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Find the Two Falls at Plotter Kill
Rotterdam / Plotter Kill Preserve, New York
Activity
Hiking / Waterfalls
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
1.2 mi round trip
Elevation gain
~220 ft
Duration
~1–1.5 hrs
Route
Loop / waterfall viewpoints
The adventure
Drop into Plotter Kill's rugged glacial gorge and collect both the 60-foot Upper Falls and 40-foot Lower Falls from the preserve's marked trail system.
What you'll do
Start at Plotter Kill Preserve main Route 159 parking lot, then follow the route about 1.2 miles round trip.
Expect roughly 220 ft of climbing along the way.
Once you're there
Park in the signed Plotter Kill Preserve lot on Route 159/Mariaville Road. Follow the marked trail from the lot into the gorge-side trail network.
Use the blue-route viewpoints to find Upper Falls first and then Lower Falls; stay on marked trails and behind safe viewing positions rather than edging toward the drops. Loop back to the access trail and return to the Route 159 lot.
Don't miss
If trail conditions and your chosen marked route allow, see if you can identify Rynex Creek Falls too — the preserve's third major 40-foot cascade.
Good to know
- Hours
- dawn to dusk
- Carry policy
- carry in/carry out
- Dogs
- allowed-on-leash.
- 60 + 40 FEET
- Upper Falls drops about 60 feet; Lower Falls is about 40 feet.
- ICE-AGE WORK
- Meltwater at the end of the ice age cut the gorge roughly 10,000 years ago.
- 600+ PLANT SPECIES
- The preserve's varied forest and gorge habitats support an unusually rich plant community.
- THE LEDGES ARE REAL
- The County specifically warns that terrain is rugged with steep slopes and ledges near trails.
Please respect the place
- Stay on marked trails
- Keep back from gorge and waterfall ledges
- Dogs on leash
- Carry out all waste
Photos