Tompkins Falls
New York • 20 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Drive Up
About Tompkins Falls
Tompkins Falls is a roadside waterfall of about 20 feet in three drops on Barkaboom Stream, southwest of the hamlet of Arena in Delaware County. It sits on state land in the Delaware Wild Forest, directly beside Barkaboom Road about two miles from the Pepacton Reservoir. Old stonework above the falls marks a former mill site.
The Setting
Tompkins Falls sits at 1,490 feet within Delaware Wild Forest, in the foothills of New York. The falls drop 20 feet.
Height: 20 feet
Trail & Hike Details
The Approach
No hiking required. Tompkins Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.
Trail Description
No formal trail. The falls can be seen from Barkaboom Road, and a few informal user paths lead from near the guardrail down to the stream between the two largest drops.
What to Expect
The falls drop a gentle 20 feet. Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Tompkins Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed on Delaware Wild Forest state land; keep them under control near the road.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Tompkins Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring and early summer are ideal times to visit, as the waterfall is typically at its fullest due to snowmelt and rainfall.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
There is no shoulder along Barkaboom Road; watch for traffic. The user-made paths to the stream are steep and the rocks are slippery.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Mill Brook, 2.8 miles away, not on Tompkins Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
96 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
Higher than usual for this time of year
Based on 89 years of record
3.70 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
The water is flowing higher than usual for this time of year.
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge MILL BROOK NEAR DUNRAVEN NY (4 km away).
Today
Moderate
96 cfs
8/10Tomorrow
Moderate
90 cfs
8/10Tue
Moderate
90 cfs
9/10Wed
Moderate
90 cfs
9/10Thu
Moderate
103 cfs
9/10Fri
Moderate
94 cfs
9/10Sat
Moderate
109 cfs
9/10Best window: Tue — moderate flow, sunny (trip score 9/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid March to late May, peaking in April.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Margaretville hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Tompkins Falls Frozen?
Updated about 17 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded
Tompkins Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 34°F to 31°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 106 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in New York.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
1-meter lidar shows the creek losing roughly 133 feet through Tompkins Falls over a long run of ledges. Only part of that is the waterfall, which is listed at 20 feet; the rest is the canyon carrying on downstream. Elevation at the pin is about 1,523 feet.
The whole reach is steep: about 79 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the falls and another 118 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face north and stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 1,523 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 133 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- North
- Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading north).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
Follow Barkaboom Road southwest of Arena toward the Pepacton Reservoir; the falls are directly beside the road. Park at the curve just uphill from the falls.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Room for a few cars at a pull-off on the curve just uphill from the falls, on the same side of the road as the waterfall.
Elevation
1,490 feet above sea level
Coordinates
42.075366° N, -74.764880° W
Land Management
Managed by SDC
Visitor Tips & Gear
Barkaboom Road has no shoulder, so stay off the pavement when viewing. Choose the easiest-looking path if you go down to the stream.
Where to Stay
Postcard Cabins Western Catskills, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy
Eastwind Hotel Oliverea Valley
The Yarra
Catskill Cabin Hummingbird Suite 2
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
The Pepacton Reservoir and the village of Margaretville, about 12 miles northeast.
Wildlife
The area is home to various wildlife, including deer, birds, and small mammals. Visitors may also encounter insects such as mosquitoes and ticks.
Cities near Tompkins Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
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