Kaaterskill Falls
A two-tier Catskills waterfall about 79 metres in total, painted by the Hudson River School and visited since the 1820s.
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The falls drop in two stages, about thirty-eight metres and then twenty-three with a plunge pool between, and the total figure usually given is around seventy-nine metres, which makes it higher than Niagara though with far less water. It was one of the earliest scenic attractions in the country: the Catskill Mountain House brought visitors from the 1820s, Thomas Cole painted it, and the hotel operator sometimes dammed the stream and released it for a fee so guests would see a fuller flow. The site has a poor safety record - people have died climbing near the edge or scrambling between tiers - and viewing platforms and a stairway were built in 2016 partly in response. Parking is restricted to designated lots.
What you actually see
- Two tiers totalling about 79 metres - with a plunge pool between.
- A Hudson River School subject - painted by Cole and others.
- A viewing platform and stair - built in 2016 for safety.
- Flow that varies sharply - strong in spring, thin in late summer.
When to go
April to June for flow; October for colour. Two to three hours.
Honest expectations
People have died here climbing on wet rock near the edges - the marked routes exist for that reason. Roadside parking is prohibited and enforced. Late summer flow can be a trickle. Foliage weekends fill the lots by early morning.
Nearby
North-South Lake is above; Catskill village is east.
What to pack for Kaaterskill Falls
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
