The Open Space Institute has acquired Verkeerderkill Falls, the highest waterfall in the Shawangunk Mountains, permanently protecting one of the Hudson Valley’s most iconic natural landmarks.
The purchase, announced Oct. 24, includes the 187-foot waterfall and 134 acres of surrounding land. The acquisition ensures permanent public access to the site, located along the Verkeerderkill Falls Trail at Sam’s Point in Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
“There’s simply no place quite like Verkeerderkill Falls. It’s a true natural treasure,” said Erik Kulleseid, OSI president and CEO. “We will be taking this project to the next level with trail enhancements that make it safer for people to experience the wonder of the falls while safeguarding the rare landscapes surrounding the trail.”
The falls, accessible via a six-mile round-trip hike from the Sam’s Point Visitor Center, had been open to the public with permission from the previous owner. Under OSI’s ownership, access will be guaranteed indefinitely.
The acquisition also launches the next phase of OSI’s ongoing work at Minnewaska: a trail restoration and improvement project planned in coordination with New York State Parks, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Work is expected to begin later this year and conclude in fall 2026.
RunWild, a Hudson Valley nonprofit that supports conservation through community races and events, contributed $205,000 toward the land purchase and trail improvements.
“The trail-running community is incredibly passionate about the Shawangunk Mountains,” said Kenneth Posner, RunWild board chair. “We deeply appreciate OSI’s leadership in permanently protecting this special place.”
Officials from the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference also praised the acquisition, calling it a major win for land conservation and outdoor recreation in the region.
Over the past three decades, OSI has more than doubled the size of Minnewaska State Park Preserve—from 10,400 to more than 24,000 acres—by acquiring key parcels such as the Ellenville ice caves and expanding the Sam’s Point area. The organization has also spearheaded restoration of more than 15 miles of historic carriage roads and raised over $3 million to build the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, which opened in 2020.
Minnewaska, located about 90 minutes from Manhattan, is one of New York’s most visited state parks, attracting more than half a million visitors in 2024. It features waterfalls, sky lakes, hardwood forests, and scenic cliffs that draw hikers, cyclists, and climbers from across the state.
Once trail work is complete, OSI plans to transfer the Verkeerderkill Falls property to the state as an addition to Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
For more information or to support the project, visit openspaceinstitute.com.