Peekamoose Blue Hole

Went here with 4 friends and my GF and 3 of us got a pretty bad case of ring worm.. one of which, my buddy casey has not healed yet. Its been almost a year. Combine that with my GF breaking her big toe and the one next to it and you have a recipe for disaster. we had to carry her up the rock face and through about a quarter mile of woods. Also, absolutely LOADED with ticks. weird ones too, one of the was like black with red and orange dots. the one friend who didnt get ring worm found a tick on him. Dont know if he got lyme but yeah. I dont think we will be swimming in that river anymore. The locals didnt really want to help you either. Which i can understand, with the amount of trash the tourists bring. Idk if its a traditional thing but it seems like the Asian people didnt even use the trash bins they just left their glad bags of trash in the woods. So yeah, we have been going to Pennsylvania ever since. Oh! and apparently the ring worm thing is fairly common for that area? i guess a lot of wild animals will die in the mountains and end up near the water trying to drink in panic and than they just kinda decompose into the water. Not much you can do about that except avoid it i suppose.

This used to be good, but it's overcrowded and trashed. I found diapers, food, and charcoal in the stream.

I moved upstate 3 years ago; I visited the Blue Hole that first year and I was disgusted by how many disrespectful people were trashing it. BBQs, screaming babies, litter everywhere, loud radios and no respect when I tried to engage in polite conversation to try and get them to keep things orderly. I have never been back and I am happy to work with the DEC on their new proposal for PERMITS to keep this place from becoming even worse. Get ready, no one is trashing mother nature in 2018!!!

I am from the city, middle class, have my own apartment. Me and my girlfriend (who is from upstate (hrv)) had our little rivalry thing going on for a bit. Its dumb. Drop it. Just enjoy it for what it is. Upstate heads: dont let other people drive your expirences, drive your own. If someone isnt from your area, forgetabout it. Just be grateful that someone decided to go out of there way to bring money to your economic recession. City heads: stop being dicks. Its not the city. They have different rules upstate. Right on red, whats all that about? Beaides the point, its a park meant to be enjoyed by all, so share it.

A big thanks to those who volunteered for a clean up. I’ve been wanting to visit but heard negative things .... Gonna try it this summer!

Hi, My name is James Sullivan. I am from a nonprofit organization. We work with other nonprofits and do huge clean ups at Peekamoose Blue Hole. In August of 2017 30 volunteers came together and cleaned entire Blue Hole.

What people don't realize is that this river goes directly to the reservoir that feeds New York City their drinking water. If you want trash in your water, keep on trashing the blue hole! I am from the area and haven't been there in years because of the crowds/garbage. I don't mind sharing our local secrets as long as people RESPECT the place. It kills me to see the disrespect that has taken place to this beautiful, pristine site.

Much negative hype in below reviews. Sounds like Blue Hole is so popular no one wants to go! Been there many times and no broken bottles, diapers. The Park Rangers (not cops) are polite and informative. There to keep place pristine(ish) and preserve calm. Waterfall up the road is a small stunner. .

Liberalism at its finest. Let everybody in and take care of them. The blue hole will soon be no different than corona Queens or Brentwood LI.

why everybody blame the city? the city is not what used to be 10 to 20 years ago. i believe is your own people that live there that doesn't have manners. I went there few weeks ago, i started talking to some people with loud music and another group smoking there enjoy their time. the funny thing those people that i asked them where they coming from because i'm from the city. they were not from the city. some were from different parts of upstate. some from Westchester county and some from Orange county. please don't accuse people if you don't know. do like i do introduce yourself and ask where are they coming from? and different question. stop blame the city people.

Crawling with cops. Not a place for families. Garbage, broken glass,and trash everywhere. Gang members galore.

Place has been ruined by internet fame from articles like this.

Ghetto scum ruining a pristine spot with sorry diapers, broken glass, salsa music, and screaming kids. I had to smash someone's radio last month when they acted tough littering all over the place. There's a reason Patterson is a dump. Keep your trash down there.

