Near Long Path: Section 22 Platte Clove Road to Palenville
In the winter sections of Poets Ledge / Long Path trail feel like an ice climb...this is 1 of them!
Near Long Path: Section 22 Platte Clove Road to Palenville
Frozen Hillyer Waterfall. The trail is at the top, so you have to get off the trail to see it.
Near Long Path: Section 22 Platte Clove Road to Palenville
Icy trail with nice views
Near Long Path: Section 22 Platte Clove Road to Palenville
View from the top of Buttermilk Waterfall
Near Long Path: Section 22 Platte Clove Road to Palenville
view from Wildcat Falls

Looking for more photos?

View All Photos
Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Long Path: Section 22 Platte Clove Road to Palenville

2.8 (4 Ratings)
9.5 mile trail from Route 23A in Palenville to Platte Clove Road with waterfalls and views.
9.1
mi
Distance
2,685
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
BirdingCommonly BackpackedFall ColorsRiver/CreekViewsWaterfallWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
9.08mi
Distance
2,685ft
Elevation Gain
1,497ft
Elevation Loss
30%
Max Grade
2,986ft
High Point
604ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
From the hikers parking lot, turn right onto Route 23a and continue down the road for .4 miles cross the bridge over Kaaterskill Creek and turn left on Malden Ave. Stay on the road and follow a series of blue marks that denote the Long Path Trail. After .9 miles you'll see Freewood restaurant. Shortly turn right onto another short road. After a few feet, the trail turns onto a woods road and into the forest. From here, the road will start an ascent. At 1.60 miles point trail turns right onto a singletrack trail. At 1.80 miles, hikers will be rewarded with Ella's Ledge. While still an accomplishment, the view from the ledge is overgrown. At point 3.1 miles there is a .47 mile long trail leading to Poet's Ledge with beautiful views. Now the trail is almost flat for another 2 miles. You'll see three waterfalls along the way: Hillyer Falls at 3.80 miles, Wildcat Falls (at 4.3 miles), and finally Buttermilk Falls ( at 4.9 miles). Wildcat and Buttermilk Falls have nice views to the north. After the last falls the trail turns south-southwest and begins to ascend again. Some of these ascents are steep and over rocky areas. The trail cuts back and forth to make the climb easier. At 6.3 miles on right hand you'll see a small connector to the snowmobile trail that loops around Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top Mountain. You go straight for another 3.5 miles on the Long Path Trail (blue mark) to reach a parking lot on Platte Clove Rd. The Huckleberry Point Trail turnoff is located 1 mile before the parking lot, which is a popular side trip if you have the time. Many visitors come here to enjoy the views.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

Nearby Hike Routes

Kaaterskill High Peak

Hike Route

Kaaterskill High Peak

Birding
strenuous
12.86 mi
+3,690 ft
North Point Mountain via Escarpment + Marys Glen Trails

Hike Route

North Point Mountain via Escarpment + Marys Glen Trails

Lake
moderate
4.88 mi
+977 ft
Easy Escarpment Trail Loop

Hike Route

Easy Escarpment Trail Loop

Birding
moderate
3.74 mi
+611 ft
North Point

Hike Route

North Point

Views
easy
2.16 mi
+783 ft
Huckleberry Point

Hike Route

Huckleberry Point

Birding
moderate
4.66 mi
+1,234 ft
Rip's Rock Loop

Hike Route

Rip's Rock Loop

moderate
5.06 mi
+1,011 ft
Contributors
Miroslaw Wierzbicki