Dug Hill Waterfalls Trail

View of the Upper Dug Hill Waterfall

OVERVIEW

Trail Name: Dug Hill Waterfall Trail (No trail markers or signs)

Forest: Near Bluestone Wild Forest

Parking Area : Right side of Dug Hill Road - 2 spaces (DEC)

Trail Length : 2.50 miles (round-trip)

Trail Type: 100% Single-track trail

Hiking Time: 2 hours

Lowest Elevation: 296' (A)

Highest Elevation: 731' (A)

Access : Foot

Views : waterfalls

Difficulty: Easy

Emergency : Call 911 / 1-833-NYS-RANGERS

USGS Map: USGS West Kingston Quad Maps

Digital Mapper: Topo Terrain Satellite

Maps of Dug Hill Trail

Map of the Dug Hill Trail near the Bluestone Wild Forest

Notes about the Dug Hill Waterfall Trail

TRAIL

This hike is an easy hike that is about 1.25 miles to the end of the trail. So, a total of 2.50 miles. This excludes any hiking around the three waterfalls about 2/3 of the way up the Dug Hill Waterfall Trail. The largest waterfall, Lower Dug Hill Waterfall, is 47 feet high, and it has a unusual twist in the middle. The second waterfall is 14 feet high. While the hike up the trail is fairly easy, hiking around the waterfalls is difficult and dangerous. There are no markers showing you where the trail ends. So, if you come to the end of the trail, you have gone too far. So, turn around and head back towards your car.

The parking area only holds two cars, so it will not be crowded. The waterfalls may not have very much water going over them in the summer months. In the Spring, they are quite nice.

OTHER INFORMATION

There is cell phone service on the Dug Hill Trail.

DIRECTIONS to the Dug Hill Waterfall Trail from Exit 19 (Kingston)

Dug Hill Trail (DEP) - WGS84 (DEC): 41.927833, -74.097517 - Elevation is about 333'

Dug Hill Trail (DEP) - Deg/Min/Sec: N41 55 40, W74 05 51 - Elevation is about 333'

Dug Hill Trail (DEP) - GPS: N 41 55.670, W 74 05.851 - Elevation is about 333'

Dug Hill Trail (DEP) - UTM: 18N 574826 4642157 - Elevation is about 333'

Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston).

Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West.

Go approximately 1/2 mile on Rt 28 West

Take a RIGHT onto ramp for Rt 209 South

Go approximately 2.3 miles on Rt 209

Take a RIGHT onto Wynkcoop Road

Go approximately 7/10 of a mile on Wynkoop Road

Take a LEFT onto Rt 5

Go approximately 9/10 of a mile

Take a RIGHT onto Dug Hill Road

Go Approximately 6/10 of a mile on Dug Hill Road

Two parking spaces will be on the RIGHT side of the road

Dug Hill Waterfall Trail

This is the Dug Hill Trail Parking Area and Trailhead. It holds two cars. It is located directly off Dug Hill Road. The trailhead starts directly in front of the car.

The trailhead is 333' in elevation. As you walk down the trail, you will come to this stream shortly after leaving the Parking Area. After a major storm where there is significant flooding, this stream will not be passable. But, in the spring we did not have a problem getting across the creek without our feet getting wet. The Dug Hill Stream flows into the Esopus Creek.

The trail is well maintained, and easy to hike up.

As you hike further up the Dug Hill Trail you will see the Dug Hill Stream on your left.

As you hike up further, you will see and hear the first Dug Hill Waterfall. There is a herd trail down into the ravine. It is a little steep. As you hike down the herd path, you will be able to see the full Lower Dug Hill Waterfalls. It is 47 feet high has a nice twist about half way down the waterfall. This is a cascade waterfalls.

When you hike up to the base of the waterfall, you can only see the lower part of the waterfall. Getting to the top of Lower Dug Hill Waterfall requires you to climb up the ravine on either side, and hike up stream slightly. Not easy getting to the bottom or top of this beautiful waterfall.

This is top of the Lower Dug Hill Waterfall. Difficult to get to. The Upper Dug Hill Waterfall is a short hike up the ravine.

This is the Upper Dug Hill Waterfall. It is 14 feet high.

Just above the Upper Dug Hill Waterfall is a small waterfall of about 5 feet. From here, you can hike back up to the Dug Hill Trail. You can continue up the end of the trail, or head back to your car.

Links and References:

USGS Topo Map of the West Kingston Quad

S E C T I O N S

W E A T H E R

O T H E R