Ever since Mianus River Gorge Preserve opened to the public, Havemeyer Falls has been a destination for hikers ambitious enough to put in the extra effort to visit it. Located approximately two miles from the trailhead, the beauty of Havemeyer Falls on a spring morning is rarely replicated in our region. However, the path leading from the old-growth forest trail down to the falls has never been as well developed as the other trails. Because this path is far from the trailhead, only about 30% of visitors ever reach this beautiful destination.
However, the explosion of trail use in 2020 during the pandemic dramatically increased visitation to the falls, resulting in rapid vegetation damage and soil erosion. Additionally, several injuries occurred on the trail that required EMS rescues. In 2023, we began fundraising to improve the Havemeyer Falls Trail for both the public and the landscape. A combination of grants and donations from Athletic Brewing Company’s Two For The Trails program, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, TD Charitable Foundation, and AE Family Foundation allowed us to hire Tahawus Trails LLC in early 2024. Tahawus Trails is a partnership of seven dedicated individuals who supervise crews of two to 14 seasonal staff. The partners have over 70 years of combined professional planning and trail-building experience. They are safety-focused professional craftspeople, innovators, artists, educators, and passionate land stewards. The Tahawus Trails crew out of Ulster County, led by Eddie Walsh, spent one week on site and beautifully constructed 35 stone steps and a viewing area for the falls that blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. This amazing trail opened to the public April 1st.
