Salmon River Falls

The Salmon River Falls is a 110ft waterfall on the Salmon River in Oswego County, New York in the United States. It is situated within the 112acre Salmon River Falls Unique Area, which is managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The falls and surrounding land are open to the public and are a popular sightseeing destination within the region.HistoryPrior to European settlement, the Salmon River Falls area was utilized by the Onondaga, Oneida, and Cayuga tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy as seasonal fishing grounds, where they would harvest Atlantic salmon that were blocked from further upstream migration on the Salmon River by the falls.It was not until the early 1800s that roads began to expand into the heavily forested region surrounding the falls, allowing for the first sightseers to visit the falls. Recreational and commercial salmon fishing was also noted at the falls prior to the extirpation of Atlantic salmon from the river in 1872. A tourist lodge and dancing establishment known as The Cataract House was operated near the falls between 1860 and 1888, and a food and novelty stand was operated at the falls in 1896. At this time, the falls were alternately referred to as High Falls in some sources.