Kaaterskill Falls

Kaaterskill Falls is one of the most iconic waterfalls in New York, plunging 260 feet in two dramatic tiers through a lush Catskill Mountain amphitheater. The upper drop of 175 feet crashes onto a wide ledge before the lower tier tumbles another 85 feet into a mossy grotto. Surrounded by hemlock and hardwood forest, the falls were a favorite subject of Hudson River School painters in the 19th century, and the scene remains every bit as dramatic today.

The trail begins at the Laurel House Road trailhead off NY-23A in Haines Falls. From the upper parking area, a wide, relatively flat path leads 0.3 miles to an upper viewing platform with a sweeping vista of the gorge. A steeper, rockier descent takes hikers to the base of the falls, where the mist and roar of the water create an immersive experience. The total round trip to the base is roughly 1.8 miles with about 400 feet of elevation change.

Spring snowmelt and late-summer rainstorms produce the most impressive flow, but the falls run year-round. Fall foliage season in October transforms the surrounding Catskill escarpment into a blaze of color, making it one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Northeast. Arrive early on weekends — parking fills quickly, and the trail sees heavy traffic from May through October.