VerKeerderkill Falls

Hiking to the falls and back was easy for beginner hikes! Just make sure to wear good hiking shoes. It’s a rocky path and it’s a good way to twist an ankle.

A wonderful off the beaten path spot. About a 2 – 3 mile hike and some of the terrain is steep, but a very rewarding view from the top or the bottom of the falls. You may spot nude bathing from time to time, and we have seen gorgeous rattle snakes, but their a protected species.

Amazing place.
1) If you want to see the full power of the falls, come after a strong rain. Or, the falls is very light. Sometimes in the summer barely anything there.
2) It is moderate hike to reach there. Anyone can do it.
3) The cliffs are amazing. It is worth a visit.

In spring, rain and melting snow waters fills river creek to it fullest. It runs along forest path, murmuring among the rocks, picking up speed and more waters from streams along its way — until it reaches 180 feet cliff and with a roar of mighty strength it becomes one of the nature’s wonders — majestic waterfall…
Verkeerderkill Falls are wild. And beautiful in untamed way of nature. There is not much of civilization here — no railing, no paved paths or benches. Just rocks and roar of the water. And that is part of it charm and beauty — a corner of pure wilderness, right here, in NY.
Have you ever stood on top of the falls right in the middle of the creek before it drops down? It’s powerful.
Come and experience it for yourself. You will understand.

Gorgeous scenery and a fun hike to reach the falls. There are several great viewing areas around the falls, from looking pretty much right over the drop off, to side views to get a feel for just how grand everything is. In addition to the Falls themselves, you will get some amazing scenery of the nearby valley and Ellensville. You can also make a trek around the Ice Caves on a separate but nearby trail for an additional 2 to 2.5 miles added to the hike.
DOGS: We brought our two Boxers on the hike, and they managed it just fine. There are several areas where there are fresh streams where they could refill themselves on water. However, we had a moderate rainfall two days prior which might explain the strong running water and how clean it was. Might be more stagnant at other times? A side note, the Ice Caves does have two separate ladders which are only about 6 – 10 ft in height, but may prove difficult for some dogs. Our dogs refused to try the first ladder (10 ft or so) so we had to find a small outcropping to heave them up on. As for the second ladder, they climbed it themselves. Smaller dogs this will be no issue as you can just carry them up yourself.
We hiked a picnic lunch down and sat on a rock outcropping which overlooked the falls while we ate. But please, «Leave No Trace» and make sure you take out everything you bring in with you. For the most part it seemed untouched, and I think everyone there has been following this general maxim.
DIFFICULTY CONSIDERATIONS: The hike to the falls requires an approximately 750ft ascent up a switchback trail, and then another 1.7 mile hike down (and roundtrip, back up) to the falls from the VerKeerderkill Falls trailhead. You don’t have to be in amazing shape to make this trek (for instance, I am not), but there is a lot of steeper portions of the trail. Still, I saw families of all ages so unless you have major injury or cardiovascular considerations, this should be doable for most everyone.
PARKING & HOURS: There is on site parking if you following Google Map directions to Sam’s Point Preserve it’ll take you right to the lot. $ 10 fee per car to park. Try to get there before noon during the summer and fall months as the lot seemed to be ready to fill up any second after we got there around 11. They close the lot at 5pm (with a little grace time) so make sure you are back to the lot before then, though they do take phone numbers and hiker information before you set out in case there are any issues.
All in all I highly recommend.

Of all the waterfalls I have seen — this one has no rail or any safety structures for hikers/​tourists. You can actually stand/​sit at the end of the cliff at your own risk looking down the bottom of that fall.- it’s amazing, because it does not have all this artificiality of a park (like Niagara eg) The trail will lead you to the originating point of the waterfall at the top where you can observe it from two opposing points. There’s also a way to go all the way down and look at it from the bottom (we saw people there) but the only way to get there is through the bushes down the slope — there’s no trail. Unfortunately, we didn’t go but we will next time for sure. Highly recommended.