Stony Kill Falls Hike

The Falls Are Slightly Icy - Totally Beautiful

This afternoon Marc and I went to check out the Shaft 2A area on the other side of the ridge. We got a tip from our friend, Matt, about a place we could get out called Shaft 2A - there is a really cool waterfall that many locals like to go and hang out at. Shaft 2A is an access shaft to the aqueduct that carries water from the Catskill mountains to New York City. The drive to the trail was about a half hour from our house.

We looked up how to get there from Catskill Hiker. From our house, you travel down Route 44/45 (from Route 209) towards the town of Gardiner and New Paltz. As you travel down the road, you'll see a sign for 'Hudson Valley Resort.' Opposite this sign is the Minnewaska Trail. You travel down that road where you turn left onto Rock Haven Road. Eventually, you'll make a left onto Shaft 2A Road (name so appropriate when trying to find the place for the first time). When we got to the trailhead, it was just a gated dead end.

We parked our car on the side of the road and walked past the gate. After following the gravel road, the space opened up into an old Slate quarry. You walk through the quarry to the opposite side and any sign of a 'formal' trail ends and you basically are led straight to the banks of the Stony Kill ('kill' is Dutch for 'stream').

As you travel upstream along the kill, you can cross the stream a few times as you make your way to the Stony Kill Falls. Let me tell you, Marc and I had never been here. And when we were following the slippery and icy rocks and stream bed toward the falls, you could here and see the falls in the distance as you got closer. And let me just say, this place is freaking amazing! 

Below are some photos of the stream up to the falls area!

The Stony Kill Slowly is Icing Over

You Can See It in the Background!

If It Is Beautiful in the Winter, I Want to See This Place in the Summer

Ahhh!

Like Chandeliers!

As you get closer to the falls, be really careful this time of year. The rocks are incredibly slippery with the thinnest layer of ice. You need crampons or microspikes..heck, DO NOT CLIMB ON THEM! Also, do not get too close to the cliff walls, there are tons of sharp icicles (several feet in length). Plus, with the warm temperatures, we definitely saw and heard huge parts of the hanging ice falling off. I would not want to be under anything falling on top of me!

This place was really stunning! Marc and I definitely want to check this out when the temperatures get warmer! We hear its a decent swimming hole!

TheChristyBel

A Video To Show the Beauty of This Place!

The Ice Over the Kill Looks Like Contours in a Map