Farnum Falls

Far OutNumbered By Better Falls
Farnum Falls, Durham
November 2023

To my knowledge, there’s no such name as Farnum Falls attached to what I’m calling Farnum Falls, deep within Cockaponset State Forest just west of Miller’s Pond State Park in Durham. But what the heck, I found these falls to be a nice little scenic respite along an otherwise fairly tedious trail. There’s a little gorge and everything.

As always, my pictures don’t do the falls justice.

I hiked the long western loop from Miller’s Pond out into the state forest, constantly looking for old trails down to Camp Farnum. Camp Farnum was/is a cool little place in Durham for, I believe, disadvantaged kids mostly from New Haven. There was a giant pool and tons of outdoor activities and for many of the attendees, the camp afforded them experiences they’d never otherwise have the chance to see and do.

I know that it closed in the early 2020’s and have read they are trying to revitalize it. My plan was to hike its trails, “sneaking” in through the back door. However, the one main woods road was very clearly posted no trespassing and the other routes I figured were just not worth the effort. Especially since I don’t think the camp’s trails have been maintained at all.

The biggest challenge – and the reason why I noped out of the admittedly silly idea – was that the red trail I was on was high above Camp Farnum. And while it was very pretty looking down the pine laden gorges between me and the camp, it would have been a pain in the butt to make a go of it. And even worse getting back up here.

The far off camp

So onward I walked, constantly looked down at the plunging brook below me, on its direct path to the camp. I climbed a bit and then noticed I’d be walking alongside a feeder stream. I heard a waterfall and attempted a closer look. As I slid down the steep slope, I noticed the trail on the other side. “Oh. I’ll be over there in a minute. Let’s wait.”

So that’s what I did. I hiked up and around and back down along the trail to a spot that afforded a much nicer and clearer and safer view of what I’ve dubbed Farnum Falls. They are not large, but it is a really pretty area.