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    John Boyd Thacher State Park

    4.6 (59 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

    John Boyd Thacher State Park Photos

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    Melinda R.

    Amazing views and lots of land to explore. My husband and I visited the Visitor Center, along with looking over the ridge to see the city of Albany. Visitor Center was nice and included a built in cave downstairs, slides down the hill to the side of the building and picnic tables/places to sit and enjoy the scenery.

    Aarti R.

    Thatcher Park is absolutely stunning. The scenery and the hiking trails are top-notch, especially in October as the leaves are beautiful and colorful. Unfortunately I didn't find this park until too late in the year so I'll be back for some hikes next year.

    Tracey K.

    I love this park! I've been coming to this park since I was a kid. I went to a party here recently and it brought back some great memories. I haven't been here in a while. The party was in the same spot we used to go. They now actually have a mini zip line that you can freely use! A pavilion was reserved and it had plenty of picnic tables. It was a nice day with a very nice view. This is a great spot that's not too far that I should take more advantage of for sure! They have creeks and trails, picnic tables, fields and pavilions! $6 for all day parking.

    Christie B.

    Great place for a hike, picnic and playing. Lots of scenery and trails. We got lost on our hike but that wasn't because the trails were not marked, it was because of me. lol The park is very nice and I highly recommend visiting there.

    Victor H.

    Came here to do sports climbing with friends. The entrance was very adventurous because it had a natural crevice that we all had fit and climb down with our equipment on top of our head to fit into the crevice and in order to go to the climbing area. If you cannot fit then you would miss this amazing adventure. We had to climb back up with all our equipment at the end of the day when we were all tired from all the hiking and climbing that we did throughout the day. We had no option because it is the only point of entrance and exit thru the area The sport climbing section was a bit sketchy as you had to stand by the edge to get ready, belay, prepare, climb, and other. One misstep and it could lead to your demise or getting seriously injured The climbing was a bit sketchy as there are lots of rocks coming off the wall as you climb. Wearing helmets for climbers and belayers are recommended. The routes are good and it was my first time sport climbing outdoors. It was a different feeling and experience Because I was doing the real thing and there was no padding on the ground, and both climber and belayer were close to the edge, it gave me more sense of fear and to approach things more secure because if you were to fall you could fall into the abyss. It was a trully life-learning experience The view was breathtaking. You are close to the top and you get to have a nice view to greens, the park, and the cliff One last thing, do NOT forget to pay for parking and it costs $6 per car

    Lori R.

    Such a great park! My first time to Thacher State Park. There are several different trails of varying lengths and views (some over overlook Mountain View's while others offer rocky waterfall views). It was absolutely beautiful. We did the Indian Ladder Trail and got such incredible views along the way (took about 30 min each way while stopping for photos). Parking is $6 from May 1 through I think October 31, and they take credit card payment. The visitor center is gorgeous and clean. A must visit if you're in the capitol region!

    Paint Mine falls
    Marysa N.

    This is such a beautiful park to visit and explore. There is a lot of parking a lovely visitors center. The Indian Ladder Trail is a great highlight of the park as well as the overlooks, but there are also some other great trails and waterfalls to see. Plenty of room for walking, frisbee, relaxing, using the playground, etc.

    Eric D.

    This park is absolutely amazing with some truly breathtaking views! The visitor center is very cool with many exhibits about the local geology of the park and it's past. The Indian ladder trail was a ton of fun with some really excellent rock formations and was a lot of fun to walk through. There are steps down and up from the trail for those who may have difficulty with them. The park is loaded with hiking trails and with more time I would have loved to hike them all! Parking is six dollars in the southern part of the park and free in the north. A beautiful park and one I can't wait to visit again!

    Thacher State Park | Indian Ladder Falls
    Katie A.

    What a gem we have with Thacher Park being in our collective Capital Region backyard! Seriously, Thacher is the blood diamond of Capital Region parks, and I should know because I've been exploring its trails, nooks, and crannies since I was a little tot! Did you know that the Helderberg Escarpment at Thacher Park is considered the key to North American geology? It's one of the richest fossil-bearing formations in the world! Really fascinating history if you want to get into it, but basically just know we're currently living our best Capital Region lives at the bottom of Lake Albany, a prehistoric lake that drained through the Hudson River 10,500 years ago. With miles of trails to explore, a brand new, impressive, state of the art visitor's center hosting geological and historical exhibits showcasing the Helderberg Escarpment and its importance on the region, countless picnic tables for snacks with a view, and loads of pavillions available by rental for parties or family reunions, this NYS Park is just 15 miles southwest of Albany, feels worlds away, and on a clear day, you can see the Empire State Plaza, SUNY Albany, and even the front range of the Berkshire Moutnains in Massachusetts. Side note: I'm not one to daydream about getting married or my potential wedding day; however, if it ever comes to pass, the Glen Doone picnic shelter/pavilion has my name all over it! ;-) Thacher Park is well known for its famous Indian Ladder Trail, an almost jaw-dropping trail with outstanding views, impressive rock formations, and seasonal waterfalls on relatively flat and highly scenic ground is a pretty epic walk through nature for being in Albany County, but it's also so much more than than. One of my favorite trails at Thacher is the Escarpment Trail, a 4.5 mile beautifully maintained path that essentially skirts the edge of the Helderberg Escarpment the entire length of the park. IMO, this trail is by far the best way to explore every inch of the escarpment from border to border, take in the stunning views, and get your steps in while doing so! (Just keep in mind a RT walk is easily an 8-9 mile endeavor, so don't skimp on the water or solid hiking shoes!) I love Thacher Park in every season, and therefore make it up there all year long. Most recently, I paid a visit on that 70-degree January day we had - man, that was a first! I don't think I've ever seen a waterfall in January, but then again I don't go chasing them... PRO TIP: Stop for a beer/cider/beverage at Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery after your adventure, just below in the town of Altamont! It's an absolute must.

