffs, thrill-seekers ready for ropes courses or rafting, and travelers exploring the Adirondacks or nearby Lake Champlain.Here, rushing water, towering rock walls, and a dash of history combine into one unforgettable adventure.It’s an easy, unforgettable way to witness the raw geological force that carved the northeastern U. S.-like standing beside ancient rock walls-yet still feel completely safe in the well-kept surroundings.
