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Kaaterskill Falls 1/18/2009

andyzee

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Not that much of a hike, but it was a nice little workout after skiing Hunter and some real impressive scenery.

Kaaterskill Falls is actually the Highest waterfall in New York state with a dual cascades total 260 feet in height, making the falls the highest in New York, and one of the Eastern United States' taller waterfalls. I know this cause there is a sign that says so :) I found that hard to believe because the fall you see as you're dirving along 23a, although beutiful, doesn't look that high. Upon doing some research I found that fall was not Kaaterskill but instead if was Bastion Falls. To get to Kaaterskill, you had to hike approximately .5 miles through the woods. So on this day we had to check it out.

The hike wasn't too strenuous, just had to watch it cause it was snow covered rocks and a trail that ran close to the stream. The first part was all up hill but then leveled off. Once we got to the falls we were rewarded with a great view. We will definately be back to check them out when the weather is warm and they're not all frozen over. Although frozen is nice too, you could see water running under the ice and in certain areas it just had a hum like a loud vacuum.

This first shot is the falls just as we got to them, in the picture you can see my wife and our friend walking towards the falls, If you look a little further up, you can see my friend sitting under the falls, this give you a good idea of how big they are:

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More pics can be found here: http://www.killingtonaccess.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2490
 
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andyzee

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What's the scoop? Where do you park and hike? Is everything marked? Should I bring snowshoes?

A few miles before you get out of Catskill Park, on 23a, there's a 90 deg turn and you go over a bridge. You see waterfalls from that bridge, although frozen now, That is Bastion Falls, going towards Hunter, about a 1/4 mile past Bastion Falls, there is a parking lot on the left hand side. You park there and walk back to Bastion. To the right of Bastion there is a trail with yellow markers, you take that trail to Kaaterskill Falls. This weekend was the first time I did it and although I never wore snowshoes, I do not believe they would be a good idea. The snow wasn't that deep and there were rocks and natural as well as man made stairs. I took my ski poles with me, I think they helped. Some more info here: http://gonewengland.about.com/od/nyattractions/ss/aakaaterskill.htm and here http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/waterfalls/kaaterskillfalls2.html
 

BeanoNYC

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A few miles before you get out of Catskill Park, on 23a, there's a 90 deg turn and you go over a bridge. You see waterfalls from that bridge, although frozen now, That is Bastion Falls, going towards Hunter, about a 1/4 mile past Bastion Falls, there is a parking lot on the left hand side. You park there and walk back to Bastion. To the right of Bastion there is a trail with yellow markers, you take that trail to Kaaterskill Falls. This weekend was the first time I did it and although I never wore snowshoes, I do not believe they would be a good idea. The snow wasn't that deep and there were rocks and natural as well as man made stairs. I took my ski poles with me, I think they helped. Some more info here: http://gonewengland.about.com/od/nyattractions/ss/aakaaterskill.htm and here http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/waterfalls/kaaterskillfalls2.html


I know the waterfalls. These directions are going towards Hunter....correct?
 
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