There are 3 nice waterfalls at the Plotterkill Preserve: Upper Falls, Lower Falls and Rynex Falls. Rynex Falls in just a few yards downstream from Lower Falls where Rynex Creek enters the Plotterkill. The north rim trail allows good views of all three. You can get to the bottom of Upper Falls by following the north rim trail about 100 yds further downstream. Keep looking to the right; It is a bit hard to find, but safer! In winter there will be a ice on this trail.
To get to the bottom of Rynex and the Lower Falls, follow the south rim trail untill the two falls are clearly seen. There is a path from the parking area that leads directy to this location. You have to scramble down the slope to the bottom. But the slope on this side is not as steep as the north side and much easier to negotiate.
You really need to emphsize safety when desending into this gorge. You may not be visible to visitors on the rim, and there is no cell phone signal at the bottom! If you need help, extraction will be difficult, no matter where you are! Take a friend with you.
Upper Falls
Lower Falls
Rynex Falls
Plotter Kill Falls
- BobStone
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- Matt
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Those are some excellent photos. The exposure is amazing.
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Yes, great shots, this place is one of my new "favorite" spots to go.
Matt, can we combine this post with this one http://www.nyfalls.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1840 to get everything for this place in one post and linked to the main waterfall list?
Matt, can we combine this post with this one http://www.nyfalls.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1840 to get everything for this place in one post and linked to the main waterfall list?
LGD
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Had a nice hike up the Plotterkill from the lower trail yesterday. Of course, it was a bright sunny day, so some problems with contrast, but I got pictures of the six major waterfalls in the lower section of the preserve. I also took waypoints for them which I will post to my google map of the area once I get on a high speed connection.
So, starting at the bottom, here's Jacob's Ladder and Step Falls, at least that's the way it's named in the Dunn book, I can only guess that the bottom section is the step falls and the upper part is Jacob's Ladder.
The bottom step close up
The Jacob's Ladder section
Going upstream, here's the next major falls
This next one has a nice pool that it flows into, obviously created by a much larger fall that is long extinct, nice place to have lunch.
This one is in a nice grotto where the stream takes a 90 degree turn, I was really starting to have problems with the sun at this point
This one just barely qualifies as a fall, it's only about 4-5 feet high, but with the water level yesterday, there was enough to flow across the large square block in the foreground to make it more interesting.
Here's the last one in the lower section, above this, the streambed becomes an average rocky burbling brook until just before the main falls upstream
So, starting at the bottom, here's Jacob's Ladder and Step Falls, at least that's the way it's named in the Dunn book, I can only guess that the bottom section is the step falls and the upper part is Jacob's Ladder.
The bottom step close up
The Jacob's Ladder section
Going upstream, here's the next major falls
This next one has a nice pool that it flows into, obviously created by a much larger fall that is long extinct, nice place to have lunch.
This one is in a nice grotto where the stream takes a 90 degree turn, I was really starting to have problems with the sun at this point
This one just barely qualifies as a fall, it's only about 4-5 feet high, but with the water level yesterday, there was enough to flow across the large square block in the foreground to make it more interesting.
Here's the last one in the lower section, above this, the streambed becomes an average rocky burbling brook until just before the main falls upstream
LGD
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My favorite is the one with the square stone, followed by the Jacob's Ladder section. Nice job!
- cbobcat49
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These smaller falls look almost like the lower falls in Conklin Gully.
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~Henry David Thoreau
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Thanks. I wish I had better light, when I left home, there was complete overcast but by the time I got there, the clouds had cleared off and contrast shot through the roof. Of course, by the time I was done and back at the car, the clouds had started to roll in again. Maybe next time.
Updated Google map.
Updated Google map.
LGD
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