Summer Friday Group Hike to Kaaterskill Falls (Round 2)

It's 2026 and I now have to include this warning in Welcome emails to Kaaterskill Falls: 

Sad note but park rangers and park police heavily enforce this park (2 different agencies). Park police carry sidearms and may randomly ask anyone questions like, "Who are you here with?" (I know, it's weird times). They won't ask for ID. Just tell them you're "here with friends" and they'll move on. Either way, I got you. You'll be fine.

If you're reading this and thinking to yourself, I've been there, That's not true, congratulate yourself, you're privileged. 

A recent article in Outside Magazine stated that the United States Forest Service collaborated with immigration authorities to target and arrest 5 campers near a Seattle campground. North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest saw 13 arrests previously.

I used to work with former law enforcement officials and repeatedly heard that if you want to blame someone for law enforcement behavior, don't blame the enforcers, blame the people who make the laws. 

I've spoken to NYS park police at trailheads on several occasions; they're regular folks who love their jobs; they're locals; and they care about the parks and people's safety in their parks. 

But when a local resident makes a report of "suspicious" activity, they check (looking at you, Neversink locals). And the Kaaterskill Falls area is full of locals who think anyone who doesn't live in the area and doesn't use their parks the way they prefer is suspicious.

To that end, Kaaterskill area locals started a ferry service up the mountain pass to North Sound Campground and the town of Hunter so hikers wouldn't park on their property and roads and would not try to explore the various watering holes along the pass. They ended it after a year, making things less accessible and less safe for everyone.

NYS Parks, DEC or NIMBY locals around these popular Catskills trailheads have not invested in infrastructure despite growing visitations. Instead, they create new restrictive laws and fees which park police and rangers strictly enforce.

And this is despite the fact that surrounding states, including PA, NJ and CT have increased investment in infrastructure to welcome more visitors and keep them safe without alienating locals. So what's your excuse, Hunter and Greene County?

Anyway, we got to go without incident. We love the falls and will continue to visit them responsibly. And although no one's getting arrested, better to be aware and prepared than risk an incident.

GALLERY

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