Location: Hunter, New York
Parking Locations:
Molly Smith's Parking Lot, located shortly after passing the trailhead on Route 23A, is the parking location closest to the falls.
Laurel House Rd (Palenville, NY) will be the second closest parking lot to the falls.
Scutt Rd is the third closest parking lot. Details on how to access the falls from all 3 of these locations are described below.
Distance: can be between 0.5 to 2 miles depending on where you enter
Difficulty Level: Easy to Intermediate
Terrain: Rocky
Where to start the Trail
Kaaterskill Falls in the Catskills Mountains is one of the highest Waterfalls in New York State. It is can be reached through a short hike (~0.5 miles) from the Molly Smith Parking Lot which is located less than 1/4 mile from the falls trailhead on Route 23A. In the case this parking lot is closed, the second best place to access the falls is by parking in Laurel House Rd. The trailhead at this parking location will be about 1/4 mile from the top of the falls viewing platform, and less than 1 mile from the lower falls.
The third best place to park will be Scutt Rd, located on the right side of the road, right before entering the North South Lake campground. The trailhead by this lot will lead you to the yellow and blue marker trail which will eventually lead you to another intersection with trail signage. Continue following the directions pointing to the top of the falls (Falls Viewing Platform) or the Lower Falls.
Scenic Outlooks
The viewing platform located at the top of the falls has great views of the mountain top. When entering the part of the trail containing the signage reading "Falls Viewing Platform 0.1" there will be a path to the left leading to a fence which many people go through to enter the water area above the falls. There are no railings on the edge of this area, so it is important to take precaution since it is considered dangerous.
The view from the lower falls will be the best. There are 2 levels at the bottom of the falls. The path to the top level leads you to an area with easier access to the water. The bottom level could perhaps offer the best scenic views for photographs, with the wider view of the falls.
This is a great hike for families due to the short distance, but there are many steep steps and a rocky terrain. An amazing place for photographs and a great spot to relax by the water for the day.Remember to leave no trace behind when visiting the falls!
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