Generated illustration of a natural swimming setting; not a photograph of this location
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CreekNY

Kaaterskill Area

By Hidden Swimming Holes Team · Record updated

Background: generated illustration, not a photograph of this location.

Distinguish historical Litner Rock on Cook Brook from Kaaterskill Falls, check unresolved access and parking, and use separate DEC resources for a confirmed outing.

Water type
Creek
Access
Swimming unconfirmed
Fee
No current site-specific fee or free-access authorization established
Best season
Confirm lawful access and current conditions before choosing a travel date
Nearby towns
Elka Park, Tannersville
Water body
Cook Brook In Archived Litner Rock Description

Location

Map & Directions

NY
Nearby towns
Elka Park, Tannersville
Place-name search
Litner Rock Cook Brook Elka Park historical location
Map searches for the named location. Confirm the entrance and current access with the park before you go.

Sources & checks

This is a desk-researched listing. A record update or map check does not confirm current swimming permission or water conditions.

Swimming rules
Current swimming permission has not been independently confirmed for this listing. Check with the land manager before entering the water.
Access location not verified
The recorded location has no completed source check. Confirm the entrance, legal access, and parking before travelling.
Record updated
· This is a data update, not a field visit.

Found an error? Send a correction with the location and a source. How we research listings.

Litner Rock is not Kaaterskill Falls

This archived Kaaterskill Area listing describes Litner Rock on Cook Brook near Elka Park Road. It does not describe Kaaterskill Falls, Fawn's Leap or another Kaaterskill Creek pool. The older access correction is retained: an exact public entrance, lawful parking and current swimming permission are unresolved.

Do not navigate by the old utility pole

A utility-pole number and instructions to park wherever possible do not establish access rights. Confirm the exact parcel and permitted approach before travelling. The old fixed four-foot depth and clear-water claims are not current measurements; they must not be used as water-entry advice.

Choose the destination you actually intend to visit

Separate waterfall hiking resources

For Kaaterskill Falls instead, use DEC's current Wild Forest guide. It identifies designated parking and warns about flash flooding and restricted cliff-edge areas. These instructions concern that separate destination, not a Cook Brook parking right or proof that DEC manages Litner Rock.

Separate lake and camping resources

North-South Lake Campground and Day Use Area is another distinct DEC destination. Check its operating dates, reservations and beach notices directly. DEC instructs campground swimmers to use designated beach areas and states those areas are unsupervised by lifeguards. None of its facilities or permissions establish bathing or camping rights at Litner Rock.

Photos and remaining trip questions

The saved collection shows a Kaaterskill Falls viewing platform, not this historical Cook Brook location. No gallery is relabeled here. Current Litner Rock fees, facilities, supervision and overnight arrangements are not established. If lawful access cannot be confirmed, choose a destination with current manager information.

Getting There

The historical entry names Litner Rock on Cook Brook near Elka Park Road, not Kaaterskill Falls. Current public approach and lawful parking have not been established. Do not follow the utility-pole or park-where-you-can instructions. For a separate DEC destination use that destination's official route, never as a substitute for this brook entrance.

Access Notes

Prior access correction retained. No claim that DEC manages Litner Rock or that its regional rules establish a legal prohibition here.

Plan Your Visit

Parking & Access

Confirm the entrance, parking arrangements, and legal access with the land manager. A map pin does not establish a public right of access. Follow posted routes and never block gates or driveways.

Regulations & Fees

Public swimming permission at the archived Cook Brook location remains unverified. Do not transfer Kaaterskill Falls or Fawn's Leap rules to this separate site. Public park access does not necessarily include permission to swim. Respect private property and posted restrictions.

Seasonality & Flow

Water conditions can change quickly. This listing does not provide a current safety or water-quality assessment. Check official alerts and avoid entering water when conditions or permission are uncertain.

Nearby Facilities

Nearby places from saved public map data, not necessarily facilities at the swimming spot. Confirm access, hours, fees, and amenities with the operator before you drive.

Map data retrieved 2026-06-15

Kaaterskill Falls parking

Parking lot

4.4 (9)

103 Laurel House Rd, Palenville, NY 12463

Parking area

Parking lot

4.2 (57)

Saugerties, NY 12477

Municipal Parking Saugerties

Parking lot

89a Partition St, Saugerties, NY 12477

Kaaterskill Falls Trail Head

Hiking area

4.7 (851)

NY-23A, Haines Falls, NY 12436

This half-mile trail with a moderate climb & creek leads to the scenic 260-ft. Kaaterskill Falls.

