Vernooy Falls Trail: Waterfalls & Mill Ruins

The delightful Vernooy Kill Falls trail leads to one of the funnest spots in The Catskills.

Hike Length: 3.3 miles (5.31 km)

Total Ascent: 600ft (183m)

Intensity: Moderate Catskills Hike

Route Type: Out-and-Back

Includes: Blazed Trail, Stream Crossing

Vernooy Falls upper waterfall

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A straight-forward out-and-back to Vernooy Falls

Hiking Trail Description

Vernooy Falls is a very popular four-stage waterfall near Riggsville in the Town of Rochester, New York.

The trail is short and moderate, but tends to be muddy, so pack your hiking boots. Your sneakers will take a dunking here.

Note: The falls themselves, being rocky and open, are a magnet for rattlesnakes in the warmer months.

Vernooy Falls Trailhead & Parking

This lot is very large and easy to get to.

The trailhead is across the street from the lot’s entrance.

BTW, I always pack this power brick in my main backpack. It’s small but it recharges my phone 2-3 times. Great peace of mind on the trail.

Vernooy Falls Hiking Trail

The trial begins with a hemlock stand. Along this trail, you’ll also see plenty of eastern white pine and mountain laurel. The trail is lovely.

Follow the red blazes.

Listen for lots of woodpecker action.

mossy covered log fallen — Mossy woodpecker log

Not far from the beginning, there’s one tricky stream crossing with lots of blowdown.

This trail guide is new. The hike was done on April 10, 2022 under which this page will be filed later.
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Pass over this beautiful footbridge over a brook that drains Wet Willy Swamp.

footbridge in the woods passing over a small brook — Footbridge over Wet Willy drainage

The trail climbs and passes through several stands of hemlock and mountain laurel.

Eventually, the trail passes over a high point and begins to trend downhill.

Very soon, right before the falls, there’s a legal campsite on the left side of the trail.

And then you arrive at Vernooy Falls footbridge.

Vernooy Falls

The falls are very large. I explored them on both sides of the footbridge.

long footbridge over small falls — Vernooy Falls Footbridge

I can’t wait to get back here in winter, when everything is frozen.

vernooy falls waterfall — Upper Vernooy Falls

vernooy falls footbridge — Footbridge over Vernooy Kill

Mill Ruins

Check out these amazing ruins. This is an absolutely fantastic destination. It would be stunning on foggy morning.

This stone wall is a remnant of the Vernooy Mill which 200 years ago was a major crossroads where farmers near and far brought their grain for milling. [Source: NYS DEC Catskill Hikes.]