Attractions and Places To See around High Falls - Top 11

High Falls is rich in history, particularly related to the Delaware and Hudson Canal. You can visit the D&H Canal Museum to learn about the canal era. The High Falls Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, features well-preserved locks and significant properties like the DePuy Tavern (built in 1797) and the Lock Tender's House and Canal Store Ruin. A short drive away, the A.J. Snyder Estate includes the Widow Jane Mine and cement kilns, with a museum focusing on the local cement industry. Additionally, the Huguenot Street Historic District offers an outdoor museum experience with stone-house museums and a reconstructed church.

The most prominent natural attraction is the High Falls Waterfalls on the Rondout Creek, offering cascading water over ancient rock formations. For panoramic views, hike to Table Rocks for stunning vistas of the Catskills. The Mohonk Preserve Trails provide opportunities to see wildlife and cliff views, especially vibrant during autumn. You can also enjoy views from the Nice old railway bridge with a view, which overlooks the Rosendale area, or from Humpty Dumpty Road within Mohonk Preserve, offering views towards the Trapps Cliffs.

Yes, the High Falls Waterfalls offer easy access and family-friendly paths for hiking and picnics. The Huguenot Street Historic District is an outdoor museum that can be explored by families. The Canal Towpath Hike, adjacent to the D&H Canal Museum, is a serene half-mile walk suitable for all ages. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail is also a multi-use trail that is generally family-friendly.

For hiking, the Canal Towpath Hike offers a serene walk along the historic D&H Canal. The Mohonk Preserve Trails provide five different pathways with diverse scenery, from wildlife spotting to panoramic cliff views. You can also find various running and hiking routes, including the 'Bonticou Crag Loop' and 'Joppenbergh Mountain Loop', which are moderate, or more challenging options like the 'Lime Kiln & Table Rocks Trail loop'. Find more details on these routes in the Running Trails around High Falls guide.

High Falls offers several cycling options. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail is a popular multi-use path, primarily packed-gravel, extending roughly 22 miles. You can find routes like the 'Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Loop' for an easy ride, or more challenging options such as the 'Ashokan Reservoir loop'. For gravel biking, routes like 'Nice old railway bridge with a view – Springtown Truss Bridge loop' are available. Explore more cycling routes in the Cycling around High Falls guide and the Gravel biking around High Falls guide.

High Falls' walkable village center hosts a variety of unique establishments. Art enthusiasts can visit the Wired Gallery, while book lovers can browse Blue Heron Books. For vintage finds, check out Fool For Love and Curious Cat. The High Falls Flea Market operates seasonally on the second Sunday of each month. For dining, Ollie's Pizza offers wood-fired pizzas, and the High Falls Food Coop provides organic groceries and regional products.

High Falls is enjoyable throughout the year, but the Mohonk Preserve Trails are particularly popular during the autumn foliage season for their vibrant colors. The natural beauty of the waterfalls and outdoor trails can be appreciated in spring and summer, while historical sites and indoor attractions are accessible year-round.

Beyond the historical sites, High Falls offers cultural points of interest like the Wired Gallery for local art and the seasonal High Falls Flea Market for unique goods. A short drive away, the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary provides an opportunity to meet rescued farm animals, offering a different kind of cultural experience.

The bridges around High Falls hold historical and scenic significance. The Nice old railway bridge with a view, also known as the Rosendale Trestle Bridge, is a famous crossing along the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail offering great views. The Springtown Truss Bridge, crossing the Wallkill River, was once part of the Wallkill Valley Railroad and has historical ties, originally built in 1870 and rebuilt with iron in the 1880s.

While not explicitly 'hidden,' the Canal Towpath Hike offers serene views along the historic waterway that might be less crowded than other spots. Within the Mohonk Preserve, exploring different sections of the trails, such as Humpty Dumpty Road, can lead to unique perspectives of the Trapps Cliffs. The High Falls Waterfalls themselves, while prominent, offer various angles for photography and quiet contemplation.

Trails around High Falls vary. The Canal Towpath Hike is generally flat and serene. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail is primarily a packed-gravel surface. Within the Mohonk Preserve, you'll find a mix of gravel and dirt trails, including old carriage roads like Humpty Dumpty Road, which can feature imposing cliffs on one side and beautiful views on the other. Some routes, like the 'Lime Kiln & Table Rocks Trail loop', are rated as difficult, suggesting more varied and challenging terrain.