Peace of Akatosh

High Falls Conservation Area in Philmont, Columbia County is one of those hidden Hudson Valley gems that feels like stepping into a storybook woodland. (I recommend listening to some ambient music while hiking. The song “Peace of Akatosh” fits very well when you get to the falls.)  This 47-acre preserve, protected by the Columbia Land Conservancy, winds a peaceful trail through hemlock and hardwood forest alongside the babbling Agawamuck Creek to reveal Columbia County’s tallest waterfall, a dramatic cascade plunging roughly 150 feet into a quiet pool below.

The trail itself is relatively easy and family-friendly, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, local history, and a sense of serenity that makes it feel worlds away from everyday life.