    Andres R.

    If you want to have a panoramic view of Albany while enjoying an easy hike, go to the Outlook at this state park. There's a geological point pf interest called the Helderberg escarpment, at almost 1,200 feet of elevation, with stratified limestone ridges and majestic views of the Albany skyline which you can see from the outlook, and I'm told that there's a trailhead there that leads down to a waterfall. We followed a trail along the ridge an enjoyed the views and the beautiful sunny day one day before the official start of the fall, and it would be a great location later in the fall to enjoy the fall leaf colors.

    Kara M.

    This is a nice park to come to. When I was a kid, there was a great swimming pool on premise, but that unfortunately closed down due to state budget woes. I know I haven't utilized everything that Thacher Park offers, but my favorite thing to do here is a small hike on the Indian Ladder Trail. I recommend a good pair of sneakers for this short hike. For the less adventurous, the overlooks are also beautiful and serene. If you look far enough off in the distance you can see the Empire State Plaza in Albany. I hadn't been back here since 2014 and I was surprised to see the new amenities on premise. There is a beautiful new $3.8 million visitor center. This is such a nice building and I love the Adirondack theming. There are some nice seating areas indoors by the fireplace or outdoors on the covered patio. If you have kids with you, consider visiting the Emma Treadwell Nature Center, it's about a 5-10 minute drive from here. There are also covered picnic areas available for rent. I'd budget anywhere from 1-3 hours to spend here. Great spot to take out of town visitors, especially ones that appreciate nature.

    Becky K.

    The park has great mountain biking trails as well as the hiking/walking trails. We parked and started in the Paint Mine parking lot. There are lots of trails you can connect to. Definitely have a map on your phone with you because some of the trail markings were confusing to follow and we had to stop and look at the map a few times. FYI- you do have to pay for parking now. The new visitor center is really really nice. There's nice chairs out on the deck to lounge in while you take in the view. Good bathrooms here and a little visitor store. It also looked like there's some meeting rooms in here.

    Autumn V.

    Favorite hiking spot! Staff is amazing, restrooms are always spotless! Maintenance does a great job keeping up the trails and the park clean. Couldn't recommend this place enough!!

    Inside Thacher Park's new nature center

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    3 years ago

    Beautiful NY State Park overlooking the Hudson River Valley. Fall is just around the corner. Enjoy a Blessed weekend!

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    3 years ago

    So, so beautiful, the Indian ladder hike is a must do if you are in the area! Not to challenging and beautiful views

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    4 years ago

    Wonderful local park with great hikes and services. Loved the cliff hikes with waterfalls. North end hikes were great also.

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    Ask the Community - John Boyd Thacher State Park

    Review Highlights - John Boyd Thacher State Park

    . Thacher Park is also very family friendly; the Indian Ladder Trail isn't too challenging for the wee ones

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    Kaaterskill Falls - March 2026

    Kaaterskill Falls

    4.6(166 reviews)
    33.2 mi

    The falls are truly incredible…read more The trail down to the bottom of the falls, is a bit tricky. But so incredibly worth it. I would suggest not to believe the sign saying 189 steps.... it is definitely more! Take drinking water because you'll need that for sure. We went back in August and the heat was definitely there. The parking lot was pretty packed but throughout the trails people were pretty evenly spaced out. Not so much at the base of the falls themselves but there was still plenty of room to move around freely.

    One of the tallest waterfall in NY, similar height to Taughannock Falls. Physical requirement is…read moredifferent tho, Kaaterskill Falls has about 500foot of elevation change and a lot of slippery stone steps at the end, if you come here when the weather is still cold. Parking: most people park at the Laurel-House Road parking area, because it is the closest. Or you can park at Mountain Top Historical Society, the old train station, which an extra mile. Starting from the old railroad station is nice, you can still see some old tracks on the ground. Walk to the overlook is fairly easy, once you get to the start point of Lower falls junction, it is where you need to be prepared. I recommend hiking shoe, especially in colder months where the ground is wet and iced. When you reach to the stone steps, they can get slippery. I am surprised no one fell in late March. Half of the steps were cover in ice and people were wearing regular sneakers. Once you reach the base of the two tier falls, the view is tremendous. If water levels are high, you can feel the energy of the water. There is a lot of spray from the falls when you get close. There is short trail to the middle tier pool. It was iced up during winter, spikes will definitely be useful. The end was amazing too. So close to the lead of the waterfall. You can keep going and follow Escarpment trail and follow the edge of the valley. There is monument for fireman Frank Layman who died during firefighting in 1900, at his monument, you can see route 23A bend around mountain. And if you keep going, there are a couple viewpoint to overlook the valley. Nice break points to enjoy the view and rest your legs.

    Photos
    Kaaterskill Falls - View Of Stream

    View Of Stream

    Kaaterskill Falls
    Kaaterskill Falls

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    John Boyd Thacher State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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