High Falls

High Falls combines the landscape along Rondout Creek with the history of the D&H Canal. Here, the Five Locks Walk follows the canal towpath; locks, museum exhibits, and aqueduct remains also give the town a distinct cultural and historical focus. For your vacation planning, this offers two different ways to spend your time: being outdoors on the trail and by the water, or learning about canal engineering and life along the canal.

Getting There and the Landscape Along Rondout Creek

Driving from Rosendale to High Falls on Route 213, you cross Rondout Creek before the road descends into High Falls through a cut in the terrain. The creek lies below the bridge. The crossing and descent therefore shape the drive from this direction. This route gives your choice of destination a connection to the landscape, without requiring you to plan a longer excursion: the road itself makes the creek and terrain part of your arrival.

The Five Locks Walk Towpath

The Five Locks Walk towpath is about half a mile long. It is free to use year-round during daylight hours. These details make the trail an easy-to-plan way to add a walk to your stay in High Falls: its approximate length and hours of use help you fit this activity into your day. If you want to include time outdoors in your vacation, the towpath offers a specific starting point, while the canal’s history provides a different focus.

Locks and Canal History

Locks 16 to 20 in High Falls were built in 1850. In 1999, they were uncovered and restored as far as possible. The numbers and the two dates provide a precise timeline: the locks date from 1850; their uncovering and restoration took place in 1999. This connects local canal history to specific structures and their later treatment, without conflating different periods.

The D&H Canal Museum in High Falls houses a working lock model, a recreation of the interior of a canal boat cabin, and several dioramas. These depict life along the canal and in the community from 1825 to 1898. The exhibits offer different perspectives: the model represents lock engineering, the recreated cabin shows the interior of a canal boat, and the dioramas depict life along the canal and in the community. For families, these can provide specific conversation starters: What can you learn about a lock from the model, what does the cabin convey, and what scenes do the dioramas show? In this way, the subject comes to life through a variety of objects and displays.

More Traces of the Past and Choosing Where to Stay

The remains of the High Falls Aqueduct are near the D&H Canal Historical Society and Museum in High Falls. The High Falls Historic District is also located in the associated town of Marbletown; it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1998. These sites add aqueduct remains and a historic district to the story of the canal. Be sure to keep the respective locations and their connections to High Falls distinct.

If you choose High Falls as a destination for its towpath, locks, or canal history, you can search specifically for a vacation rental or vacation home in this area. If you’d like to consider other places, you can also find Kerhonkson, Boiceville, Shandaken, Highland, Oliverea, Clintondale, New Paltz, and Kingston here.

For the broader travel overview: Ulster.