IF you want to hike down from the trailhead at the top near Kaaterskill Falls, allow for several hours. Time: You can see the falls via car as you reach the apex of the hairpin turn in the gorge on NY-23A. The Hudson flows south to New York City and the Atlantic Ocean.
Catskill Creek then runs through the village of Catskill and into the Hudson River. It does its own U-turns as it turns north after Palenville, back south just shy of Kiskatom, back north again at Asbury, and then finally to the east as it merges with Catskill Creek. Kaaterskill Creek cuts a narrow gorge, known as Kaaterskill Clove, as it enters the Hudson Valley at Palenville. It turns west just before the falls and then turns south again after Bastion Falls and joins Kaaterskill Creek shortly after. Waterway: Spruce Creek, which begins about a mile and a half to the north at North Mountain, flowing south and through North and South Lakes prior to reaching Kaaterskill Falls. It has been known to dry up in late dry summers. The hike down in winter would require crampons.įlow: Moderate. Kaaterskill Falls is uphill and on the way down from the new trailhead.īest time to visit: Spring through fall.
From there it travels under the NY-23A bridge. About 20 ft downstream it tumbles down an irregular and taller cascade which widens and splits the creek into several ribbons. Size/Types: At about 70 ft tall, the falls starts out as a blocky and steep step cascade over thick layers of bedrock. Drive-by and you will see just the one waterfall. If you hike to this one, you’ll see Kaaterskill Falls on the way down. Number of falls: Bastion Falls is a single waterfall with 2 tiers. The town will tow you if you park along NY-23A.Īlternative parking can be had at the Escarpment Trailhead to the east. The Molly Smith parking area along that road is also closed, probably permanently. Parking is not allowed on NY-23A, as it is narrow and people never slow down. On summer weekends this lot can fill up fast. At the south end of the lot is the trailhead that leads down to Kaaterskill Falls and eventually to Bastion Falls. Parking: The parking area on Laurel House Road can accommodate over 20 cars and typically has a set of port-a-potties. It will end at the Laurel House parking area for the trailhead to Kaaterskill Falls. Follow it for 1.8 miles and then turn right onto Laurel House Rd. It will go north for a bit and then off to the right at the Twilight General Store. Take CR-23A into Haines Falls and turn onto CR-18 (N Lake Rd). Don’t stop and don’t pull over in front of the falls. You can see these falls quite well as you drive past on the hairpin turn on NY-23A, but do so very slowly as the turn is rough and there can be an abundance of traffic. You will have to hike down from Kaaterskill Falls.
There is no longer a direct and quick way to visit this waterfall on foot. Maps: Google Map Topographic Kaaterskill Wild Forest DEC Map NYNJ Trail Conference Map Interactive map.ĭirections: The most common parking lot used to access this falls, off of CR-23A, is closed. Location: Within Kaaterskill Wild Forest in Catskill Park (also known as the Catskill Forest Preserve) Town of Hunter Greene County New York.