Ausable Chasm

Super fun place for an adventure! We got the basic package of adventure trails that includes ziplining, climbing rocks and cable line walks to test your fear of heights!
Instructions were taught upon arrival on how to use the carabiner also included is the safety helm and harness. Listen to their instructions and everyone will be safe!
We saw a couple people that were to afraid to walk the cable line and there is a point where you could back out.
At the end of the adventure there is a bus that will take you back to the parking lot. The main parking lot was full when we arrived but you can also park across the bridge and take a nice walk for the scenery.
They also serve food which are the typical tourist food from pizza, burgers and fries. They have a small souvenir shop.

Absolutely gorgeous in October. They’ve done an amazing job making it accessible to everyone. I highly recommend taking the time to visit.

We stopped by on our way to Burlington. The view from the bridge was breathtaking, but I will admit — it wasn’t clear exactly what the site was representing. Perhaps more clear guidance on what was being exhibited would attract more attention.

I am almost 60 and grew up in New York State, but somehow I never made it to this place till recently. Last time I was near here it was pouring rain, and that was over 10 years ago.
I did not do any of the more adventurous things but did pay the basic admission to stroll through the Chasm. It is a fascinating place, with rock layers reminiscent of those glass sculptures that are made by fusing glass plates together.
I can’t speak to the adventure aspects but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. The only minor quibble was that the wood chips lining some of trail got into my open shoes and stuck into my feet. I am not sure why they were deemed necessary to begin with.

Gorgeous! Totally worth the price. We did the trails and rafting. The water was very low so the raft was slow but even better to take in the beauty of this place. Truly breath taking. You cannot fully appreciate it from the bridge. Take the time to walk the trails and tube or raft at the end. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a camera.

Alright, Peeps~I’m going to tell you a story~It’s one of those «Once upon a time, a l-​o-​n-​g time ago…» tales: I used to live in Peru, New York-​yes, Peru, you read that right-​Peru because I was stationed at Plattsburgh Air Force Base which is now a defunct military base! Anyway, I lived right on Lake Champlain (just down the street from the MacIntosh Apple Orchard where I’d buy the REAL apple cider!) in a «tiny house» bungalow where I would hike along the shoreline, picking wild blueberries along the way where I’d finally arrived at Au Sable Point; from this location, I’d hike all the way to Au Sable Chasm!
Back then in 1977, before my first born daughter was born, the area wasn’t really a heavy tourist destination as I have read the most recent Unilocal reviews which mind you, now leaves me, the Old School Peep, utterly, disgustingly disappointed due to realizing Au Sable Chasm is now charging a hefty, touristy, money-​grubbing fee visiting Au Sable Chasm! Nevertheless, hiking peacefully along the trails from Lake Champlain via my home waterfront, I really must admit was surely a daunting hike following the treacherous, Au Sable River along the river’s edge and Gorge; please keep in mind, this is BEFORE the sophisticated, walking sticks were invented so, grabbing whatever long stick I could find, is what I used keeping my balance and more importantly, preventing myself from falling into the Au Sable River Gorge!
I’m positive the Au Sable Chasm regional area has greatly improved the hiking trails within the past two decades or so verses from the time in 1977, when I hiked this «wilderness» area: I found a cool video online which should help you understand how treacherous hiking the area truly is:
BTW: The real reason I know about the Au Sable Chasm «wilderness» area is because when I was stationed at PAFB, there was a pilot who crashed his fighter jet and I was on the search and rescue team as the photographer on this devastating assignment: We-​the military search and rescue team, hiked searching every wilderness area possible from Keeseville to Saranac Lake but, couldn’t find the fuselage and the pilot due to the jet crashing in the bitter winter, where deep, twenty-​five feet snowdrifts throughout the region abounded; we had no choice but, calling off the search and rescue during the bitterly cold winter. Finally-​in the spring/​almost summer, a farmer found the frozen pilot on his property; keep in mind, I want all to realize how VAST the «wilderness» area Au Sable Chasm truly is PLUS, searching for this pilot over thousands upon thousands of acres within this region!

