Artist Falls (Cairo)

Artist Falls emerges under a covered bridge with lots of greenery surrounding it, in summer.

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Location / Directions / Maps

Location: In the hamlet of Round Top, town of Cairo; Greene County; Catskill Region; New York

Maps: Google Map; Topographic; Interactive map.

GPS Coordinates:

Artist Falls: N 42.24120 / W 74.03313
Venus’ Bath: N 42.23756 / W 74.03867
Parking: N 42.24154 / W 74.03232

Directions: From CR-31 (Hearts Content Rd), turn down Winter Clove Rd. You will hit an intersection where turning left keeps you on Winter Clove Rd. Make that left, then right after make a right at the Crystal Brook Resort to continue on Winter Clove Rd. You will pass some resort buildings. Look for a swimming pool on your left. Park in the lot across Winter Clove Rd from that swimming pool. Or use Google Maps.

Parking: The lot across from the pool is owned by the resort and may be closed to access during busy events. If full, another option would be further down the road, around the bend and on the far side of the building on the left.

Artist Falls and a covered bridge in autumn

Weather

CAIRO WEATHER

Information / Accessibility / Accommodations

Number of falls: 1 waterfall of significant size. Further upstream is a small drop.

Size/Types: Artist Falls is a 15 ft high chute that ends with a plunge into a small pool. Venus’ Bath has a 3 ft high drop.

Best time to visit: Spring through fall.

Flow: Moderate.

Waterway: Kiskatom Brook, which begins just south of here near Stoppel Point. After the falls, it continues north for about 1.25 miles and then turns around and heads southeast for about 4.5 miles until it joins with Vly Creek just before emptying into Kaaterskill Creek just east of Palenville. Kaaterskill Creek winds around, heading eastward towards the Hudson River.

Time: 15 minutes to see Artist Falls. Another 30 minutes to hike upstream to Venus’ Bath.

Seasons/Hours: All day, Year-round.

Admission: Free.

Handicap Accessibility: None.

Pets: No rules are posted, but pets need to be on a leash in public.

Accommodations: While the parking area is at a resort, these facilities are private. There are no restrooms or any accommodations here, other than trails.

Artist Falls runs under a covered foot bridge in autumn

Artist Falls dropping into the brook below

Description

The Kiskatom Brook Valley, from North Mountain, through Winter Clove, extending beyond Round Top is packed with hiking trails and classic resorts. Artist Falls is a small, but uniquely beautiful 15 ft tall waterfall under a covered wooden footbridge in Winter Clove. While it sits upon land owned by the Winter Clove Inn, it is accessible to the public and is well worth the quick visit. For visitors of the 180+ year old inn, it’s a wonderful addition to the old farm home’s many amenities.

artist falls and a log in the foreground

A third of a mile upstream, is Venus’ Bath, which consists of small rapids and a 2-3 ft drop depending on how deep the pool (or bath) is at the time.

History

Winter Clove got its name from early surveyors who happened to map the glen in early spring, when the surrounding snow and ice had melted, but the shadowy cool gorge was still covered in white.

Elihu Slater and his wife Sally Beach Slater moved from Connecticut to this area as pioneers in the late 1700s. They built a home and cleared the land for a farm. After serving in the War of 1812, Elihu returned to farming and even constructed a sawmill near the falls. By 1838 the estate was well established and to take advantage of the booming tourism industry in the region, the Slaters opened up their home to summer guests. With tourism growing, the Slaters upgraded the home, now known as Winter Clove, adding additional stories and rooms.

Elihu’s daughter Mary and her husband, Henry Whitcomb, inherited the estate and continued to operate and improve it as a guest house. It has stayed in the family for almost 200 years.

The covered footbridge over the falls was constructed in 1976, replacing the original log bridge from the the inn’s early days.

Vintage Postcard showing the Winter Clove Inn surrounded by grass and trees

Artists' Falls c. 1890 vintage post card

Vintage stereoscope Winter Clover House 1870s

A vintage photo showing Winter Clove House in 1910

Vintage Postcard showing the Winter Clove Inn surrounded by grass and trees

Hiking / Walking Trails

Difficulty: Easy.

Markings: Some signs.

Distance: A few hundred feet from the closest parking area to Artist Falls. Heading upstream to Venus’ Bath and back is just under a mile.

Description: From the parking area near the pool, follow the trail into the small wooded area and towards the brook. You will come across a wooden footbridge. Artist Falls is below the bridge. You can check out the falls from below from this side.
To get to Venus’ Bath, cross the bridge and follow the trail upstream. Venus’ Bath is a small drop and pool about 2/5 of a mile further. Turn around and head back.

Map: Interactive.