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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

High Falls (Philmont)

Columbia County, New York — about 150 ft, taller than most.

The tallest waterfall in Columbia County, historically cited around 150 feet, on Agawamuck Creek in the High Falls Conservation Area near Philmont; modern estimates of the natural drop are closer to 70-100 feet beneath an 1845 dam. About a mile of trail through hemlock ravine reaches an overlook.

Height
150 ft
Type
Tiered
Access
Short Hike
Trail
1 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
Not documented
Best season
spring
Land manager
Columbia Land Conservancy
Watercourse
Agawamuck Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Columbia Land Conservancy for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

High Falls (Philmont) drops about 150 feet. That makes it the 123rd-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 83% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The High Falls Trail reaches it about 1 miles (out-and-back), rated easy. The nearest town is Philmont. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Columbia Land Conservancy for closures and current conditions.

spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More New York waterfalls

Sources

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