Get Up and Out

While we love the ADKs, sometimes we like to swing down south to the Catskills too!

This will be a great hike with a beautiful waterfall (that you can wade into this time of year) and a great overlooks at the former site of a famous grand hotel! We will view the waterfall at the middle, top and bottom, then loop back to our cars, and then go a half mile up to the overlook.

This hike is considered moderate but we will be strive to go at a healthy pace. It will be about 5 miles in length with some elevation gain (mainly the five stories of steps down to the bottom of the falls and back up, but we’ll take lots of breaks).

If you chose to attend this hike though, you must be physically fit enough to complete it at an intermediate pace!! Ninety-percent of the trail is wide, well traveled and not very technical. But the stairs to the bottom of the falls do not have railings.

There are multiple trailheads, and the area gets busy this time of year when the campgrounds are open.

So, we will meet at the North Lake Parking Lot, which is in the park itself. [Note, you will go PAST the Scutt Road Trailhead, and PAST the entrance booth for the campgrounds, (parking fee is $10). Follow the signs to North Lake Swimming area.
We will meet at the North Lake Picnic Area’s parking lot which is past the North Lake swim area parking and buildings at 10:45 am and leave for the hike at 11:00 am sharp.

PLEASE BRING: Water (or Coca-Cola) and snacks. Waterproof hiking are desirable at this time of year, but it should not be super mucky. Although not forecast at this point until late in the day… be prepared for rain, with a rain poncho or waterproof jacket. At the end of the hike, we’ll have some snacks at the overlook and then take a dip in the lake. (There are changing rooms by the lake itself and we will have circled back to our cars at that point). Bring a towel to dry off your feet from the waterfall wading at the mid point.

We'll likely find a spot for a bite afterwards in Catskill for those interested.