I can’t begin to express my disappointment, but I’ll try.
Our family — three teens and two adults — purchased the «premium package» which included access to their chasm via, «cable traverses, cable bridges, a cargo net climb, and edge walks» as well as «rafting» down the river at the end of the trail.
Well, one would consider appropriate footwear to be a reasonable question, which is exactly why I asked the person at the ticket counter SPECIFICALLY if my sandals, which are SPECIFICALLY made for hiking and water sports if they were appropriate for the activities. Again, since the girl was taking my money, I can only assume she was trained to say yes. In addition, she had mentioned that the «adventure trail» started exactly at a «quarter of» and «quarter after» the hour. We paid our money, and went to the trail head.
The five of us were first to arrive at 2:16pm, which meant we were to wait at least 29 minutes — no big deal, since we were looking forward to a standard first come-​first served approach, which would be the most reasonable and sane way to conduct a business. A service-​oriented business such as this one would clearly understand this common courtesy.
As expected, we were guided to the bottom of the chasm at 2:45 pm, where we could see the groups ahead of us challenged by the first «adventure» — the cargo-​net. Not that I’m not an olympic athlete, but the people ahead of us were in waaaaaaaaaayyyyy worse shape than any of the five of us — but since America is the land of the free — they were free to spend their money on this adventure, and clearly they were entitled to take their own sweet time to fulfill their ‘adventure’ no matter how long it took them.
After waiting an additional 15 minutes or so — presumably to await other ‘adventurers’ to our group — the guide looked at my feet, and informed me that me footwear was not appropriate, as only close-​toed shoes were allowed on the ‘adventure trail.’ After politely questioning why, I was informed that it was for my safety, as closed toed shoes offered additional protection in the case that loose rocks were to tumble from the chasm walls and somehow beeline it for my sandaled, exposed toes. A ‘supervisor’ was summoned, who repeated the same rationale. I asked why the cashier told me that my footwear was acceptable, and the supervisor stated that I was not the first person who arrived at the start of the «adventure trail» with the same problem, and that the cashiers had done this numerous times already that day. I was told that if I wanted to participate, I would need closed-​toed shoes, and if I didn’t have my own, I could buy some from the gift shop. Go figure, the problem and solution is provided by the operator, and all it would cost me is some of my hard-​earned, after-​tax, disposable income. This type of nickel-​and-​diming does not make customers happy.
I gathered myself and began the walk of shame back to the cashier’s desk, leaving my spouse, and three teenaged family members behind to that they could live out the «adventure» whilst I sought clarity on my situation, but most importantly, my refund. I was told that I could meet my family at the end of the trail in about an hour, where we could proceed to the second part of the «premium package,» the raft ride.
The cashier was pleasant enough to return $ 19.95 of the amount of the «premium package,» which left me paying ~$ 30 to basically, walk about a mile along a tree-​mulch path along the rim of the chasm and down to the end of the «adventure trail.» I arrived at the end of the «adventure trail at approximately 3:20 pm, and waited for my family to arrive.
Finally, at around 4:50pm; almost two hours since the start at the «adventure trail» my family was in sight, and traversing the last bridge of the trial. As it turns out, despite the expectation of «first come, first served» the reality was more chaotic. I understood that people jumped their turns, took excessive time photographing/​video recording loved ones along the way, and generally making my life miserable by making me wait longer than the «about an hour or so» for my family to arrive. Clearly, there is room for improvement on ensuring a fairer way to conduct activities on the «adventure trail» and maximizing throughput. Why were the guides allowing this, knowing full-​well that I was waiting for them at the end of the trail? Was this a deliberate attempt to punish me and my choice of footwear by making me wait even longer for my family to complete the course?
I’d like to finish my review of the «premium package» by commenting on the rafting portion, but I’m just a little too spent on my overall dissatisfaction of the «adventure trail.»
I can honestly say that I was not at all pleased with the service, their made-​up rules, inconsistency in message by their staff, and unfair treatment of customers; and I would never recommend Ausable Chasm to anyone who I like. My family and I, we will not be returning.

