New York’s Little Grand Canyon Has Survived 150 Years of Tourism Without Losing Its Wild Character

150-Foot Deep Ausable Chasm

Most people don’t expect to find a massive canyon in upstate New York, but that’s exactly what the Ausable River created over two million years.

Just south of Lake Champlain, you can explore walking trails along the rim, float through the narrows, or climb fixed routes.

People have been coming here since before the Civil War, and here’s why.

Chasm’s Journey from Seabed to Canyon

The chasm was compressed before being carved by glacial meltwater and erosion.

Carbon dating shows the oldest formations date back 1.2 billion years. Check out the ripple marks from prehistoric tides in the rock walls.

Geologists have also found evidence of three major extinction events in the layers and the water that formed the chasm flowed at rates 500 times greater than today’s river.

William Gilliland’s 1765 Discovery

In October 1765, Irish settler William Gilliland navigated the Boquet River, encountering a narrow gorge, that was later described as “a most admirable sight” in his journal.

This discovery led to the establishment of mills and ironworks, utilizing the river’s power. By 1876, the area was officially named Ausable Chasm.

Some records also show 17 smuggling operations used the chasm back in Prohibition. They even found hidden caches with 1920s whiskey bottles and smuggling equipment.

Becoming a Tourist Destination in the 1800s

The wealthy reached the chasm via private railway cars to explore the “Adirondack Wonder.” You’ll find guest books containing sketches by notable artists at the museum.

Back then, the Chasm House charged $25 per night (equivalent to $800 today) inviting prominent figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Edison.

What’s Unique About The Geology

This sandstone gorge’s temperature never varies more than 3 degrees regardless of outside conditions. Quartz and iron oxides in the layers help create glowing effects.

European settlers named it Devil’s Oven after hearing strange sounds (or natural resonance) from within though it’s just mountain acoustics.

Today, the North Rim Trail offers accessible viewing platforms for all to see the wonder.

Ancient Fossils Predating Dinosaurs

Research teams have identified 14 previously unknown prehistoric species here. Using UV lighting, several viewpoints reveal fossil patterns invisible to the naked eye.

Cornell University maintains a research station studying these ancient remnants. A rare complete trilobite fossil was found in 2022 by a 9-year-old visitor.

Near Destruction in the 1996 Flood

Emergency work saved the chasm, but the devastating 1996 Floods had already reshaped several sections, creating the “New Ausable.”

The original pathway through the Flume was permanently altered by over 40 feet, with waters reaching 27 feet above normal levels.

Recently, engineers installed hidden reinforcement anchors and underwater sonar mapping in 2020 revealed more caverns formed by the flood.

Drinks Inspired by the Chasm

The “Rainbow Falls IPA” has become popular among craft beer fans.

Local breweries offer an annual “Chasm Reserve” aged in barrels stored inside the gorge. The water used in brewing comes from the same aquifer that feeds the chasm.

Their tasting room displays historical photos of the chasm from 1870. Local restaurants serve Ausable-themed cocktails using herbs found in the gorge.

Unique Micro-Climate Supports Biodiversity

Areas along the riverbank have fluctuating humidity, less than 5% annually giving life to painted trilliums. One explorer named Tim Rowland describes the chasm’s vegetative cover as towering old specimens of hemlock and spruce.

The relationship between the fish and the flower goes a little bit deeper. Bloom time coincides with the slow solar warming of streams, triggering native trout to rise up from the cold stream bottom to feed.

Rafting, Tubing, and Floating

The Float Tour kicks off at Table Rock, gliding through the narrow Grand Flume, past towering formations like the Sentry Box and Broken Needle.

Summer tubing runs late June–Labor Day. Guests (54″ tall max 250 lbs) bounce through gentle whitewater. Tours last 30–60 minutes, with gear provided.

Repeat floats? It’s just $15 each.

Filming Productions at Ausable Chasm

Several movies were filmed there in the early 1900s, including Perils of Pauline.

This sandstone gorge in New York, has been used as a filming location for several movies, including “The Spirit of the Gorge” and “The Black Chasm”. 

A film production guide for Ausable Chasm was published in 2023, with lighting crews developing custom equipment for the gorge’s darkest sections.

Ice Climbing Adventures at Ausable Chasm

Once the ice thickens, the chasm’s waterfalls create interesting routes for ice climbing.

There’s ‘Cookies and Cream,’ a moderately sloped ravine, best for first-timers and the ‘Splashboard Ice’, right along the Inner Sanctum trail.

Professional climbers rate the “North Wall Direct” among the top 50 ice climbs in North America, attracting participants from 14 countries worldwide.

The unusual ice formations can reach six feet in diameter by mid-January.

Legends That Surround the Chasm

Inside the Chasm are many, many bridges that provide our only access to explore the sights within. You won’t find them on any historic register even though they have served for well over 100 years (but have mostly been replaced by steel constructs).

The “High Bridge” was one of the first to cross Ausable Chasm, built around 1793 with two Norway Pine logs. Records suggest Max Morgan and his horse crossed the chasm on a dark and foggy night, leaving only hoof prints behind. 

Guide to Visiting Ausable Chasm in 2025

Address: 2144 Route 9, Ausable Chasm, NY 12911

Hours: Open daily 9am-5pm (May-October); Friday-Sunday 10am-4pm (November-April)

Admission: $25.95 for adults, $19.95 for children 5-12 (basic admission). Adventure packages with tubing, rafting, or climbing range from $42.95-65.95.

Tips:

• Book the first tour at 9:30am to avoid crowds
• Free shuttle service runs from parking to remote trailheads 
• Off-season weekday visits get a 20% discount online

Contact: (518) 834-7454 or visit ausablechasm.com for updates and events.

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