It is a very beautiful spot to check out if you are in the area, just off the main road.

You can kayak or canoe on the river. The rapids are gentle, and you can float down them on an inflatable like an inner tube. Below the rapids is a swim. The rocks are smooth, and the water isn’t that fast, so young children could swim here under supervision.

The lost village of Furnace Falls owes its history to two Chicago investors: Parry & Mills. They were one of many investors who tried to cash in on the Snowdon Iron Rush. They leased a section of the Myles property and decided to smelt the ore on site.

A description of the village in 1884 mentions a sawmill & shingle mill on the banks of the Irondale River, the smelter (not quite finished), 5 large dwelling houses, a storehouse, work-shops and numerous smaller structures.

The name of the village, Furnace Falls, was clearly melded from the (blast) furnace beside the falls.

Photos and videos: Vlad Umnov