DEC Rescues Hiker After Slippery Incident at Kaaterskill Falls

A NYC hiker found themselves needing assistance from the DEC after a hike at Kaaterskill Falls went south.

The Dangers Of Kaaterskill Falls

The Hudson Valley and Catskill region are home to some of the most gorgeous hiking trails and views across the country.

However, some of these hikes are extremely dangerous and proper precautions should be followed when hitting the trails. One of the more popular dangerous hikes in the region is the trail at Kaaterskill Falls in Greene County.

READ MORE: Are These 5 of The Most Dangerous Hikes in the Hudson Valley?

According to the Great Northern Catskills website, Kaaterskill Falls is the highest cascading waterfall in New York State and it drops 2 tiers, over 260 feet.

Over the years, there have been numerous accounts of hikers falling to their deaths at Kaaterskill Falls. The New York Times ran an article in 2018 with the following daunting headline:

The Deadly Waterfall in the Instagram Age

At the time, according to the NYT, the last 4 people who died at Kaaterskill died after trying to take a photo or while posing for pictures. Since then there have been several more deaths and tons of injuries at the falls.

It is believed that between 1988 and 2021 at least 9 people have died while hiking Kaaterskill Falls.

NYC Hiker Rescued After Fall at Kaaterskill

The Department of Environmental Conservation shared in a press release details of a scary fall that happened recently at Kaaterskill Falls.

On March 2nd, 2025, Forest Ranger Dawson was called to assist Greene County with a hiker with an arm injury at Kaaterskill Falls. The press release explains that even though the 25-year-old from Manhattan was wearing microspikes, the ice and terrain at Kaaterskill was extremely difficult to navigate.

The DEC writes the hiker was with a friend hiking down to the middle pool area when they began climbing down the icy stairs towards the lower falls. That's when the hiker fell and landed on his shoulder.

Forest Ranger Dawson and Gullen were able to get to the injured hiker, asses the injury and get the hiker to safety on Route 23A where his friends picked him up.

Winter Hiking Essentials in The Hudson Valley

While spring will arrive in the Hudson Valley any day now, the higher elevations are still layered in snow and ice.

It will take a handful or warm days to loose the snow up and melt away the ice. With that being said, if you're going to hit the trails any time soon, make sure you're prepared with these essential items.