Catskills Forest Preserve,
Greene Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Escarpment Trail: Blue blaze
Kaaterskill Falls Trail: Yellow blaze
Total Time: 1:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.8 Miles
Pros: Impressive Waterfall and Scenery
Cons: Busy area
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DBSBGjWzvbZRtkYM9
Hiking Partner:
Simon Gold
Kaaterskill Falls is the tallest combined falls in New York state. The water level was very low so I hesitated going, but even with a low flow the waterfalls are impressive. It was late in the day on Sunday and we were camping in North-South Lake nearby, so the crowds had already dispersed. We parked at the main parking area and walked to the upper falls viewing platform. We then walked to the creek walked along the mostly dry creek bed to the bridge and then to the Escarpment Trail. We then took the Kaaterskill Falls trail down to the falls area, and went to the lower falls and then back up to the upper falls, and walked around the formation behind the waterfalls. We then took the route back to our car.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59aGrpKqhDNc7GODbdEQBHAekJUhb44inTWC-PBNeAmNU_QN9svHYqBRZoQkBsBPAHMZMSEerF3A65rzfiKKtw_ZfKJzCz2JZW3tJ2pqAJwTXvc4l7O8qB5Ery29fswelRmRpFZNpu5qsZtkvOntU-FiLIfPrE7c8HpXbmOXX4CZr1MnExTtMy6wBZIw/w640-h472/2024-07-29%20Kaaterskill%20Falls%20Evening%20Hike.jpg) |
Map of the Route
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8g61RDP-PB-pxln7B0EgA0jNRZq4VcuCIEBwwQLDqRZahIZmZb82N9XPgGeAGIyqhm5m3oMV-Bdpdam1b2OZFSaCYy127PaPqWlvuvzV1p74sGEBos1xJ88U_nFlQTAdqHp_79UXaNo2cFhVIwreDNek53hiwdI23JPcIEQ9waHlQRPpo-UQPoVK1510/w640-h426/kaaterskill-falls-catskills-ny-evening-01-a.jpg) |
View Above the Falls from the Platform |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvVmNHNMUeN1FWePx9Q2gIRt8WR4ZLomBJt7mYfCha0BUHYshae4kofuIj0xzV2f7fGZAOOveT8pNeLhveNnXoYkRisZzjGrvB4o42n4U_WbtRtfW3ayPWvRxKmd0QbTohVFZEyJhRPZW_mokVSvkfSWeRtEqBtB-9JrOfGuJGXT7EUbUMGHClz83dFg/w640-h426/kaaterskill-falls-catskills-ny-evening-02-a.jpg) |
Steps Down to the Falls |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiZIAJ-kCykvGWZYYxqbw4MZchvxoilOoeNXRvO30sJO9d_uV9BTs35EAfjgDMYkIJDorSoMyOanS04a0E1-v-L7r1D4hH_eXUmuBCeSWVXgcBXvXIfBczcNPzrk6YaFUgzdl8Z2hCybpZmkrEkiGPZ82Nayu0sZobGdGuZ58-VZL7BwSPdTu0aENwZ0/w426-h640/kaaterskill-falls-catskills-ny-evening-03-a.jpg) |
Kaaterskill Falls from the Viewing Platform |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Izmu2h1suqtbtFcYlOLHz-TTDNLCqwWDCKStdZrnOMLleVg9HokDhGg4jbOHs09U6MusfKfCpODAY4rinvS6FCGFrmXk1aCuKpyjWcMWDc90Rj1rqaFXi_NgTQUxy7nvm6kt3CoiQTG__zPfSfvPCym4QrnvxYzobJEots7CvMPYM__AuvqCaOji7OE/w640-h426/kaaterskill-falls-catskills-ny-evening-05-a.jpg) |
Walking Through Spruce Creek |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEMZ6tvotE9pzWgJOZAA-Gl5Zz0FaPu5ZI4b5xIoIYhSWDaN5jMdFjFleGTO8j7NsbtvAHZ-HIrMhXvPZfr-UJHV6L22DZRx1fsKi_yeweeGFu31fFond_G17HwuUVQ14hli5gpFdbEKqJthXcC7FHggz0PqnOd66RLUUDbZnm4dO2DCGeCGiibPkEZo/w426-h640/kaaterskill-falls-catskills-ny-evening-06-a.jpg) |
Bottom of Kaaterskill Falls |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49w1jipycUITpHFNXNpro1rHlVbVLnKRbBOn5Hbv5u_wyR6x7qj5Y38KzaPz3bBs7GFAHUZTxzIB8afZYVdNY3oryHZIilwvTzXOckKOZbWjiLh1_r4GbtTRSBiA95d97gAzZw4z4f4mWt28gWqaN4N_8RJNDJbHf9ci0oDQWmKDWUjPJyDLq6snp_2E/w426-h640/kaaterskill-falls-catskills-ny-evening-09-a.jpg) |
Middle Area of the Falls |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35TT2s9R37AchnEz6O5n_DZ1JdhQxvHiwEzvxtAFec9MnwW3KXQh2g8LaKB6RgUrjR7G4XQRdMiVOvtyGEtwHSBn9-d-uqyCvTvAItRdADeykKmmALO4Iw2SH2YrMu8LJ4UVavMdIrmEb6W4VOe2cp2D87j17MsNBDQVyVvCa8f36rObmWenmIrDVfKA/w426-h640/kaaterskill-falls-catskills-ny-evening-10-a.jpg) |
Behind the Falls |