The Kaaterskill Falls Hike in the Winter

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Kaaterskill Falls is one of New York State’s most well-know waterfalls. This 260-foot waterfall is located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains in eastern New York, not far from the Hudson River. This is a great waterfall to visit year-round, but in the winter you’ll definitely need to take some extra precautions that you wouldn’t normally need to in the warmer months.

Frozen waterfall with icicles cascading down a rocky cliff surrounded by evergreen trees. Snow and ice cover the ground below. — Kaaterskill Falls almost completely frozen. Photo taken from the observation deck.

Preparing for the Hike

First things first, you will absolutely need micro-spikes to successfully do this hike. I would not recommend doing this hike without micro-spikes because of the incline and the ice in the winter. Honestly, even getting to the viewing platform that’s a short walk from the parking lot gets extremely icy in the winter from people packing it down as they walk on it. I’ve seen a lot of unprepared visitors in sneakers or regular boots slip and fall just going to the platform.

You can get mirco-spikes you can attach to your favorite winter boots on Amazon for very cheap. When I first got into winter hiking, I got a cheap pair because I wasn’t sure if I would like winter hiking enough to stick with it. I actually used them on this hike and they got me down to the waterfall safely and back up. Super easy to use and no complaints.

Person in a red jacket stands on rocky terrain near a waterfall. Snow and trees are visible in the background. — Me with my $20 spikes from Amazon at the bottom of Kaaterskill Falls. The snow wasn’t deep so I had them on over my regular hiking shoes and they worked perfectly! I would not have made it down without them. I’m standing on pure ice in that picture and that’s what most of the trail down was like.

If you’re going in fresh, deep, powdery snow, you’ll likely want a pair of snowshoes instead of the spikes. However, it’s always a good idea to have both because you won’t truly know the conditions until you get there.

In the winter, it can get really cold in the mountains (duh), so you’ll want to make sure you’re dressed appropriately. I’d recommend layers, like 100% wool base layer under some insulated waterproof hiking pants. A nice jacket, is good too, but I wouldn’t recommend a long jacket because it’ll make it harder to hike. And on those REALLY cold days, you’ll want a windproof face mask too.

If you have the paid version of AllTrails, I’d recommend downloading the trail map beforehand since cell service can be nonexistent. In addition to downloading the map for the trail, I highly recommend downloading an offline map for the general area as well to help you navigate on your way there or way back. I usually do this in Google Maps, but I’ve done it in Apple Maps before as well. It gives me peace of mind because the mountains are just known to be dead zones for cell service.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that you will be driving narrow, curvy, mountain roads to get to this hiking spot. Drive an appropriate vehicle or make sure you have snow tires for extra traction. Always anticipate icy conditions because of the cold temperatures.

The Hike

The most direct way to hike to this waterfall is from the Laurel House Road Parking area. It’s an out and back hike that’s just under two miles. From the parking lot, you’ll start at a high point and then you’ll work your way down the mountain to the base of the waterfalls before coming back up. The hike only has 390 feet of elevation.

Most people will start their hike by heading to the observation deck. This spot tends to get very crowded because it’s an easy walk from the parking area. While many people visit this waterfall, most don’t actually do the hike to the base. They’ll usually just go to the observation deck (this is especially true in the winter because people quickly realize they don’t have the proper gear for the hike). I wouldn’t skip it because of this. The views from the deck are great!

Person in a black coat and beanie stands on a wooden platform with a metal railing, overlooking a forested, mountainous landscape under a blue sky. — There are great views of the surrounding mountains from the observation deck in addition to views of the waterfall.

Many people go off the main trail after this to go towards the top of the waterfall. If you do this, you have to be extremely careful. Do not go near the edge of the cliffs. It’s also best to keep your distance from the stream. Deaths have occurred in the area, so caution is really necessary here. It’s not worth dying just to get a closer look.

A person in sunglasses and a red jacket stands next to a yellow warning sign about dangers in the area, including staying back from the cliff edge and watching children.

Once you’ve had your fill of the top, you’ll continue on the main trail to the base of the falls. Whether it’s icy or deep snow, you’re going to want to watch your step and do you best to stay on the trail.

When you get to the bottom, there are a couple places you can go to access the waterfall. The first is a short trail off the main trail that will take you right to the bottom of the first cascade of this two-tiered waterfall. If the water is really rushing, be prepared to get a little wet (ask me how I know lol).

Waterfall cascading into a partially frozen pool surrounded by snowy landscape and trees under a clear blue sky.

After that, you can go a bit lower to get a full view of the waterfall. While it’s cool being right up under the one tier, it is something else entirely getting to see both tiers, even if you’re a bit further away. I think out of all of the different view points, this one is my favorite.

A tall waterfall cascades over a rocky cliff surrounded by trees, with water flowing over rocks in the foreground under a clear blue sky.

If you’re looking to get some more hiking in, you can continue along the Kaaterskill Falls Trail along Spruce Creek. Otherwise, you can head back up to the parking lot. You will go right back up the trail you came down.

A small river flows through a forested area, with snow on the ground and patches of ice. Trees line the banks under a clear blue sky. — Views along the trail heading back to the parking area.

Is Kaaterskill Falls Worth Hiking In The Winter?

I definitely think so! But, it really depends if you’re into frozen waterfalls or not. For instance, the first time I went here in the winter, when I saw the waterfall was almost completely frozen, I chose not to make the hike to the base. I prefer to see my waterfalls running and not frozen. If you’re like me and you want to see the water flowing, I’d recommend checking the recent pictures uploaded by hikers on AllTrails. AllTrails is also a great way to check the condition of the trails because many people mention that in their reviews.