Hells Hole Falls
Greene County, New York
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 39 ft (12 m)
- Location
- Greene County, New York
- Access status
- Roadside bridge view; private land around the falls
- The walk
- Short walk from the parking area to the bridge
- Ground & access
- Short walk along the edge of Platte Clove Road to the bridge. Watch for traffic. The ravine below is very steep and dangerous.
Hell's Hole Falls is on Hell's Hole Creek just below where Platte Clove Road crosses it, near the top of Platte Clove in the Catskills. Park at the DEC parking area for Kaaterskill High Peak, the narrow dirt road on the left just before the Hell's Hole bridge when coming from Tannersville. Walk to the bridge; Catskill Mountaineer says you can see Hell's Hole Falls from it. The land under the bridge and next to the falls is private, so stay on the road. Do not try to climb down into Hell's Hole; it is too steep to descend safely without ropes, and people have died in this area.
Plan your visit
Kaaterskill High Peak (Steenburgh Road) DEC parking area on Platte Clove Road, short walk to the Hell's Hole Creek bridge, view of Hell's Hole Falls from the bridge
Catskill Mountaineer places the parking area entrance just before the Hell's Hole Creek bridge. No distance is given; it is a short road walk.
Short walk along the edge of Platte Clove Road to the bridge. Watch for traffic. The ravine below is very steep and dangerous.
Where to start
DEC parking area for Kaaterskill High Peak and Huckleberry Point (Steenburgh Road) off Platte Clove Road. DEC coordinates: 42.133074, -74.08173. Do not park on the side of Platte Clove Road; the Town of Hunter restricts parking there. If full, Catskill Mountaineer suggests the lot at the end of Prediger Road, about half a mile toward Tannersville.
Timing & water
The steep downhill section of Platte Clove Road below the falls area is closed in winter; reach the parking area from Tannersville. Flow is best after rain.
Before you go
DEC lists Kaaterskill Wild Forest as free.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Lower Bridal Veil Falls39 ft (12 m) · Greene County, NY0.1 miSW
- Upper Ghost (Japanese) Falls39 ft (12 m) · Greene County, NY0.1 miS
- Bridal Veil FallsPartial guide: informal path to an unfenced cliff-edge lookout with many past deaths89 ft (27 m) · Greene County, NY0.1 miSW
- Lower Ghost (Japanese) Falls75 ft (23 m) · Greene County, NY0.1 miS
- Plattekill FallsShort preserve trail; dangerous drop-off at Hell's Hole75 ft (23 m) · Greene County, NY0.2 miW
- Old Mill FallsPartial guide: view from the footbridge documented; walking distance from the parking area not given13 ft (4 m) · Greene County, NY0.2 miW
- Upper Hell Hole FallsGreene County, NY0.3 miNE
- Grey Rock Falls43 ft (13 m) · Greene County, NY0.5 miSE
- Green Hole Falls23 ft (7 m) · Greene County, NY0.7 miSE