Kaaterskill Falls and South Mountain in Catskill State Park, NY

Hike Kaaterskill Falls and South Mountain Catskill State Park, NY

Class 1 7.3 miles 1600 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Jul 19, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Kaaterskill Falls is an extremely popular destination, but I've never seen the falls and felt it was a spot I needed to check out. I extended the hike to reach South Mountain and the various ruins near its summit, plus a loop to view Inspiration Point. The falls are accessible from the north, but I prefered to do the hike from the base of the falls. Unfortunately the normal trailhead is closed (likely permanently), so an alternate parking area farther south requires a half mile walk up the loud and winding highway. Once at the trailhead, a well-manicured trail leads past some lower dalls and up a bunch of stairs to the base of Kaaterskill Falls. More stairs brought me to the top of the falls, where a viewing platform looks over at the falls from a distance.

Once I took a two-minute break to look at Kaaterskill Falls, I decided to head up to summit South Mountain. An uninspiring old roadbed wrapped around the peak's south side, serving as the trail. There's no trail to the true summit, so a hundred feet of bushwhacking was in order. I wrapped around a cute little pond near the summit, a nice trail leading the way. I passed an old well and the remains of Kaaterskill Hotel. Apparently you can sift through the overgrown to find old remnants of the hotel, but in the middle of summer I wasn't willing to risk accumulating ticks. I was content to see some old concrete blocks and move along.

The trail looped me back to the uninspiring road, which I followed southeast to get onto the Inspiration Point Trail. This was a proper trail, and althogh muddy today, had nice views and was definitely the highlight of the hike. It's marked as a road on Google Maps, but it's not at all. There were nice views along the way, and while the true "Inpsiration Point" is nice, there are various other comparable viewpoints. I continued west along the trail and reached a junction, which pointed me north, intersecting my earlier route. I headed back the way I came past Kaaterskill Falls.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
South Mountain
2480 ft
340 rise

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View back down the highway I walked up for a half mile.
View back down the highway I walked up for a half mile.
Trailhead for Kaaterskill Falls.
Trailhead for Kaaterskill Falls.
Nice staircase paralleling the lower falls.
Nice staircase paralleling the lower falls.
The trail continues next to Spruce Creek.
The trail continues next to Spruce Creek.
Base of Kaaterskill Falls.
Base of Kaaterskill Falls.
Kaaterskill Falls.
Kaaterskill Falls.
Image 6 from gallery
Continuing past the falls on more stairs.
Continuing past the falls on more stairs.
A midway view point, view down.
A midway view point, view down.
At the midway view point, view toward the falls.
At the midway view point, view toward the falls.
Back on the main trail.
Back on the main trail.
One big switchback to get to the top of the falls.
One big switchback to get to the top of the falls.
Entering the very popular area.
Entering the very popular area.
Lookout spot.
Lookout spot.
Kaaterskill Falls lookout platform.
Kaaterskill Falls lookout platform.
Image 15 from gallery
Onward to South Mountain.
Onward to South Mountain.
Boring trail for a while to reach the base of South Mountain. Eventually I met a junction, keeping left and heading up to South Mountain.
Boring trail for a while to reach the base of South Mountain. Eventually I met a junction, keeping left and heading up to South Mountain.
The road fades into a trail as it wraps around South Mountain's summit area.
The road fades into a trail as it wraps around South Mountain's summit area.
A nice little pond near the summit.
A nice little pond near the summit.
Wrapping around the pond.
Wrapping around the pond.
An old well.
An old well.
Old Kaaterskill Hotel ruins. Apparently there are lots more, but I didn't want to get ticks. Maybe it would be better to visit this area in winter.
Old Kaaterskill Hotel ruins. Apparently there are lots more, but I didn't want to get ticks. Maybe it would be better to visit this area in winter.
Onward toward Inspiration Point.
Onward toward Inspiration Point.
The trail was much more interesting.
The trail was much more interesting.
Some nice view points along the way.
Some nice view points along the way.
Image 26 from gallery
Image 27 from gallery
Inspiration Point.
Inspiration Point.
View back at Inspiration Point.
View back at Inspiration Point.
I continued along the trail and turned right at an eventual junction, completing the loop.
I continued along the trail and turned right at an eventual junction, completing the loop.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!