Diamond Notch Falls
At a Glance
- Area: Hunter-West Kill Wilderness
- Day-use fee: None
- Cell service: Spotty. Download your trail map before you go.
What You're Actually Going to See
Diamond Notch Falls is a real, photogenic waterfall on the West Kill, tucked into a rocky notch between Southwest Hunter and West Kill Mountain — and unlike most Catskills waterfalls, the easy way in is genuinely easy, although it takes a bit of a drive to get there. The trail is wide, rocky, and short, climbing gently alongside the creek to a pool at the base of the falls that's a popular (if chilly) summer dip.
There's a second way to hike to this same destination, though: Diamond Notch is also a real mountain pass, and the trail that reaches the falls from the Route 214 side climbs up and over the notch itself before dropping down to the falls — a moderately hard 3.9-mile round trip with over 1,300 feet of gain, nothing like the stroll from the other side. Same waterfall, two very different hikes to get there.
Ways to Get There
From the Diamond Notch parking area at the end of Spruceton Road
1.7 mi round trip · easy · 30 min–1 hr
From Route 23A in Tannersville, head west through Hunter and Lexington, then turn south (left) onto Route 42. In the hamlet of West Kill, turn right onto Spruceton Road (County Route 6) and follow it about 6.8 miles to its end, where there are a few DEC parking areas to choose from. Park in one of the marked lots, not in the turnaround right at the road's end.
Get Directions → · View on AllTrails →
From the South Diamond Notch parking lot off Route 214
3.9 mi round trip · medium-hard · 2.5–3 hr
This way in is only about 15 minutes / 11 miles from the shop via Route 214 South — much closer to Tannersville than the Spruceton Road approach — but it's a real hike, not a stroll: the trail climbs steadily up through Diamond Notch itself before descending to the falls, then repeats it in reverse on the way back. Good option if you want more of a workout out of the same trip, or you're coming from the Stony Clove side already.
Get Directions → · View on AllTrails →
Heads up on parking: these lots are small and get packed on busy days, occasionally overflowing. Go early if you can.
What to Expect
The trail on the easy side is described consistently as rocky but wide — good footing matters more than distance here. We like the Oboz Sawtooth X Mid for the creek crossings and wet rock near the falls. If you're doing the notch route from the 214 side, that's real elevation and a longer day, so trekking poles (Black Diamond Trail Cork) and the same waterproof boot earn their keep.
Bug spray is worth having either way, wildflowers and creekside brush along Hollow Tree Brook mean bugs in season. We keep Ben's Tick Repellent at the counter.
From the shop
When to Go
Go early on weekends, this is a popular, easy destination and the small lots fill fast. AllTrails lists March through November as the best window; the pool at the base draws swimmers on hot summer days, which is exactly the crowd this easy route is built for.
Good to Know
- Free, no day-use fee, it's DEC forest preserve.
- This is black bear country. Don't leave food or a pack unattended.
- The creek crossings and rock near the falls get slippery when wet; good footwear matters more than fitness on the easy route.
- Dog-friendly (the DEC page notes dogs may be off-leash in some areas on the notch-route trail; leash rule applies on the Spruceton Road easy trail per AllTrails).
- Kid-friendly on the easy route; the notch route is a real hike and wrong for a family outing.
- Cell service is spotty out here. Download your trail map before you go.
- Apps like AllTrails are handy but not gospel, especially on the notch route's climb over the pass. We carry the NY-NJ Trail Conference Catskill Trails Map (printed on Tyvek, waterproof and tear-resistant) for the real thing — stop in and we'll help you find your route on it.
While you're out here
West Kill Brewery is right there in West Kill, on the way in or out from the Spruceton Road side, a great spot for a beer and a bite after the hike.
If you want to know what else is worth seeing while you're up here, or want to talk through what to bring before you go, stop into the shop. We're a few miles down the road in Tannersville.