Lovely view of the falls and the little raft tour was fun – the kids enjoyed it! Not for the faint of heart in some places and you definitely have to watch your footing. I would have given it 5 stars except for some of the clueless help in the café – there seemed to be no system for ordering and getting people their food. I would have excused it but the season has been going for about a month now – they should have figured it out. And some of the shop help was clueless – I had to ask where the kid’s sizes were and she didn’t know – after I walked around 2 more minutes I found an ENTIRE TABLE of the kids sizes. Really? You need to keep a better eye on some of the help… They have a ropes/​adventure course that seems either awesome or terrifying, depending on your view

This is a must-​do thing in and around Port Kent/​Keeseville area. Beautiful gorge with adventure tours and breathtaking views!!! I was mesmerized!

After years of coming to the Adirondack Mountains, I finally decided to go check out Ausable Chasm.
This place isn’t exactly cheap. But where else are you going to get views like this?!? You’re not. So stop complaining about the admission price.
There are clearly marked paths — one is along the top. Another one along the middle with lots of cat walks. The whole family loved the views and the exploring.
We saw people kayaking in the gorge — which you can definitely sign up for. Perhaps when the boys are older (sigh).

This place was so beautiful. Shame that their ticket salespeople were so rude. You can choose to buy tickets to see the chasm up close in a ride. This allows you to access in the hiking area. You can also choose to just buy a wristband to go hiking. The people there charged us twice. The guy who took us down the water on the raft was super sweet.

I’m pretty frugal so the fact that I paid $ 16.95 to see a gorge is impressive to begin with, but I have no regrets (and that’s saying a lot). To be able to easily (ok, it involves many stairs, but that’s better than a sketchy switchback dirt trail) access a gorgeous sandstone gorge, to get down near the rushing river and look up to the towering cliffs above you, to safely walk almost a mile in this situation without worrying about going over the edge… Come on, that’s saying a lot. Even if you don’t take the incredibly scenic inner sanctum trail, you can walk the mulched upper path and glimpse safely into the gorge below from various viewpoints.
Granted, I’m glad I didn’t pay extra money for the raft or adventure tour. There’s a bridge over the narrow section of gorge that the rafts float down. Standing upon it was enough for me. And you can get glimpses of the adventure course while on the inner sanctum trail… I’d suggest you scope it out before paying the extra price.
Funny, I saw the soda machines strategically placed along the trail and was actually thinking in the heat of summer, people are probably grateful for that.
I didn’t try the café but I wish I had. It’s the closest food around. Somebody complained about the $ 1 donut and $ 2 muffin. I’m pretty sure donuts are a $ 1 at dunkin donuts and muffins are $ 1.79. Ie, I don’t think the prices were that outrageous. Maybe when compared to McDonald’s dollar menu.

This is a must see! My family loved the time that we spent at Ausable Chasm, truly beautiful! We did the Inner Sanctum Trail, and enjoyed every minute of it. We then did the raft ride down the chasm. I will say, the wait for the raft ride seemed ENDLESS!
Yes, it is pricey, but it is still cheaper than our local aquarium, and far more beautiful. We will be back… mostly because many of our friends now want to go after seeing our pictures :)

Breathtaking!
Even after finding this in the Book Off the Beaten Path me and my uncle thought it may be a small waterfall or something interesting but we didn’t know the adventure we we would go on.
We got there early on a rainy day before it opened. we actually ventured off to the road behind and saw some beautiful waterfalls. We thought we would be going down to that area and that is what the Chasm was.
Little did we know we started our tour across the road and began a journey along the rocks and the water for a 45 minute breathtaking view of scenery. I have never been in the Grand Canyon but it felt like I was there. The scenic route is a little scary if your scared of heights but you must trek through the terrain and soak in everything Ausable Chasm has to offer!

