Wildcat Falls
Greene County, New York
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 98 ft (30 m)
- Location
- Greene County, New York
- Access status
- DEC trail crosses the top of the falls; base access dangerous
- The walk
- About 4 miles one way
- Ground & access
- Long climbing trail. Stream crossing at the brink of a 102-foot drop; very dangerous in high water. Steep 45-degree slopes below the falls.
Wildcat Falls is a single 102-foot plunge in the Wildcat ravine on the west side of Kaaterskill Creek, on New York State land in Kaaterskill Clove. The DEC trail runs across the top of the falls, which is easy to reach and a good lunch stop. Drive Route 23A west through Palenville. You cannot park at the trailhead: park just before the bridge (westbound side), a quarter mile past the bridge, or in the DEC lot four tenths of a mile before the bridge. Do not park by the red building next to the bridge or on Malden Avenue, and do not drive up the private dirt road to the trailhead. Follow the DEC trail about 4 miles to the crossing at the top of the falls. The crossing is safe only in low or moderate water. Getting to the base is very dangerous and needs ropes and a harness.
Plan your visit
Palenville trailhead off Malden Avenue, DEC trail up the east side of Kaaterskill Clove to the crossing at the top of Wildcat Falls
Catskill Mountaineer lists the hiking distance to Wildcat Falls as 4 miles one way.
Long climbing trail. Stream crossing at the brink of a 102-foot drop; very dangerous in high water. Steep 45-degree slopes below the falls.
Where to start
Three options as you leave Palenville on Route 23A: just before the bridge (westbound lane), a quarter mile past the bridge, or the DEC parking lot four tenths of a mile before the bridge. No parking at the trailhead, on Malden Avenue, or by the red building next to the bridge.
Timing & water
Do not cross at the top of the falls in high water. The ravine has low flow compared with other Kaaterskill ravines.
Before you go
No fee is stated. New York State land.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Elizabeth Falls26 ft (8 m) · Greene County, NY0.4 miSE
- Viola FallsForest Preserve trail past Poet's Ledge; about 3.7 miles one way30 ft (9 m) · Greene County, NY0.4 miSE
- Buttermilk Falls75 ft (23 m) · Greene County, NY0.5 miNW
- Fawn's Leap26 ft (8 m) · Greene County, NY0.5 miNE
- Lower Buttermilk FallsPartial guide: bushwhack and creek crossing only safe at low water36 ft (11 m) · Greene County, NY0.7 miN
- Santa Cruz Falls56 ft (17 m) · Greene County, NY1.2 miNW
- Bastion FallsPartial: falls location documented; no parking on Route 23A and the walk from the lots is not described33 ft (10 m) · Greene County, NY1.4 miN
Kaaterskill FallsResearched visit notes148 ft (45 m) · Greene County, NY1.5 miN- Delmura FallsPartial guide: bushwhack approach; final route to the falls not described in detail13 ft (4 m) · Greene County, NY1.7 miNW