As debate continues over how to manage growing crowds at Kaaterskill Falls and Kaaterskill Clove, the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development is urging New York state officials to focus first on infrastructure, education and transportation improvements before limiting access to one of the Catskills’ most visited destinations.
The discussion follows the release of a Visitor Use Management report by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation examining strategies to address growing visitation and public safety concerns in Kaaterskill Clove, home to the iconic Kaaterskill Falls.
The two-tiered waterfall, which drops roughly 260 feet from top to bottom, draws more than 200,000 visitors annually and has been a centerpiece of Catskills tourism since the 19th century.
Jeff Senterman, executive director of the Catskill Center, said the organization supports the state’s decision to use a formal visitor management process, but believes the current report leans too heavily toward restricting access through permits or timed entry systems.
“We think that the report that came out missed the mark a little bit in that it really focused on limiting use as opposed to many of the other improvements and actions that could be taken on site,” Senterman said.
The Catskill Center submitted formal comments to the DEC recommending expanded parking management, visitor education, transportation planning and trail improvements before implementing caps on visitors.
Senterman said many longstanding issues in the clove remain unresolved, particularly along Route 23A, where pedestrians often walk on narrow roadside shoulders after parking areas fill up.
“Parking is really one of the biggest issues,” he said. “Having pedestrians on a road not designed for pedestrians is dangerous both for those folks walking and for the people driving vehicles.”
The Catskill Center is also calling for renewed investment in shuttle transportation serving communities such as Tannersville and Palenville. A privately operated shuttle that once connected parking areas with trail access points is no longer operating.
Senterman pointed to shuttle systems at national parks, including Acadia National Park, as examples of how public-private partnerships can reduce congestion while supporting local economies.
“A well-functioning, well-supported shuttle system is key to ensuring that folks get into our communities both at the top and the bottom,” he said.
The organization also wants the state to adopt more real-time communication tools for visitors, including electronic signage, parking updates and mobile apps that could help redirect visitors before they arrive at overcrowded trailheads.
Senterman said better staffing is another critical piece of the solution. The Catskill Center’s seasonal stewardship program, launched in 2018 at Peekamoose Blue Hole and later expanded to Kaaterskill Falls and other high-use destinations, places trained staff at trailheads to educate visitors about safety, hiking conditions and nearby attractions.
“They are greeting sometimes over a thousand people a day at Kaaterskill Falls,” Senterman said. “Most people are there to enjoy this incredibly beautiful natural treasure that we have here in the Catskills.”
The debate has also drawn concern from local leaders in the Town of Hunter, who argue that visitor caps or permit systems could hurt tourism-dependent businesses while pushing crowds into other areas of the Catskills.
Senterman echoed those concerns, warning that restrictions at Kaaterskill Falls could redirect heavy use to nearby destinations such as Platte Clove, Colgate Lake and other unmanaged areas.
“ Whenever you put your thumb on one spot, pressure is going to move through the area and pop up somewhere else,” he said.
Public comments on the DEC’s Visitor Use Management report are being accepted through June 1. Senterman said he hopes the feedback process leads to more collaboration among state agencies, local governments and nonprofit organizations before any major restrictions are adopted.
“There is a lot of partnership and work that can be done on the ground starting tomorrow,” he said.
Image: Kaaterskill Falls. (ZacSuhar.com)