Hardenburgh Falls is a 25-foot waterfall on the Bear Kill in Delaware County, New York, just west of Grand Gorge in the northern Catskills. It pours under the Intake Road bridge into a large pool, a short walk from roadside parking.
The falls
The Bear Kill drops in a single leap over bedrock into a broad pool at the base. Lidar data puts the drop at about 25 feet, though earlier surveys listed 15 feet and other accounts have estimated roughly 20.
Getting there
The falls sit beside Intake Road, west of Grand Gorge along NY-23. Parking areas are available on both sides of the road near the bridge. A 0.2-mile out-and-back walk from the north-side lot gains about 15 feet: the route follows a path behind a large metal gate, then turns onto a narrow side trail toward the water. Only holders of a fishing-access permit may go down to the falls, which lie within the New York City DEP watershed system.
When to go
Spring offers the best viewing conditions, when snowmelt swells the stream.
On site
Reaching the water involves a ledge scramble of about 5 feet between the trail and the pool, and poison ivy is common on the ledge in warm months. Swimming is strictly prohibited. The pool below the falls is fished, and a permit is required.
Nearby
Devasego Falls on Schoharie Creek is about 0.5 mile away, Clarks Falls about 1.9 miles, Manor Kill Falls about 3.1 miles and Red Falls on the Batavia Kill about 3.7 miles.
Distances are straight-line.