[Updated September 15, 2022] Are you spending a weekend near Kaaterskill Falls in the Catskills?
Perfect! A Kaaterskill Falls hike is a must-do activity for nature-lovers. And even better, when you’re finished, there’s so much more to do in the area.
If you’re mainly interested in the region’s incredible hiking opportunities, be sure to check out the nearby trails at North-South Lake Campground. Here you’ll find numerous hikes that lead to views that inspired the likes of 19th century artist Thomas Cole.
And since you’re on these hallowed grounds beloved by Thomas Cole, you can learn more about him and his Hudson River School art movement by touring his family home (more information below) in the charming village of Catskill. If it’s small-town charm you’re after, leave time to explore the adorable mountain town of Tannersville.
Both Catskill and Tannersville have enough shops, cafes, restaurants, and more to keep you busy for days.
Read on for reasons why you should visit Kaaterskill Falls and what to do once you get there. Or if you’d rather, just scroll down to find tons of ideas for things to do near Kaaterskill Falls after you’ve finished your amazing Catskills waterfall hike!
Why you Should Visit Kaaterskill Falls
The Catskills is one of the most beautiful and beloved regions in New York State.
And what’s not to love?
Rugged forest hikes often end with stunning views or cascading waterfalls. Lots of local hotels and bed-and-breakfasts provide places to recharge, and good food and craft beverages are absolutely everywhere.
We spent a weekend in the Catskills for those reasons and more. Our trip took place in the early autumn of 2020, a year that began with the optimism of a new decade and quickly collapsed into something beyond everyone’s wildest imagination.
Planning trips kept us going throughout the long, dreary months of lockdown in New York City. When COVID-19 cases began to decline, the first thing we did was visit my family in Upstate New York and when we returned, we began planning more weekend trips close home, eager for the outdoor time we were craving.
The Catskills is a logical choice for a quick weekend getaway from NYC.
Kaaterskill Falls is a must-do Catskills waterfall hike and I finally wanted to experience it. Plus fall, even early fall, is a truly magical season, a time of lush green foliage left over from summer with smatterings of yellow and red just starting to make an appearance.
And finally, Kaaterskill Falls is probably the most popular Catskills waterfall, so I really wanted to see what all the buzz was about!
Information on Visiting Kaaterskill Falls
Kaaterskill Falls is located in Haines Falls, NY and is within the Kaaterskill Wild Forest.
Located in the rustic beauty of the Catskill Mountains, this is the highest two-tiered waterfall in New York. Measured together, the double cascades reach 260 feet in height, making it significantly taller than the 215-foot Taughannock Falls, which is the tallest single drop waterfall in the state.
In 2016, this became even more of a desirable destination when construction finished on the popular Kaaterskill Falls viewing platform, with sweeping views of the upper falls and a convenient parking lot just a short walk away.
How to Get to Kaaterskill Falls
Driving is the most convenient option. Approximate distance and time from:
- Hunter: 9 miles (15 kilometers). 16 minutes.
- Hudson: 22 miles (35 miles). 40 minutes.
- Albany: 52 miles (84 kilometers). 1 hour.
- New York City: 125 miles 200 kilometers). 3 hours.
- Montreal: 275 miles (442 kilometers). 4.5 hours.
Taking public transportation would be a little tricky but it is possible.
Buses run from New York City’s Port Authority to Hunter Mountain. Amtrak trains run from Penn Station to Hudson. In both cases, you’d have to take a taxi the rest of the way. The nearest major airport is in Albany.
Kaaterskill Falls Parking
There are three parking areas visitors may use:
- Laurel-House Road parking area (free)
- Scutt Road Parking area (free)
- South Lake parking lot (Day use fee may apply)
Notes: The relatively small parking lots at Kaaterskill Falls help control the crowds but be aware that this is still a heavily visited area. A couple of portable toilets (port-a-potties) are available at the Laurel-House Road parking lot.
Hiking Kaaterskill Falls
In the past, it was possible to hike both ways—from the bottom of the falls to the top and vice versa; however, at the time of this writing, the lower trailhead parking area (Molly Smith parking area) is closed.
