Kakiat Waterfalls and Sunset

Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 0:50 Hours
Estimated Distance: 1.7 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short scenic walk

Points of Interest: Nice seasonal waterfall, good view

It has been raining very hard all morning, thus dampening my prospects for a good hike. The rain stopped in the early afternoon, with the sun starting to peak out. I had considered going out on a hike then, but I checked the radar and saw a large but brief storm heading in at the tail end of the larger storm earlier in the day. This storm indeed came, with intense wind and heavy rain (many branches fell down in this storm.)

Once the storm ended, the sun came out, but it was less than an hour to sunset. I then decided to do a quick sunset hike close by and also visit the Kakiat waterfalls, which I figured would be impressive after all the rain. I parked at the Kakiat parking area, took the Old Mill Trail alongside the swollen Mahwah River, and then took the Kakiat Trail at the end of the Old Mill Trail to the foot of the mountain. I climbed briefly, and then veered off to the stream to view the waterfalls, which were filled with water and indeed quite impressive.

I then cut back to the Kakiat Trail, took it a bit longer, and then cut across to the south on a bushwack towards the lower Kakiat view. I experienced a beautiful sunset here at this view, with the puffy storm clouds still lingering in the distance. I then took the Old Mill Trail down the mountain, which took me back to the parking area.

Map of the Route
Harriman/Bear Mountain Southern Map

Sun Going Down over the Mahwah River

The Lower Cascasde of the Kakiat Waterfall

Upper Cascasde of the Kakiat Waterfall

Another View of the Upper Cascade

The Left Side of the Upper Cascade

Left and Right Sides of the Upper Cascade

Looking East over the Darkening Sky

The Sun Reflecting Off the Departing Storm Clouds in the Distance

Sunset Over RCC

The Sun Already Down Below the Horizon

Manhattan Skyline in the Distance

Zoomed in to the Manhattan Skyline at Dusk

The Mahwah River Just Prior to Twilight