Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Nestled within the picturesque Catskill Mountains, Kaaterskill Falls is one of New York State’s tallest and most impressive waterfalls. The Kaaterskill Falls Trail hike is accessible from the Laurel House Trailhead, and is a fairly tough walk – but one with a spectacular reward. This stunning waterfall cascades over two drops, with the upper and lower falls combining for a total height of 260 feet. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Kaaterskill Falls trail hike, including how to get there, the viewing platform, parking information, and more!
Planning to explore more of Upstate New York? Check out our articles on the amazing Giant Ledge hike in the Catskills and the hidden gem of Awosting Falls in Minnewaska State Park.
Kaaterskill Falls Information
Kaaterskill Falls Height – 260 feet (79 metres) in total. The Upper Kaaterskill Falls has a height of 180 feet and the Lower Falls has a height of 80 feet.
Kaaterskill Falls Entrance Fee – Free.
Kaaterskill Falls Opening Hours – Opening hours vary throughout the year, with the falls opening 30 minutes before sunrise and closing 30 minutes after sunset.
Kaaterskill Falls Trail Difficulty – Medium.
Kaaterskill Falls Trail Length – Approximately 2.6 kilometres return trip from the Laurel House Trailhead parking area.
How to get to Kaaterskill Falls
Kaaterskill Falls is located in the Catskill Mountains, in the south-east of New York State. Public transport is virtually non-existent in the Catskills, so realistically the only way to visit this beautiful waterfall is to drive there yourself.
The best option is to park at the Laurel House Trailhead car park, which is located a short distance from the Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform. This car park is free to use, and has parking space for approximately 50 cars – but these spaces fill up quickly particularly on weekends, so it’s best to arrive early. Click here to see the exact location of the car park on Google Maps!
It’s a short walk from the Laurel House Trailhead car park to the viewing platform, and it’s also easy to access the Kaaterskill Falls trail which leads to the base of both the upper and lower falls.
If you arrive early enough then you should have no problem parking at the Laurel House car park, but if it happens to be full then alternative parking is available at the Scutt Road Trailhead car park and at the South Lake car park. These car parks are further away so you will have a longer walk to Kaaterskill Falls.
For anyone without their own car, renting a car is the only option in terms of getting to the waterfall. It takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to drive from New York City to Kaaterskill Falls, and having a car means you can explore more of the Catskills while you’re in the area.
We recommend checking the Discover Cars website for the best prices when it comes to renting a car, as they compare between a number of operators to ensure you get the best price. Click here to get a quote within seconds on the Discover Cars website!
Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform
The first stop on your visit should be the Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform, which provides a stunning view of both the upper and lower falls. Located around a 5-10 minute walk from the Laurel House car park, this small viewing platform gives you the opportunity to witness the beauty of the falls without enduring a tough hike.
There is no entrance fee or ticket required to access the Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform, so you can enjoy the incredible views free of charge! Even if you do plan on hiking down to the base of the falls, it’s worth a quick stop here for a glimpse of this impressive waterfall from above!
Kaaterskill Falls Trail Hike
The Kaaterskill Falls Trail hike starts from the Laurel House Trailhead car park, and it’s a reasonably tough hike if you go all the way down to the base of the falls. It’s not overly challenging terrain, but it does involve descending 181 steps, and then ascending these steps on the way back up. If you don’t mind walking uphill and climbing steps, then it’s not too much of a challenge.
From the car park the trail is slightly downhill at first, but is pretty easy-going. Follow the trail round to the right, which will lead you down to the Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform.
Hike to the Upper Falls
Spend a few minutes enjoying the fantastic views before beginning the hike down to the waterfall itself. Head back the way you came to the platform, but instead of turning back off towards the car park continue along the trail in the other direction and after a short distance you will cross a bridge.
Just after crossing the bridge you will need to turn off to the right, and the trail will lead you through a forested area. Continue along the path and as you walk you will begin to descend the steps towards the base of the falls.