Here are some popular Kaaterskill Falls trails.
- Kaaterskill Falls viewing platform-An easy .3-mile walk from Laurel-House Road parking area. The platform juts out over the valley and provides a spectacular panoramic view of the upper falls. It’s family-friendly and a must for anyone visiting the falls.
- Lower Falls trail-Approximately a .5-mile hike down steep, sometimes rocky terrain that includes a stone staircase cut into the trail. This is your chance to see what lies at the bottom of those two tiers of cascading waterfall. The steepness adds an element of challenge but if you’re up for that, the view at the bottom is absolutely worth it. Leave some energy for the climb back up, though!
- Escarpment trail-Yes the total trail length is 24 miles but you only need to hike a portion of it to witness rewarding views. After picking up the trail, you’ll encounter Layman’s Monument at 1.2 miles, Sunset Rock at 1.75 miles, and Inspiration Rock at 1.9 miles.
See a map of Kaaterskill Falls and North-South Lake.
A note on crowds at Kaaterskill Falls:
Matt and I went on a Saturday in late September, still weeks away from peak fall foliage. We arrived at 10 a.m. and found the parking lot already more than three-quarters full. When we left a couple of hours later, parking lot attendants were assisting with parking, and there was a line of 14 cars waiting to get in.
Because the viewing platform can be visited fairly quickly, cars did seem to come and go, so waiting in line is a viable option (as long as that is allowed; it was when we were there).
If your only intention is to park and take the short walk to the upper falls viewing platform, it’s definitely not a wasted trip.
Like this post? Pin and save for future reference!
Things to do Near Kaaterskill Falls
This is a region rich in art, history, nature, and small-town charm. Here are ideas for things to do near Kaaterskill Falls.
Hike to Scenic Views at North-South Lake
If you loved your Kaaterskill Falls hike, you’re in for a treat because there are plenty more trails to conquer nearby, all of them full of ambiance and scenic vistas.
Trail heads at North-South Lake can be easily reached by car. Day-use admission to the parking lot is $10. There’s also a beach, picnic tables, and extensive camping facilities here.
We went to North-South Lake because we wanted to visit the site of the Catskill Mountain House, a massive Gilded Age era resort that opened in 1824.
There’s no longer a hotel there. As resorts in the Adirondacks gained popularity, tourists came to the Catskills less frequently. The Catskill Mountain House’s final season was in 1941. However, tourists still flock to the site for the sweeping views which, on a clear day, extend into five different states.
The view also made it a favorite for artists like Thomas Cole. You’ll find a plaque near the historical sign marking the area as an official stop on the Hudson River School Art Trail.
The Catskill Mountain House site is an easy .5-mile hike from the North Lake Beach parking lot.
Drive through the main lot to park in the gravel lot and then, heading left from the parking lot, follow the blue markers to the site. The photo ops at the top come from the sheer drop into the abyss. It’s jaw-dropping to look at, but also–take it from me–spine-tingling for anyone afraid of heights.
I’d been recovering from a foot injury on this particular weekend, so we stuck to easy trails. After the Catskill Mountain House site, we hiked to Mary’s Glen and Ashley Falls, which takes you through some pleasant, woodsy nature, but doesn’t involve much climbing and at .6 miles, is pretty quick.
The payoff is not a panoramic view but a pretty waterfall cascading down a massive flat rock face.
The next morning, confident that my foot could handle a more rigorous trail, we paid another $10 entrance fee to embark on another day of North-South Lake hiking. We followed the Escarpment Trail to Artist’s Rock, Lookout, Sunset Rock (a different Sunset Rock than the one at Kaaterskill Falls) Lookout, and Newman’s Ledge.
This was actually a perfect hike for many reasons. The difficulty level is rated as moderate, so just when I needed it to be over, it almost was. Most of the way up is easy climbing, though there is one rock scramble, which isn’t very difficult.
When you pay your $10 admission at the entrance, be sure to ask for a brochure titled Day Hikes at North-South Lake, which will describe the various hikes in this area.
