Kaaterskill Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Kaaterskill Falls is a waterfall in Greene County, New York, about 2.6 miles northwest of Palenville. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Greene County, NY

Nearest town

Palenville (2.6 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.8 from 1,560 reviews

Crowds

Very busy

Access

Short hike likely

Coordinates

42.19342, -74.06319

USGS topo

Kaaterskill Clove quad

Getting there

Kaaterskill Falls sits about 2.6 miles northwest of Palenville in Greene County. Google lists the address as Hunter, NY 12436. Visitors reach it on foot by trail. Check the current trail map for distance and elevation before you go.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Kaaterskill Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Most well-known falls are in state parks managed by New York State Parks or on state Forest Preserve and other lands managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation; the Adirondack and Catskill parks are a patchwork of public and private land, so posted boundaries matter. Popular parks such as Watkins Glen, Taughannock and Niagara Falls charge vehicle fees and become crowded on summer weekends, and Kaaterskill Falls parking fills early. Gorge rims are the chief hazard: shale and limestone edges crumble, ledges are wet and slippery, and fatal falls have occurred at several sites, including the upper ledges of Kaaterskill Falls. Swimming in gorges is often prohibited outside designated areas. Stay on marked trails and behind barriers.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Kaaterskill Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of New York. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 42.19342, -74.06319 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Camera and a small tripod. Visitors have shared 6,947 photos of it; a tripod lets you shoot silky water in low light.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Spring is prime waterfall season across New York. Snowmelt and rain usually push the Adirondack and Tug Hill rivers to their highest levels from April into May, and the Finger Lakes gorges run strongly through spring. Many smaller gorge falls drop to a thin veil in July and August, though Niagara and other large river falls flow steadily all year. Autumn brings outstanding foliage, peaking in the Adirondacks in late September and early October and later in the Catskills and Finger Lakes, and fall rains often restore flows. Winter freezes many falls into ice sculptures, but some Finger Lakes gorge trails close for the season because of ice and rockfall. With 1,560 Google reviews, this is one of the most visited waterfalls in the area. Arrive early, ideally on a weekday, and expect parking to fill on summer weekends and holidays.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Kaaterskill Falls holds a 4.8-star average across 1,560 Google reviews, and 89% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the most reviewed waterfall in Greene County. Visitors have shared 6,947 photos.

This iconic 260-ft-tall tiered waterfall on Spruce Creek features a lookout & a foot trail.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Older maps and records also list it as Caterskill Falls.

The federal gazetteer describes it this way: 79 meters high

Kaaterskill Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on January 23, 1980, and it appears on the USGS Kaaterskill Clove 7.5-minute topographic map.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names made a formal decision on its name on January 1, 1894.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: South Lake (reservoir, 0.7 mi), South Mountain (summit, 0.8 mi), Santa Cruz Ravine (valley, 0.8 mi), and Spruce Creek (stream, 0.8 mi).

Catskills, Hudson and Mohawk Valleys. Southeastern New York's falls are set in steep, forested mountains close to the Hudson Valley. Kaaterskill Falls, a two-tiered drop on Spruce Creek in the Catskills of Greene County, is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the country and a subject of Hudson River School painters. In Ulster County, the Shawangunk Ridge holds Verkeerder Kill Falls and other drops over white quartz conglomerate, while the eastern Catskills hide falls in narrow cloves. To the north, Cohoes Falls on the Mohawk River near its junction with the Hudson is a broad, powerful drop. Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties add quieter falls in rolling hill country.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Kaaterskill Falls about 2.6 miles northwest of Palenville is rated 4.8 out of 5 by 1,560 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Kaaterskill Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.