Prohibitions Now Enforced at Four Catskill Destinations

August 15, 2018

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the adoption of new regulations designed to improve public safety and enhance the user experience at Kaaterskill Falls and three nearby areas that have experienced a substantial increase in public use in recent years.

The new regulations complement previously announced safety and accessibility improvements at Kaaterskill Falls. The newly adopted regulations impact all or parts of four areas; the Kaaterskill Falls Riparian Area (in the town of Hunter, Greene County), the Kaaterskill Clove Riparian Corridor (in the towns of Hunter and Catskill, Greene County), the Platte Clove Riparian Corridor (in the town of Hunter, Greene County, and the town of Saugerties, Ulster County), and the Colgate Lake Wild Forest Area (in the town of Jewett, Greene County).

At all four areas, the new regulations:

  • ban all camp fires and portable stoves (except when camping at designated campsites or otherwise camping in accordance with DEC regulations);
  • prohibit glass containers except for the storage of medicines;
  • ban the use of audio devices without the use of headphones/ear buds (except at designated camp sites or otherwise camping in accordance with DEC regulations, and not audible outside the immediate area of the campsite);
  • ban the possession of alcohol (except when transporting to, or camped at, designated camp sites or where otherwise camping in compliance with DEC regulations);
  • prohibit the public from entering restricted areas, as designated by signage.

At Kaaterskill Clove, Kaaterskill Falls and Colgate Lake Wild Forest, they:

  • prohibit the possession of portable generators, except at designated campsites or otherwise camping in accordance with DEC regulations (previous regulations already prohibit the possession of generators at Platte Clove).

At Kaaterskill Falls, they:

  • prohibit the public from going within six feet of cliff edges, except on marked trails, and prohibit the public from entering the water within 150 feet upstream of the falls.

At Kaaterskill Clove and Platte Clove:

  • the public are not allowed in one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, except for those camping in accordance with DEC regulations or licensed hunters, anglers and trappers.

In addition, at Kaaterskill Falls, the newly adopted regulations prohibit the public from going within six feet of cliff edges, except on marked trails, and prohibit the public from entering the water within 150 feet upstream of the falls.

The regulations also prohibit the possession of portable generators within the Kaaterskill Clove Riparian Corridor, the Kaaterskill Falls Riparian Area, and the Colgate Lake Wild Forest Area, except at designated campsites or where otherwise camped in compliance with DEC regulations.

Under the new regulations, the public are not allowed in the Kaaterskill Clove or Platte Clove Riparian Corridors between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise except for those camping in accordance with DEC regulations, hikers or licensed hunters, anglers, and trappers.

Read the full press release in our News Center.