Fawn's Leap Waterfalls

fawn's leap in the middle of kaaterskill creek in the kaaterskill clove

Information about Fawn's Leap:

Name: Fawn's Leap Falls

County: Greene

Region: Kaaterskill Clove

Location: Middle of Kaaterskill Creek - just above Moore's Bridge

Order within ravine: 8th of 10drops (1=highest elevation)

Drops within waterfall: 1

Total Height: 24'

Top Elevation: 982'

Bottom Elevation: 958'

Type of Waterfall: plunge

Number of Drops: 1

GPS location: N42 10.641 W74 03.459

WGS84 location: 42.17735, -74.057659

Dec, Min, Sec location: N42 10 38, W74 03 27

UTM location: 18N 577826, 4669897

Previous or Alternate Names: Dog's Leap, faun's leap

Description: These waterfalls are 24' high. It is also a popular swimming location for kids during the summer months.

Hiking Distance: 500'.

Best time to Visit: Anytime

Map No: USGS: Kaaterskill Quad

Digital Mapper: Topo Terrain Satellite

Maps, Profile, and GPS files

Comments about this Waterfall

Fawn's leap is 24' high. It is located 200' west of Moore's Bridge. It is a common swimming spot in the summer months. Especially on hot summer days.

Over a great many years, historians have tried to determine just how Fawn's Leap got it's name. The most common story is that a deer along with it's fawn tried to cross Kaaterskill Creek at the top of Fawn's Leap. The fawn failed to leap across the top and fell off the falls. Some people say that they fawn was killed when it was sweep over the Falls. Other say that the fawn survived. Some people have said that it was a dog that fell over the falls and died in the hole below the falls, and hence the name, "Dog's Hole". Another story states that the dog was chasing the fawn.

Pictures of Fawn's Leap Waterfalls

View of Fawn's Leap from the base
Photo by Catskill Mountaineer

View of Fawn's Leap from the base.
Photo by Catskill Mountaineer

View of Fawn's Leap from the base.
Historic Photo by Detroit Photograph Co - 1902

Post Card of Fawn's Leap from the base.
Historic Post Card

View of Fawn's Leap from the base.
Historic Photo by Detroit Photograph Co

View of Church's Ledge, Fawn's Leap and Haines Falls
Historic Painting (46" x 36") - By Asher Durand's called, "Kindred Spirits" in 1849

The painting was commissioned by Jonathan Sturges and presented to Bryant as a gift after presenting an excellent speach at Thomas Cole's funeral the prior year. The painting shows Thomas Cole (left) and William Cullen Bryant (right) just below Fawn's Leap on top of Church's Ledge (ledge just above Moore's Bridge) with Haines Falls in the background. The painting was sold in 2005 for 35 million dollars to Walmart heiress Alice Walton. The painting was relocated and displayed at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas in November of 2011. (Image enhanced for color correction due to aging by Catskill Mountaineer)

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