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A young man from Yonkers went missing April 24. His rented car was found April 30 at the main Laurel House Road parking lot. The next day, his body was recovered from the base of the falls.
Kaaterskill Falls is one of the most popular Catskills destinations, but has also been the site of many injuries, and many deaths, over the years. This is a grim beginning to the 2021 hiking season.
- Source: Police: Body of Yonkers man found at Kaaterskill Falls
The site has recently been upgraded for public safety but people often venture beyond the signs that warn hikers of danger and potential death.
The rock-bed around the falls is wet and slippery. The unfortunate man appears to have died from head injuries sustained during his fall.
It is extremely dangerous to venture anywhere near the edge of any of the falls’ overhangs. Deaths have occurred here in all seasons.
- Read The Top 6 Hiking Dangers
- Read Hiking Safety 101
In icy conditions another man almost fell to his death as seen on this video posted to Reddit.
Casual Hikers Take Note
Kaaterskill Falls is a magnet for day-trippers and casual hikers who may not understand the risks associated with hiking in a wilderness environment.
The fact that the site is “hardened” for thousands of visitors, and is so close to a major parking lot, may add to a mistaken sense of safety.
This is very much a wilderness site, and these falls are ever treacherous.
Your Safety
If you visit Kaaterskill Falls, please be overly-sensible. Wet rock is incredibly slippy. Every experienced hiker has a story about slipping on wet rock.
Make sure you wear your best hiking boots or hiking shoes, with extra traction in winter. Never wear casual shoes or sneakers to this location.
Even with all the right gear, do not let your guard down. Heed the posted warnings. They are there for very real and present reasons.
Take no risks at this location.
DEC Notice
Town of Hunter | Greene County
Wilderness Search: On May 1 at 2 a.m., DEC’s Central Dispatch received a call from New York State Police requesting Forest Ranger assistance to search for a missing individual. State Police had located the missing subject’s vehicle at the Laurel House parking lot. Forest Rangers Fox, Bink, Gullen, Martin, Mitchell, Petit, and Slade responded, along with New York State Police K-9s and Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies. Forest Ranger Slade searched from the air in a State Police helicopter, while Ranger Martin used a drone to cover other dangerous terrain. Rangers located items believed to belong to the subject, which served to focus the search to a specific location. Divers from the Sheriff’s Office and State Police located the subject, a 36-year-old from Yonkers, deceased in one of the Kaatterskill waterbodies. Haines Falls and Tannersville fire departments assisted in the carry-out to the trailhead where the subject was released to the Greene County Coroner.
Yesterday 6-19-24 i visit the lower part of the falls Kaaterskill Falls where the pool of water is ,please take it from me 51 year old male I escaped death literally slip and fell one leg was down luckily the metal cord that keeps people from falling down saved my life was able to pull my body up had that not been in place 6-19-2024 would had been a tragedy in front of my family. This area is about 30 feet before the pool of water . Also rocks are slippery when wet better of walking on socks for better grip. Good luck stay safe.I personally don’t recommend for kids under 7 . Very dangerous do your research before heading down , from laurel house road its a good 45 min walk.
I appreciate your note, George. It’s definitely an area that has a long history of terrible incidents, and people need to be aware.
When the sun dips in colder months, the walkways, damp with mist, turn to ice. If you slip, you can fall a deadly distance, or slide down the steps and then fall a deadly distance.
There are some very steep and sketchy sections there, yeah
In your article, your sugestions and “warnings” are so right. I wish more people would read these and follow them. Thrre’s too many deaths and serious injuries happening at Kaaterskill Falls. The DEC has been so proactive in keeping people safe by adding warning signs, monitoring the trail, and educating people on safe hiking. I’m afraid they are going to have to close the trail. This would be a shame, so what can we do? I believe education is the key. I hope everyone who reads your article spreads the word on using proper hiking safety measures. I hope people visit and enjoy the beauty of Kaaterskill Falls safely.
Thank you!
Thank you, Kristi. During the winter, I saw how many people were unprepared up there. I watched several people slip and fall. It’s really not the DEC’s fault. They have clear warning signs posted all over the place. But people either don’t bother to read the signs or pshaw their warnings, thinking, “This doesn’t apply to me!” or something like that? It’s pretty consistent. A death like this has to act as a reminder. But in a few months I suppose it’ll fade from memory, until the next one…