Updated July 2026
Plotter Kill Upper Falls
The roughly 60-foot Upper Falls is the tallest of three waterfalls in the 632-acre Plotter Kill Preserve in Rotterdam, where the Plotter Kill drops about 900 feet over 3.5 miles to the Mohawk River. The rim-trail loop traverses steep ravine terrain.
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 Schenectady County for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plotter Kill Upper Falls drops about 60 feet. That makes it the 384th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 48% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The North Rim and South Rim Red Trail Loop reaches it about 5.7 miles (loop) with roughly 853 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Rotterdam. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Schenectady County 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
- Awosting Falls · 60 ft
- Bastion Falls · 70 ft
- Beaver Meadow Falls · 60 ft
- Buttermilk Falls (Ithaca) · 165 ft
- Buttermilk Falls (Long Lake) · 20 ft
- Buttermilk Falls · 165 ft
- Carpenter Falls · 90 ft
- Chittenango Falls · 167 ft
Sources
Get trip conditions by email
Lake grades, water temperature, and seasonal conditions as the data updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.