I thought that this would be a nice place to spend the day with my boyfriend based on the 4.5 rating on trip advisor, but it turned out to be a tourist trap not worth wasting our time on.
The chasm is pretty, but you really don’t see anything that’s not in the brochure and knowing how much you paid to get in definitely takes away from the natural beauty. I understand that maintaining the park takes money, but $ 30 for a float tour that lasts about 15 – 20 minutes is a bit steep. You have to wait an incredibly long time to be able to get into a raft, and the rafting experience itself is disgustingly tame and actually a little boring.

Made a reservation not realizing it was very far from my hotel, they had a flyer in the lobby. I called to explain the situation and ask for a refund and they said there was nothing they could do, meaning I basically threw $ 50 out the window thanks a lot ausable chasm for nothing !!!

Wow I’m surprised there aren’t more reviews for this place. People are calling it a tourist trap, and it is, but some places you don’t mind paying to be trapped in. For those complaining about the prices, which are reasonable, the money is used to upkeep the walkways and fences that keep you from plunging to your death, so I ca’;t see how you can complain.
A privately owned limestone and granite chasm off Route 9, the Ausable River carved this out over the millennia. It’s a great place for nature and outdoor lovers, photogs and birdwatchers. They offer many packages, as well as group rates, and you could easily spend a day here if you wanted as they offer ziplining, rafting, tubing, and repelling. We took the basic package of the hike and rafting tour, with a guide, and the bus that will take you back to the entrance. It all took about 4 hours.
The welcome center has a large gift shop and markedly expensive café, but there are no posted rules about bringing your own food inside to eat and we weren’t bothered when we did. Be sure to check out Rainbow Falls from the bridge before you enter the chasm itself. It’s a great way to spend an affordable afternoon in the Adirondacks.

Stunningly gorgeous historic falls.
To be perfectly honest, the entrance price feels a little on the steep side for what turns out to be an easy walk/​clamber with an optional (and additionally priced) raft/​tube down the river. The chasm is privately owned so I presume these high fees are what accounts for the fine quality railings and steps, and very clean facilities, but it still feels like a lot of money, especially compared to the sheer abundance of beautiful hikes available in the Adirondacks. That being said, it is the prettiest waterfall I’ve seen up here and there’s so many picturesque places along the river. If you enjoy nature photography, you’re going to have a great time.
If you have your heart set on tubing, call the Chasm ahead of time to check if they’re doing it that day. When water levels are too high, tubing is taken off the docket and it’s rafting only. We had hoped to tube, but called ahead, learned it was rafting only available that day, and made our decision to go regardless. Water levels were high and the raft took about only 15 minutes to travel down the river. Very fast paced! It made the rapids very exciting.
It really is a stunning location.
Next door to the welcome center is an Underground Railroad museum.

It’s interesting that two such beautiful gorges as Ausable Chasm and High Falls Gorge are privately owned. But even though it costs you a bit to get in, $ 16.95 for adults when we visited, it’s really worth it. This is beautiful country, and this is a spectacular chasm, well worth the walk.
What I do commend them for as a privately owned facility is the fact that the trails and fencing is so well maintained. Much better than the facilities in a standard state park so I guess that helps justify the admission fee.
For those who don’t like a long walk, it’s really nice that they offer a bus to pick you up after you’ve completed half of the loop. A nice touch that makes it attractive for older walkers or those who are visiting other spots. Needless to say, take the time and spend more than an hour here. There are several little trails off of the chasm itself that are nice to walk on.
By the way, do take the time to stop in and visit the tiny underground museum next door. It’s free, and definitely worth the 20 – 30 minutes you can spend inside.

The view from the bridge where US 9 crosses the Ausable River below the falls was amazing as a teaser. But the bridge vibrates a lot if a truck goes over it while you’re standing on it. You can get some great views from the bridge and the terrace along the museum/​café. If you want to hike the trail to go up to the Rainbow Falls, that will be an additional $ 16.95 per person, but only $ 8 per person if you live in Clinton, Essex, or Franklin Counties. See their website for additional excursions. The building also includes a gift shop, café, and small museum. Some people call Ausable Chasm «The Grand Canyon of the East.» It’s nowhere near as huge by any means, but it certainly lives up to its reputation as being breathtaking.