WHAT TO DO IN LITTLE FALLS

We’re kind of in slow-motion cruise mode right now, since the locks on the Oswego Canal (where we are planning on going) are closed at least until next Wednesday (the 24th). We could be stuck at worse places , however. Little Falls, NY is a viable small town with a lot going for it. Although it has lost some of its industrial base, there is still small industry going on here, including a major stainless steel manufacturer, a fiberglass manufacturer, a large paper mill and a dry-foods producer. The locals we talk with rue the loss of other industry in the area, all feeling that the town is not what it used to be. Nevertheless, it is one of the more vibrant small towns we have seen on this trip.

Houses along the canal

For the boaters heading this way, the rest of this entry is for you. First, where to dock? The free wall just before lock #17 is a decent place, although there is no power and no water available. Boats are moving slowly in and out of the lock, so no wakes. There are good tie-ups to the bollards on the wall, as long as you have decent fender protection (preferably fender boards).

Lock #17 with a boat coming up & another waiting to go down

The wall is close to town, as you can walk over the lock, down a 1/2 mile trail and be in Canal Place, a small area of galleries, restaurants and antique shops. Downtown is a few blocks further, through a pedestrian tunnel under the RR tracks.

The other docking option is Little Falls Harbor Center at Rotary Park. This is a municipal marina just at the end of the no-wake zone, west of Lock #17.

It has floating docks and a wall tie-up. Both the docks and the wall ( which parallel the channel) have power and water. There is a marina building with a lounge area, TV, very clean and modern heads and showers. The fee is $1/ft, and well worth it. Downtown is about a 15-20 minute walk, but the staff and/or volunteers at the harbor are very accommodating, even offering rides for grocery shopping &/or laundry trips into town.

The town has a number of businesses, banks, post office, etc., although no boat-specific outlets. Some of the high points we have discovered:

Bakery on Main St. with fresh-baked Italian bread for $2/loaf along with many other goodies

Espresso shop on Main & Ann Sts, has breakfast menu.

Brew Pub (Copper Moose Ale House) on Main St. which serves the best hamburger I have ever had, and has 20+ taps for specialty brews

Price Chopper supermarket between Main & Albany St.

CVS drug store next to Price Chopper.

Wine shop on Ann St, up the hill from Main, just beyond the gas station.

Laundromat on Albany St at north end of bridge.

Kelly Meats on Albany and Ann Sts (next to Dollar Store) - incredible meats at even more incredible prices

Little Falls Museum, across Albany from Kelly Meats in an old bank building.

Ice Cream Shop in old mill building at Canal Place

More and more boats are showing up here, some deciding to stay here until all of the locks are open, even though there are 5 locks before the closure. Rumor has it that docking space is very hard to come by closer to the closure, and you don’t really know what’s available until you get there. We may move up anther lock or two over the next few days, but we have at least 4 more days to wait, somewhere along the canal. In the mean time, we are enjoying Little Falls…