Plotter Kill Preserve

Plotter Kill Preserve is a nature preserve in Rotterdam with multiple waterfalls and a river system flowing through a forested gorge. The larger cascades form rocky pools where water drops sharply, while the stream winds through narrow passages cut into bedrock.

The gorge formed through erosion from meltwater at the end of the ice age roughly 10,000 years ago. This water carved deeply into the rock and shaped the waterfalls and narrow passages visible today.

The name comes from Dutch roots, with 'platte' meaning flat and 'kill' referring to a stream in early colonial New York. You can still sense this linguistic heritage in how locals talk about the waterways in the region.

The preserve can be accessed from several parking areas, with the Mariaville Road entrance offering the most direct route to the waterfalls. Trails can be wet and slippery depending on the season, so sturdy footwear or hiking boots are necessary.

The preserve exposes natural rock layers from the Mohawkian age of the Ordovician period, dating back roughly 450 million years. These ancient layers are visible today where water has worn away the overlying stone.