Explore Tannersville
In addition to hiking Kaaterskill Falls and North-South Lake trails, we found plenty of things to do in Tannersville, NY, which we decided to make our home base for the weekend.
Tannersville is nicknamed the Painted Village in the Sky because of its colorful, whimsical buildings. The surrounding mountain scenery adds an even more dramatic and majestic effect.
Tannersville is similar to the village of Ellenville, which are both my favorite kinds of towns—pedestrian-friendly, with layers of exploring to uncover and plenty of food and beverages to keep us energized.
The downtown area is squeezed into just a few blocks, but many pleasant hours could be passed here, browsing in shops and antique stores, sampling food, or grabbing a seat at an outdoor café and watching the world go by. Fall in Tannersville brings pleasantly chilly weather, typically offset by a warm sun shining in a frequently blue sky.
Main Street is the central thoroughfare. It’s lined with antique stores, gift shops, and interesting cafes and restaurants.
Maggie’s Krooked Café & Juice Bar serves breakfast, baked goods, and freshly squeezed juices. Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Café specializes in cheese platters but also offers an extensive menu of burgers, salads, and sandwiches.
Still on Main Street but a bit further out, go to Jessie’s Harvest House Restaurant & Lodge for upscale farm-to-table dining.
Tannersville is just four miles (6.5 kilometers) west of Kaaterskill Falls.
Tour the Mountain Top Arboretum
When I think of the Catskills, I think of dense forests and waterfalls, with some quirky hotels and fun shops thrown in. But the Mountain Top Arboretum offers a different perspective, more through the lens of the plants and trees that thrive at a mountain top elevation.
So grab a coffee from a downtown café and then drive a couple of miles up to this botanical garden to check out what’s in bloom. There are several trail options running through the forests and meadows and with 178 acres at its disposal, there’s plenty of room for everyone to spread out.
Admission: suggested donation.
When you leave the Mountain Top Arboretum, I recommend taking a right onto Maude Adams Road to see the gorgeous homes that sit behind the gardens. If you do this, you can’t miss All Souls Church, a gorgeous Gothic Revival stone church that was built in 1894.
Explore Catskill
If you hike Kaaterskill Falls or any of the trails at North-South Lake, you’ll witness views made famous by Thomas Cole and other artists of the Hudson River School. Now you can dig a little deeper into that art history by touring the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, where the artist lived with his family and where he created many of his famous works of art.
If you’re really into this historic era, you can cross, by foot or by car, the Rip Van Winkle Bridge into Hudson to tour Olana State Historic Site, former home of Frederic Church, an artist who studied under Cole.
For more on exploring Catskill, including recommendations on where to eat, drink craft beer, and shop, read my full article, 6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Catskill.
Hotels Near Kaaterskill Falls
Disclosure: Please note this section contains affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, I may receive a commission if you make a purchase. Be assured that I only recommend products and companies I use and trust.
Plenty of accommodations to suit a variety of budgets are available near Kaaterskill Falls.
Hotels in Tannersville, NY
- Catskill Mountain Lodge is family-owned, with a fabulous retro decor, bar, arcade, and outdoor pool for summer months. 334 NY-32A, Palenville
- Sun View Motel, located on Main Street in Tannersville, is the most conveniently located to the village. 5844 Main Street, Tannersville
- Hotel Mountain Brook is an upscale Adirondack-style lodge with beautifully decorated rooms and a gourmet breakfast. 57 County Road 23C (Hill Street), Tannersville
- Deer Mountain Inn is a high end option located in the rolling hills behind Mountain Top Arboretum. 790 County Road 25, Tannersville
Hotels in Haines Falls, NY
- The Twilight Lodge has seven guest rooms, all named after constellations. 5085 NY 23-A, Haines Falls
- Rosehaven Inn is a romantic bed-and-breakfast with mountain views from its wraparound porch. 147 Sunset Park Road, Haines Falls
Whether you choose to focus your Catskills getaway weekend on hiking Kaaterskill Falls or decide to strike out and explore the surrounding trails and villages, have an amazing time in this absolutely beautiful region in New York State!
Like this post? Pin it and save for future reference!
