Waterfall Road Trip Close to NYC: 7 Waterfalls in 4 Days

I LOVE waterfalls! I have put together a 4 day road trip itinerary to see at least 7 waterfalls in upstate New York. This itinerary can be broken down into a one day trip, two day trip or three day trip as well.

If you would like to begin your itinerary North of the Catskills, check it out HERE.

Mohonk Mountain House has a 2 night minimum so if you are planning to stay there for the night of Day 1 you will need to sleep there the night before Day 1 begins. An alternate option is the Minnewaska Lodge.

Day 1: Minnewaska State Park

Verkeerderkills Falls: This trail hike climbs to Sam’s Point, with spectacular views, follows a narrow path through the crevices of the Ice Caves, and continues to Verkeerderkill Falls. Verkeerder Kill Falls is the highest waterfall in Sam’s Point Preserve in the Shawangunk Mountains in the town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York. It is 187 feet tall and is accessible via a three-mile-long trail, part of the Long Path, which branches off from the main trail in Sam’s Point Preserve.

The video below highlights the 7 mile trail to Verkeerderkill Falls and Ice Caves created by Unboring Exploring.

Getting to Verkeerderkill Falls: This hike is located at Sam’s Point within the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. From Poughkeepsie take US-44 W and turn left onto Bruynswick Rd, then turn left onto Bruynswick-New Prospect Rd. Turn right onto NY-52 W and follow for about 6.4 miles until you get to Cragsmoor Rd. Take Cragsmoor Rd to Sams Point Rd where you will see a clear sign for the parking area. For GPS devices, use the address: 400 Sam’s Point Rd, Cragsmoor, NY.

Awostings Falls: Lake Minnewaska Awosting Falls is a 1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Wawarsing, New York that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

Getting to Awostings Falls: The falls can be accessed off of route 44/55 where you’ll see a sign for Minnewaska State Park. There is a parking lot beside the entrance point, and from there it is a short walk down a wide carriage road to the bottom of the falls. Swimming is prohibited in the falls, and enforced.

Sleep: Drive 25 minutes to Mohonk Mountain House. Dinner is available from 6pm-8pm. Check out the list of activities and amenities at Mohonk Mountain House HERE. If you prefers to stay one night, drive 10 minutes to stay at the Minnewaska Lodge.

There are many great places on VRBO. Type in Minnewaska in VRBO below:

Day 2: Vernooy Falls

Spend the morning at Mohonk Mountain House. Breakfast is from 8-9:30am (brunch is 11:30-2pm on weekends). There are a number of excellent hikes around Mohonk Preserve. There are 85 miles of trails and a 10am guided hike. “Lemon Squeeze” is a one hour hike with many rock scrambling paths.

Vernooy Falls: Vernooy Falls Trail is a 3.3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Kerhonkson, New York that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

Sleep: Drive 45 minutes from Vernooy Falls to Woodstock. Stay at the Woodstock Way Hotel. There are many options for waterfall views within walking distance to town.

There are many AMAZING finds on VRBO. Type in Woodstock, NY below:

Day 3: Kaaterskill Falls and Platte Cove

Kaaterskill Falls: Kaaterskill Falls is the region’s most popular waterfall. Dropping in two tiers over 260 ft., making this one of the highest waterfalls in New York. Kaaterskill Falls is on Spruce Creek in the Eastern Catskills mountains.

The lower falls can be reached in about 20 minutes. Continuing on to the upper falls is another 30 minutes. This hike is approximately 1.5 miles roundtrip.

How to get to Kaaterskill Falls: From Woodstock, this will be a 25 minute drive. The Kaaterskill Falls hiking trail is accessed via I-87 Exit 21. Located on Rt. 23A west of Palenville, you will find the trailhead about three miles west of the village. From a small parking area on the south side of Route 23A, the moderate, 1.4 miles round-trip trek winds up a well-traveled path offering views of nearby Bastian Falls.

Alternate Route: An alternate Catskills hiking route leads to the top of the falls from Laurel House Lane via North Lake Road along Route 23A. New York State trail markers designate the Kaaterskill Falls as part of the Forest Preserve protected by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Platte Cove: Platte Cove is in the town of Elka Park in the eastern section of the Catskill Mountains. The Waterfall Trail is an approximately 1/3 mile, one-way trail to the base of Plattekill Falls. The trail begins at the trail junction in front of the informational kiosk just above the Red Cabin. From here the trail goes eastward and slopes downward to the edge of the clove and then turns and descends to the base of Plattekill Falls. This trail consists of many loose sections and some steep areas. Do not venture off the rail and wear proper footwear.

Getting to Platte Cove: Plattekill falls is 20 minutes from Kaaterskill Falls. On Platte Clove Road look for a DEC parking on the right. If the spaces are full, you can park a ¼-mile down the road at another DEC parking lot. The land by Platte Clove Road is called the Platte Clove Wilderness Preserve. Walk around the chained up entrance to the driveway. Stay on the path to the LEFT, which will pass the red house.

Sleep: Night 2 at the Woodstock Way Hotel.

Contact me at stacyoneflylife@gmail.com to book your room.

Day 4: High Falls and Bash Bish Falls

High Falls: High Falls Conservation Area Loop is a 1.3 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Philmont, New York that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. You will see 2 waterfalls on this hike, High Falls and Agawamuk falls.

Getting to High Falls: High falls is 55 minutes from Woodstock. From the Taconic Parkway take exit – NY 217 toward Philmont.  After taking the Philmont/NY 217 exit, turn left onto Rt. 217 W.  In 2.6 miles, after driving through the village of Philmont, just before you leave town on the the other side, turn left onto Roxbury Road.  The spacious and well-marked parking lot is on your left in .2 miles.

Bash Bish Falls: The Bash Bish Falls can be accessed from Massachusetts or from New York. From the NY end, the hike is about 1.5 miles on fairly flat, open trails. For a more difficult journey, start from the MA parking lot. Although it is a shorter hike, it is more strenuous. The Bash Bish Falls are located in the Bash Bish State Park in the Taconic Mountains. The falls are separated buy a large boulder into 2 identical cascades dropping 80 feet into a pool.

How to get to Bash Bish Falls: The MA side and NY side have parking areas from the same road. In NY it is called Route 344 while in MA it is called Falls Road.  Take NY 344 (one of several roads also marked as “Old Rt. 22”), and follow signs to stay on 344, which becomes Falls Road as you get close to Massachusetts.  In about a mile, you’ll see the Taconic State Park on your right, which is the NY trailhead for Bash Bish Falls (there are often orange cones on the center line here).

This is the last waterfall for this 4 day itinerary. Poughkeepsie is a one hour drive away. Here you can experience The Walkway over the Hudson, the worlds longest elevated pedestrian bridge. Check out the Walkway’s Website HERE for a calendar of events.

Message me to book this 4 day itinerary.

If you would like to add 4 days onto this itinerary check it out HERE.

You will need these hydro-hiking shoes for these hikes!