Catskill Mountaineer

Upper Viola Falls #2 in the Hillyer Ravine

upper viola falls in the hillyer ravine





Information about Upper Viola Falls #2:

Name: Flat Rock Falls (Proposed)
County: Greene
Region: Kaaterskill Clove
Location: Western Hillyer Ravine
Order within west side of the ravine: 2th of 11 waterfalls (1=highest elevation)
Order within waterfall: 1 of 1 (1=highest elevation)
Total Height: 35' (GPS inf 2011)
Top Elevation: 2,625
Bottom Elevation: 2,590
Type of Waterfall: Plunge
Number of Drops: N/A
GPS location: N42 09.763, W74 03.874 (top of waterfall)
WGS84 location: 42.162717, -74.064567 (top of waterfall)
Deg/Min/Sec location: N42 09 45, W74 03 52 (top of waterfall)
UTM location: 18N 577273, 4668266 (top of waterfall)
Named: 2011's
Previous or Alternate Names: none known
Description: These waterfalls would like nice, but they often have trees and branches blocking the good view.
Hiking Distance: ~7.5 miles (round trip) from Palenville.
Hiking Distance from Trail: Top of the falls are on the trail
Trail Information: Waterfalls & Poet's Ledge hike
Time: Average 5 hours round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,600 from Rt 23a.
Difficulty: Easy - You can access the top from the DEC trail
Final access to top of waterfalls: Hike
Final access to bottom of waterfalls: Hike
Digital Mapper: Topo      Terrain      Satellite
Known Access Safety: Mossy and slippery rocks above and below the falls. There are also loose mossy rocks with holes on the right side of the falls
Common Animals: bears and dear
Risky Animals: Bears (high)
Access Methods: Hike


Maps, Profile, and GPS files

map of Flat rock Falls




Directions to Trail Head from New York State Thruway (Easist, not the shortest):

  • Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill).
  • Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road.
  • Go approximately 1/4 mile
  • Take a right onto Route 23 West
  • Go approximately 6.6 miles to Cairo, NY
  • Take a LEFT onto Rt 32. McDonalds Rest. on corner.
  • Go approximately 7.7 miles on Rt 32
  • Take a RIGHT onto Rt 23A
  • Go approximately 3.0 miles on Rt 23A .
  • When you come out of Palenville, you can park in 3 different areas. (1) Park just before bridge (west bound lane); (2) Park 1/4 mile past bridge; (3) Park 4/10 mile before bridge in DEC parking lot.
  • You cannot park at the trail head!
  • Do NOT park by the red building next to the bridge.
  • Do NOT park on Malden Ave or in someone’s driveway on Malden Ave.
  • Do NOT drive up the dirt entrance road to the trail head - this is PRIVATE property - AND there is NO place to park or turn around once you get to the trail head.



  • Comments about this Hike

    Flat Rock falls would be very nice to look at. But, often they are littered with trees and branches which obscure your view.


    Mile Stone Chart

    Mile PointAltitudeNotes
    0.00680’Parking - From Route 23A turn onto Malden Ave - Walk past double guard rails (watch out for poison ivy on left side of road).
    0.62680’Walk up wide dirt driveway about 250’ ( look for green Long Path trail marker on tree - hard to see from Malden Ave) - Turn right and walk up narrow dirt driveway past metal gate (If gate is closed, walk around gate).
    1.01 Road branch - Go straight
    1.27 Road branch - Go Right
    1.331,255’Road Branch - Go Right - leave dirt road and continue onto the foot path
    1.40 Leave private land onto public land
    2.131,955’Level off for a while
    2.312,067’Giant steps
    2.342,102’Ledge #1 (views)
    2.442,264’Rock-in-the-Path
    2.522,325’Reach top of moderate ascent - Levels off after this for several miles. Total ascent of 1,661’.
    2.572,317’Start of Boreal Forest (Watch for black bears at this point)
    2.632,341’Trail Branch - go right to Poet’s Ledge (0.44 miles) - Yellow trail markers
    2.982,187’Mossy Notch
    3.072,145’POET’S LEDGE - Outstanding View! - Enjoy. Be careful of the opening between the rocks on the ledge. It is a 30’ fall. There are blueberry bushes around the ledge, which bears can be very possessive of (end of June - early July).
    3.742,183’Viola Falls
    7.48680’ Return back to Rt 23a.

    Pictures of Shelving Rock Falls



    flat rock falls in the hillyer ravine in the kaaterskill clove in the catskill mountains
    Full view of Flat Rock Falls at Low water.
    Photo by Catskill Mountaineer
    Links and References:
    CatskillMountain.com Forum - Ask questions, talk about your experience with this hike


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