After around 15-30 minutes (depending on your pace) you will have the option to take a trail to your right or continue down more steps. At this point you will want to take the trail to your right, which will lead you to the base of the upper falls section of Kaaterskill Falls.
Once you turn off it only takes around a minute to walk to the base of the upper falls – which is the larger of the two drops at Kaaterskill Falls, measuring 180 feet. You can admire this impressive section of the waterfall from close-up, but for the more adventurous you can even climb up behind the waterfall for a different view.
If you opt to climb behind the waterfall you can either head up to the right or cross over using the stones in the water and climb up on the other side. You can then walk behind the waterfall, but if you do this it’s very important to take care as it can be quite slippery and you will need footwear with good grip in order to do this safely.
By climbing up for the different view you can get some incredible photos of Kaaterskill Falls, and from underneath the cliff it can even make it seem like the waterfall is partially inside a cave – which makes for some amazing photos! Once you have enjoyed seeing the upper falls, it’s time to head back to where you turned off and then continue on down to the lower falls.
Hike to the Lower Falls
Once you’ve reached the stairs, continue down and it’s not long until you will reach the base of the lower falls. The lower falls section of Kaaterskill Falls is only 80 feet tall, but from this area you can also see the upper falls – so you have some brilliant views of the waterfall in its entirety.
To get the best view of both sections of the waterfall you should make your way onto the rocky area that is partially in the water. There are a number of large rocks above the water that you can stand or sit on to enjoy amazing views of both sections of Kaaterskill Falls at once.
Spend some time at the bottom of the falls enjoying this amazing spectacle – which is one of the highest waterfalls in the state of New York. It’s an incredible sight and it’s worth giving yourself a rest before you begin hiking back up to the car park!
When you’re ready you will need to follow the same route in reverse, but of course you don’t need to turn off to see the upper falls again unless you want to. The route back involves a fair bit of uphill walking, including ascending the 181 stairs that you came down earlier. This is definitely the toughest part of the walk, but once you reach the top of the steps then the worst is over!
It’s then a fairly simple walk back to the car park, but you can of course head back to the Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform if you want to have one last look at this natural wonder before you go!
Tips for visiting Kaaterskill Falls
Kaaterskill Trolley – During the summer season it’s possible to visit the waterfall by taking the Kaaterskill Trolley. The trolley has several stops including at the Laurel House Trailhead to Kaaterskill Falls, so this is another option for visiting the waterfall. Click here to find out more information on the trolley’s website!
Swimming at Kaaterskill Falls – Regulations state that visitors are not allowed to enter the water within 150 feet of the falls, so swimming is technically prohibited at Kaaterskill Falls. There are reports that some people do swim here, but it is not safe to do so and should be avoided.
Deaths at Kaaterskill Falls – There have been a number of unfortunate deaths at Kaaterskill Falls, so it’s important to stick to the trails and stay away from cliff edges. At least 8 people have died here since 1992, with a number of these been in more recent years due to people taking risks trying to get pictures.
Fall foliage – Kaaterskill Falls is a beautiful spot to visit at any time of year, but is particularly special during the fall foliage. The different colours from the leaves make it an even more picturesque spot than normal!
All Trails – The hike is fairly well marked and the path is pretty clear for the majority of the way, but if you want help with directions for the Kaaterskill Falls Trail then we recommend downloading the All Trails app. This app is great for navigating walking trails – so you can be sure you are going the right way! Click here to visit the All Trails website!
Wear sturdy shoes – It’s important to have sturdy footwear with good grip for the hike along the Kaaterskill Falls trail, as some sections can be quite slippery – particularly if you climb up behind the upper falls. If you are just planning to visit the viewing platform then normal shoes should be ok, but if you are hiking down to the falls then you are best off in walking or hiking shoes/boots.
Other rules and regulations – The consumption of alcohol is prohibited at the falls, and rules are also in place to prohibit fires, stoves, generators, and music.
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