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DISTANCE: 1 mile TYPE: Out and back DIFFICULTY: Easy HIKING TIME: < 1 hour |
Kaaterskill Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in New York State, is accessible by a short hiking trail off a main road, and thus easily earns the distinction of being one of the most visited and best-known tourist destinations in the Catskills. The two stages of Kaaterskill Falls total 260 feet in height. Immensely popular with travelers over the last century, the falls are also one of America’s oldest well-known tourist attractions, brought to notoriety by various books, poems, and paintings in the early nineteenth century.
Many paths and wooden viewing stations that once allowed tourists access to all parts of the falls have since been removed or destroyed, and today it is extremely dangerous to try to reach parts of the waterfall away from the designated hiking trail. Indeed, there are injuries and even deaths almost every year as a result of hikers going off-trail, ignoring warning signs, exploring the most dangerous sections of the waterfall, and losing their footing and falling.
The Catskills can claim the odd distinction of being one of the few tourist destinations in America that is less developed and perhaps even less popular in the modern age than a century ago. Nonetheless, the ghost of tourism past still lingers heavily in this area, and other nearby hikes like Artist’s Rock and Newman’s Ledge (Guide #10) and Inspiration Point and Layman’s Monument (Guide #11) provide a glimpse at the once-bustling hotel business that dominated life around Kaaterskill Falls and North-South Lake.
GETTING THERE
Take Exit 20 (Saugerties) from the New York State Thruway, then turn left onto NY-212/NY-32. At the traffic light, take a right onto NY-32 North. In 6 miles, continue straight onto NY-32A. Follow NY-32A for 2 miles. In the small town of Palenville, make a slight left onto NY-23A and follow the road as it enters the Catskill Park. From here, the road climbs steeply up the mountain. You will notice the trailhead for the falls on the right side of the road at a sharp bend, but the main parking area is further still up the road. Continue for a few hundred feet to find the parking area on the left side of the road.
GPS SHORTCUT
Type “Kaaterskill Falls Parking” into Google Maps and your GPS will navigate you to the appropriate parking area.
THE TRAIL
From the parking area, walk down the left side of the road for 0.25 mile, keeping to the mountainside and off the road as much as possible. There is no dedicated pedestrian walkway, and at points you will have to quickly walk along the road itself. Walk downhill to the access point for the trail, at the bend in the road. Here, the road crosses over a stream, with Bastion Falls—a much smaller waterfall—tumbling down the rocky area next to the trailhead.
From the road, the trail weaves through the woods for a relatively easy half mile before reaching Kaaterskill Falls. Though the trail is short and simple, you should still exercise caution here: The rocks can be slick. With the number of tourists here making the trail seem closer to Central Park than a wild forest excursion, it is easy to get hurt on the approach to the falls if you forget that this is still untamed nature.
The trail ends at the base of the falls. While stunning views can be found here, many hikers are still tempted to try to get closer, or to climb up to the large ledge of this two-tier waterfall. Such a climb is unsafe and should never be attempted. Despite being a short and otherwise easy hike, Kaaterskill Falls has claimed more lives than many other, far more challenging hikes in the area. Nearly every year, a hiker venturing past the trail is injured in some way. It is not worth the risk—enjoy Kaaterskill Falls from the designated areas.