Cliff Jumping at Fawn's Leap in Haines Falls, New York

About this spot

Fawn's Leap is a well-documented, roughly 24-foot waterfall and swimming hole on Kaaterskill Creek beside Route 23A in Kaaterskill Clove, between Palenville and Haines Falls in the Town of Hunter. Roadside parking is limited and fills quickly on summer weekends. The pool below draws jumpers, but the DEC strongly discourages the practice and enforces rules adopted after repeated injuries and drownings: no glass, alcohol, or fires, no approaching within 6 feet of most cliff edges, and no entering the water within 150 feet of the top of the falls. Slippery rock, sudden depth changes, and fast-rising water after rain are the real hazards, and multiple deaths have occurred here, several linked to people posing near the edge for photos. Treat it as a scenic swimming hole, not a sanctioned jump site.

Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.

Fawn's Leap

About this spot

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