Information
Landmark: Kaaterskill FallsCity: Catskills
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Kaaterskill Falls, Catskills, USA New York, North America
Overview
Kaaterskill Falls ranks among New York’s most famous natural wonders, steeped in history and the roar of rushing water.In the eastern Catskills, just outside the hamlets of Haines Falls and Palenville in Greene County, it rises as New York’s tallest two-tiered waterfall, plunging a total of 260 feet in a roar of mist and spray.The upper cascade plunges 167 feet, while the lower drops 64, with a narrow pool and a sheer cliff between them where the water swirls white.Kaaterskill Falls cuts through Devonian sandstone and shale, its sheer rock walls rising beside narrow ledges slick with mist.Behind the upper falls, rushing water has carved a natural amphitheater into the rock, its pale walls standing out sharply against the deep green of the forest.Spruce Creek feeds the falls, which roar to life in spring and after a pounding rain, yet draw visitors all year-even in winter, when the water hardens into glittering ice.Kaaterskill Falls sits deep in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, a quiet corner of the larger Catskill Park where the trails smell of pine and damp earth.After a string of past accidents, the area’s seen several safety upgrades in recent years-designated trails, sturdy viewing platforms, and bright signs that catch your eye as you pass.Most visitors reach the upper falls viewing platform by starting at the Laurel House Road parking lot, where a broad gravel path stretches about a third of a mile through the trees.Most hikers can handle this trail, from families with kids to folks out for a relaxed afternoon stroll.Seasoned hikers can tackle the Escarpment Trail to reach the upper falls, starting from North-South Lake Campground or the Scutt Road trailhead, where pines crowd the path.You’ll wind through routes with sweeping views of the Hudson Valley, where the river glints in the sun, and the Catskill peaks rise just beyond.Kaaterskill Falls Base Trail: If you want to reach the foot of the falls, follow the 1.4-mile out-and-back path that drops sharply, its stone steps cool and damp underfoot.The trail crosses a small wooden footbridge over Spruce Creek, then winds on to the plunge pool at the base of the lower falls.Just a heads-up: the old trailhead and the small gravel pull-off along Route 23A are closed now for safety.You can’t park here, and people aren’t allowed to walk through-think of the chain across the path as your reminder.Safety Information: Kaaterskill Falls has claimed lives and caused countless injuries, often when hikers stray from marked paths or lose footing on slick, moss-covered rock.As a result, crews rebuilt the area with wide stone steps and sturdy, fenced platforms, giving visitors a clear place to stand instead of straying onto the dirt paths.Don’t swim at the base of the falls-the currents rip fast, the rocks are slick underfoot, and loose branches can tumble down without warning.When you hike in winter, watch your step-slick patches of ice can send you sliding.Falling ice has struck more than a few people, and hikers have slipped on slick rocks.In cold weather, it’s smart to pack microspikes or crampons-the crunch of metal on ice can make all the difference.Please stick to the marked trails, pay attention to the warning signs, and steer clear of climbing on rocks or ledges-especially those slick ones above the falls.Kaaterskill Falls has inspired American painters, poets, and writers for generations, its mist and thunder echoing through their work.In the 19th century, it stood at the heart of the Hudson River School, a movement shaped by artists like Thomas Cole and Asher B., who painted sweeping valleys and sunlit hills.Durand, who captured the raw, soaring beauty of the American wilderness.Their work turned the Catskills into a romantic escape, where city folk and nature lovers could breathe pine-scented air and watch the mountains glow at sunset.The falls show up in literature too, like in William Cullen Bryant’s poem “Catterskill Falls,” where he evokes their sweeping grandeur and the quiet solitude of mist curling at the rocks.Things to Do Near North-South Lake: It’s the biggest state campground in the Catskills, ideal for pitching a tent, paddling across the calm water, or hiking the wooded trails.Artist’s Rock and Sunset Rock are well-known viewpoints tied to Hudson River School paintings, reached by hiking the trails that wind out from North-South Lake.Palenville, a charming artist’s enclave once called the “First Art Colony in America,” sits just below the falls where the water mists the air.For the best experience, come in spring or fall when the water runs high and the trees blaze with color, and aim for early mornings or weekdays to skip the crowds.Footwear: Choose hiking boots or sturdy shoes that grip well, the kind that bite into a rocky trail.Bring the basics-water, a few layers for when the wind picks up, and either a paper map or a downloaded trail app since cell service can vanish fast.Leave No Trace-Kaaterskill Falls is a protected stretch of rushing water and mossy rock.Visitors should pack out their trash and steer clear of the restricted areas, even if it’s just a rope marking the boundary.Kaaterskill Falls still stands as a defining landmark of the Catskills, where rushing water meets rich artistic history and a deep respect for the land.Towering waterfalls roar beside winding forest paths, and the area’s rich history ties it all together into an experience no nature lover will forget.
