How to visit Kaaterskill Falls without the crowds (hint, be ready to go right after a snowstorm)
After a snowfall, we had the Kaaterskill Rail Trail and Kaaterskill Falls to ourselves. It was a winter wonderland along the rail trail, opening up to magical views at the viewing platform for Kaaterskill Falls.
Kaaterskill Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Catskills for good reason, it is a beautiful, two tiered waterfall that falls over 260 feet. Kaaterskill Falls has been one of the Catskills' most popular destinations for centuries and immortalized in paintings by the Hudson River School of Art.
The Kaaterskill Rail Trail (KRT) begins at the Mountain Top Historical Society, which is located off of Route 23a at the top of Kaaterskill Clove. The KRT leaves the parking area and heads to the back of the property, passing by the old Haines Falls railroad station for the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad that the KRT now follows. The KRT enters the woods just after the train station and then follows the former railroad grade all the way to the parking area for Kaaterskill Falls at the end of Laurel House Road, 1.5 miles from the Historical Society. From here it's a 0.3 mile walk down to the viewing platform, overlooking Kaaterskill Falls.
In the winter months be sure to wear traction devices. It's always icy and snow accumulates quickly in this area and gets packed down very fast. Microspikes are a must all the time in the winter and be sure to have snowshoes when snow gets very deep.
You can find this hike on:
Additional Catskill Park information available at the Catskills Visitor Center (5096 Route 28 in Mt. Tremper)
Need help on a hike or a backpack like this? Moe is a NYS licensed hiking and backpacking guide. You can hire him for Outdoor Hiking, Backpacking and Camping Guide Services at Hike On Guides for hikes in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Gear we used on this hike:
