About this spot
Peekamoose Blue Hole is a deep, glacially clear pool on Rondout Creek in the Catskills' Sundown Wild Forest, one of the Hudson Valley's most iconic swimming holes. Park at the signed Peekamoose Mountain trailhead lot on Route 42 and walk roughly half a mile down a well-worn path to the water; low rock ledges along the banks are used for jumping into the deeper sections, though depth shifts with rockfall and season. Since 2021 the DEC has required a $10 per-vehicle day-use permit through Reserve America every day from May 15 through September 15 — no permit, no parking. The creek stays cold year-round and current picks up fast after rain, so check flow and scout depth before jumping; never dive headfirst into unfamiliar water.
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.