We Didn’t Plan This… But It Led to Rainbow Falls and a hike in the Adirondack Mountains

Nearly every weekend we go for a little drive. We don’t plan it, we don’t go prepared, just grab a few diapers for little Emerald, a few snacks for us and we hit the road for a few hours.

I absolutely love it.

When I was a kid we did the same thing and I remember having some of the best conversations as a family while my dad pretended he was lost. My favorite memories growing up are from those random car rides. I love that we do that too. It was something Dave already enjoyed before we even met which makes it even better because it was a natural thing for us both. 

Yesterday (April 18th 2026) we went on one of our little random rides. We knew we wanted to wonder around a different route but didn't plan anything. I was so surprised when we started going across this bridge. I thought I was going to see a small river, which is common for this area but I was blown away when I looked across and saw this massive waterfall. 

📸: Roughly 10,000 years of carving since the last ice-age formed from glaciers melting. Rainbow Falls at Ausable Chasm. One of the most photographed waterfalls in the Adirondacks

Of course we had to take take a moment to enjoy the beauty, take a few photos, and mark this as a future place to explore.. With the purchase of a ticket you are able to see a hidden wonder packed full of ancient geological history. We will definitely go into this deeper and share when we do. (more images are at the bottom in the gallery)

After the famous Rainbow Falls

We continued on our drive and into the Adirondack Mountains along a section that was new to us. We stumbled upon a little local farmer's market style shop that was so cute we had to take a look inside.

More photos are the bottom of the post in the gallery.

We grabbed a little treat, maple cotton candy and then headed to a trail to explore and have some fun in nature.

In the wild heart of the Adirondacks

This sign marks one of the gateways into the High Peaks Wilderness. Where there are 238.4 miles of foot trails with 42 of the 46 High Peaks available! This 275,460 acre region is the largest protected wilderness in New York.

From this very spot, we stepped onto a stretch of land that has some of the tallest mountains in New York, including Mount Marcy, the highest point in the state.

No roads cutting through or shortcut. It is just forest, rock, water, and whatever types of wild life decide to show up.

If you follow these trails, you’re not just hiking on a regular trail you’re moving through a place that was shaped by glaciers, where thin mountain soils make every step feel a little more enchanting and ancient.

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The nearby Rooster Comb and Snow Mountain trails are known for their views without needing a full-day climb, which is why locals love them. Perfect for us as we are just now thawing out from winter as spring is emerging. 

It was nice getting that wild, free, wilderness feeling the Adirondack mountains offer without having to literally disappear for 12 hours to do so.

Eventually, we will be exploring deeper but this was a spontaneous short day. 

This whole Keene Valley area is one of the most hiker-dense little pockets in the Northeast. On a good day, you’ve got seasoned mountaineers, first-timers, and quiet wanderers all sharing the same trailhead, each chasing something a little different. We even bumped into two young local kids riding their bikes. We said how amazing it must be for this beautiful spot to be their backyard. 

Yesterday had that 90's vibe. The sky was mostly vibrant blue, the wind had a gentle feeling, the leaves rustling through the woods, it was the kind of day that left you feeling nostalgic and reminiscing of the past with every step on the trail. 

This trail in particular has various wooden boardwalks throughout which was really beneficial during mud season. 

Little channels of water wave through the spongy marsh grasses and there is a small pond which the trail wraps around. It's the kind of spot that you feel like a moose will be lurking, we didn't see any despite our best efforts. 

Our little Emerald got a literal taste of the forest.

We let her sit and explore nature for a little bit the way she wanted to. At her age she wanted to put a handful of pine needles in her mouth. We settled on a small stick for a natural chew toy for the day. 

This is the perfect trail for a short escape from the everyday rush of life, it is perfect for children of any age and for adults with any level of hiking experience. 

As you browse the gallery keep in mind these are two separate locations.

The Ausable Chasm

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Trailhead Address:

Route 73, Keene Valley, NY 12943

Lake Placid

This is the primary parking area and access point. You’ll find it right off NY-73, just past the center of Keene Valley (coming from Lake Placid, it’s about 0.4 miles past the High Peaks sign on the right).

Lake Placid

If you’re plugging it into the GPS, you can also search:

Rooster Comb Trailhead (NY-73)