Kaaterskill Falls

[imarchant]

I have alway meant to stop and do a quick side trip to the falls on the way home from one of my other catskill hikes, but every time it is either too late or I am to tired. I finally made a trip just to vist the falls. It was well worth it! It was also an introduction to snowshoeing for my son. I wore crampons and he wore my snowshoes. Both were helpful. Just as we were starting a fairly large group of hikes emerged from the wood. On the hike out I passed a couple barebooting. The trail is packed enough so that they were not postholling, but it looked like they were having a tough time with some of the ice. It was a beautiful day.

See these pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/296433839/296436777LkdrrI
http://community.webshots.com/album/296433839pdkPsv

 

[MattC]

I have alway meant to stop and do a quick side trip to the falls on the way home from one of my other catskill hikes, but every time it is either too late or I am to tired. I finally made a trip just to visit the falls.

I know exactly what you mean. I've made about 60 Catskill summits in the last six months, been through all the towns, read the books, and I've still never in my life gazed upon one of the Catskill's most famous sights. I realized recently that I have to make the Falls themselves a destination, or else I may never get in there!

Did you park at the lot below the falls or the one above? Was walking along/crossing the road a little scary? It seems like a lot of people drive too fast through the Clove. How long did the whole trip take?
Great photo.

Matt

 

[imarchant]

I parked at the upper lot. I walked down on the left shoulder. I arrived during the mid afternoon, there was not much traffic. Actually the shoulder is fairly wide most of the way. Where there is no should I just check for traffic before steping out along the road. Returning about 2-1/2 hrs. later there was a lot of traffic returning from Hunter, but we walked up the same side we walked down so the traffic was on the other side. We could have done this a lot faster, but we spent a lot of time at the falls, The ice makes a large cave wher it drips from the rocks on the right hand side. We walked back along the stream so it was slower going. It's only 3/4 mile each way, without much elevation change, so its a very easy hike.