On a recent trip to the Adirondacks Mountains, driving through the mountains from Lake Placid (Olympic Village) along the very beautiful, scenic and winding Route 73 (Cascade Road), heading toward Keene, past Round Lake and Mud Pond, you will come to the beautiful Cascade Lakes.

Between the Upper Cascade Lake (up to 60 feet deep) and the Lower Cascade Lake (up to 40 feet deep), as you head down the hill, slow down as you will see a sign for Cascade Lakes Day Use Area. There you will find a parking area, and directly above it you will see a beautiful narrow waterfall across from a small stream. It was said that Hurricane Irene created a larger opening expanding the width of the falls to look like a the number 7, as water flows down from the upper lake. It was also noted that a logging operation was once said to be located near by.

Here you may see boaters (canoeing and kayaking) on the lake. A husband and wife team provided me with a brief history of the time they spent there, as they launched their canoe onto the lake. The area also offers hiking and cross country skiing.

I was naturally attracted by the opportunities to fish in many areas in the Keene Valley. I was informed that the twin Cascade Lakes offer some of the best opportunities to fish brook trout (brookies) waters in Essex County. In addition to brookies, there are opportunities to fish for brown trout, lake, pumpkinseeds, sunfish, white sucker, Black bullhead and yellow perch.

I was fortunate to catch brookies and white suckers, but more importantly I met several other visitors to the area and was able to allow several youngsters to catch their first fish by sharing my fishing pole. “Priceless”. I cannot wait to make a few more trips back there and also visit the famous Ausable Chasm.

“getouttogetin”