Upper Plotter Kill Falls
Schenectady County, New York
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 59 ft (18 m)
- Location
- Schenectady County, New York
- Access status
- County preserve overlook; steep marked path to the base
- The walk
- A short walk to the Blue Trail overlook; the top of the falls is about 0.4 miles out on the Red Trail
- Ground & access
- Roots and rocks on the rim trails, a steep descent, and a creek crossing that will wet your feet. Do not cross in high water; another falls lies just downstream. People have been seriously hurt or killed near the cliff edges.
Upper Plotter Kill Falls is the 60-foot main falls of the Plotter Kill Preserve, a Schenectady County preserve in Rotterdam. From the Mariaville Road lot, follow the single trail to a split and turn right on the Blue Trail to an overlook of the falls; it can be overgrown in summer. For the base, go back to the split and follow the Red Trail about 0.4 miles to the top of the falls and a tenth of a mile more to a yellow-blazed trail on the right. It drops steeply about 80 feet to the creek. Cross the creek and walk about 100 yards upstream to the base. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Plotter Kill Preserve lot on Mariaville Road (Route 159), single trail to the first split, then right on the Blue Trail to the Upper Falls overlook
Uncovering New York gives about 0.4 miles from the lot to the top of Upper Falls on the Red Trail. No distance is given for the Blue Trail overlook, which it describes as soon after the split.
Roots and rocks on the rim trails, a steep descent, and a creek crossing that will wet your feet. Do not cross in high water; another falls lies just downstream. People have been seriously hurt or killed near the cliff edges.
Where to start
Preserve lot on Mariaville Road (Route 159), 1.9 miles after turning onto Route 159 from Putnam Road. The preserve also has lots on Coplon Road and Lower Gregg Road.
Timing & water
Open dawn to dusk. The Blue Trail overlook view is clearer outside summer.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned. Carry in, carry out.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Lower Plotter Kill FallsPartial guide: view from near the top edge only; base route not described39 ft (12 m) · Schenectady County, NY0.2 miNE- Rynex Kill FallsPartial guide: view of the top only from the Red Trail; base route not described39 ft (12 m) · Schenectady County, NY0.2 miNE
- Sergeant FallsSchenectady County, NY1.0 miNE
- Jacob's Ladder FallsPartial guide: preserve trail to a nearby cascade; the last part follows the stream bed and the name's extent is unclearSchenectady County, NY1.7 miNE
- Bozen KIll FallsPartial guide: preserve trail documented; this listing is probably the Christman Sanctuary falls, but no source ties it to this location49 ft (15 m) · Schenectady County, NY6.9 miSW
- First Falls7 ft (2 m) · Saratoga County, NY7.2 miNE
- Second Falls10 ft (3 m) · Saratoga County, NY7.3 miNE
- Third Falls3 ft (1 m) · Saratoga County, NY7.5 miNE
- Buttermilk Falls33 ft (10 m) · Albany County, NY8.6 miS