Kaaterskill Wild Forest

Park

4.8 (979)

70 Catskill View Cir, Saugerties, NY 12477

Rustic natural area with year-round activities, including camping, boating, hiking & snowmobiling.

Kaaterskill Falls, Viewing Platform

Hiking area

4.8 (1189)

Laurel House Rd, Palenville, NY 12463

Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds Inc

Campground

4.3 (335)

149 Blue Mountain Rd, Saugerties, NY 12477

Public restroomPublic showerRestroomRunning water

Blue Mountain Campground

Campground

4.2 (198)

3783 NY-32, Saugerties, NY 12477

Public restroomPublic showerRestroomRunning water

Frequently Asked Questions About Kaaterskill Area

Is this the famous Kaaterskill Falls?

No. The historical listing describes Litner Rock on Cook Brook near Elka Park Road, not Kaaterskill Falls or Fawn's Leap.

Can I follow the utility-pole directions?

Not as a current access plan. A roadside marker does not establish lawful parking, property rights or permission to enter the brook.

Is the pool four feet deep?

That archived figure is not a current measurement. Depth, flow and water quality have not been verified.

Do DEC parking rules apply to Litner Rock?

The reviewed DEC page concerns Kaaterskill Wild Forest. Its designated lots and restrictions are not evidence of access rights at this separate Cook Brook site.

Where can I check a separate lake outing?

DEC's North-South Lake page lists its campground and day-use resources. Check current beach notices and operating dates; those services do not belong to Litner Rock.

Why are Kaaterskill Falls photographs withheld here?

They show a different destination. A similar regional name is not enough to establish an exact Cook Brook gallery.

Highlights

Cook Brook versus Kaaterskill Creek distinction
Unresolved parking and entry explained
Separate official DEC planning resources

Unique Features

Historical Litner Rock reference under a regional listing name

Location & Area Map

Safety Information

Important Safety Tips

  • The archive's four-foot bowl depth is not current measured depth
  • No clean-water, gentle-flow or jumping claim is verified
  • Do not use roadside markers or nearby waterfall photographs as an access guide

Cultural & Historical Context

Historical Background

The regional Kaaterskill name historically referred here to Litner Rock on Cook Brook. It does not mean this is the famous Kaaterskill Falls.

Photography Guide

Photo Opportunities

No exact Litner Rock photo collection approved. Respect property boundaries; nearby DEC waterfall views must not be relabeled as Cook Brook.

Conservation & Ethics

Protect This Place

Respect property boundaries, follow current signs and stay on permitted routes. Do not create bank trails; pack out waste and avoid disturbing habitat.

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At a Glance

Best Time to Visit
Confirm lawful access and current conditions before choosing a travel date
Difficulty Level
No measured current approach or accessible water-entry route established
Fee
No current site-specific fee or free-access authorization established
Facilities
No verified toilets, changing facilities, drinking water, lifeguards or accessible water entry at the archived location.
Activities
Historical river or brook recreation reference; current bathing access not verified
Phone
607-652-7365 (DEC Region 4 regional information, not confirmed Litner Rock operator)

Safety & Access Notice

This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.

You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.

Camping Information

No overnight authorization at the archived location established; arrange accommodation separately.

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Safety & Access Notice

This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.

  • Do not swim where swimming is prohibited, unsafe, or not clearly allowed.
  • Follow posted signs, local regulations, closures, and private-property boundaries.
  • Assess conditions on site. Water flow, depth, temperature, and underwater hazards change quickly.
  • Never jump or dive without personally confirming depth and underwater obstacles.
  • Swim with a buddy and consider flotation for weak or non-swimmers.
  • Pack out all trash; respect wildlife and fragile environments.

You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.

J
Joshua Havens
Founder & Editor, Hidden Swimming Holes

Joshua Havens created Hidden Swimming Holes to make it easier for people to find — and safely visit — natural freshwater swimming destinations across the United States. He researches access conditions, water quality resources, and land management rules so you don't have to start from scratch. He holds a strong belief that good outdoor recreation information should be accurate, honest about its limitations, and freely available.

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