Let's get one thing straight....the animals ruining this spot are section 8 garbage (so dont make me laugh with the "taxes" comments) from NYC. The locals haven't abused it for years and noone is leaving Long Island where there is the ocean, driving 2+ hours to swim a creek. These are classless, uneducated simpletons who leave their cockroach infested buildings and bring their uncivilized disgusting selves and their ghetto ways with them, stupidly ruining the place not just for others, but for themselves as well,just as they did the neighborhoods they live in. Very,very sad indeed, but what can you expect from people who don't realize behaving like that is wrong? Or just don't care? Let them swim in their own nasty filth, the locals know dozens of other spots they'll never find, and you can bet after this they'll never pubicize another place in the Catskills again, lest the same thing happen. Too bad it had to come at this place's expense.

try being a solution to the problem, take a trash bag with you, pick up some crap/save the environment and enjoy your day.

Sh*tty bottom feeding city folks coming up and trashing the place all the time. Disrespectful, selfish, pieces of sh*t. They all ruined a spot that's been enjoyed for years (previous to the last few).

Unfortunately for you local angels, the "city trash" that visits your racist park, pays city and state taxes. Therefore they can visit the city and upstate, you on the other hand only pay state taxes. In conclusion you have no right to visit Central Park, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, MSG, etc. Know your place!

Horrible!!! Nothing but disgusting slobs...garbage, human feces, glass and even a bag full of tampons!!!!! It was beautiful!!! Now it is trashed by trash that come here from the city!!!! And our local government does nothing!!!! Moving out of NY soon!!!!

This place sucks dick there is way to much garbage and it's so cold

Is sad to see garbage! Please take a bag and clean it your self. i picked up some bottles and trash. Beautiful place btw

Im from the city and all I have to say about you locals is Tough break nigga

Such a Awe Inspiring Beautiful place, I will return & try once again to enjoy it!!! Unfortunately it is being polluted by disrespectful loud sloppy obnoxious groups/individuals & I don't think these reviews will make a difference because the above referenced most likely don't give a ---- what others think. More Forest Rangers might help!!

I was at Blue Hole back in 2013, and then I visited it for the second time today (2017). What a disaster. Now I can rank on city people because I am a bona fide city person myself. I hope the local residents can have this place cordoned off for themselves because I am damned embarrassed at what my fellow city dwellers have turned this once lovely place into. When I was there today, it was impossible to find parking (we had to march for 20 minutes to our parking area). There were a lot of police, the smell of weed was in the air, and the people were rude, nasty, and crazy. It was two different worlds for me. I was afraid to walk away from my nap sack because I thought it'd get stolen. I hope the locals make it a resident only area, where you can bring maybe one or two guests max. It was such a major disappointment from what it was before I cannot even begin to explain.

I am from the area, but I haven't been up there in a few years, and I can't remember it being dirty or trashed so it's sad to read these reviews. It was actually quite clean and beautiful 4 years ago. Perhaps this place could use some signs posted for carry in/carry out policy. Another thing that might help people feel more accountable and more appreciative of the space is to have a sign in book with room for comments. Not for the purpose of hunting people down that leave it messy, but when you write your name down you may feel more accountable for yourself being there and personally when I read comments from trail logs from people that really enjoyed the beautiful area I feel more appreciative and respectful of the area... but maybe that's just me?

It's very sad how some people talk about this place, like they own the place, like it's their property, and they only blame the city people. I live in the city and I don't liter. Many people come from upstate, long Island and different places. They liter because I have seen them. the upstate people don't want the city people to go anywhere upstate but yet, you guys can come to the city get drunk, act stupid and create traffic. Some work in the city because they don't have good paying jobs upstate. It's ok for you guys to enjoy Yankees games, come to our parks and visit to our museum, come to our city and you don't hear us whining about how you ruin our city. Remember your precious swimming hole is open only few months in the summer. My beautiful city is open year around. If we have to put up with upstate residents visiting our city all year long them don't start crying about having a few city residents visit your swimming hole. You guys come to the city looking at us like you guys are the best shit. I pay city and state tax, that means that I can go anywhere I choose to go in NY State and The United States. We city residents pay way more taxes than all of you upstate residents. Before you talk about the city people educate yourselves. Thanks!

Just went with my boyfriend and absolutley LOVED it!! I am not from upstate and was im awe. This place is extremely beautiful and so much fun with amazing energy and awesome people coming together really just to have a good time. The only trash left when I was there, was A flip flop ( lol) and a shirt here and there( honestly dont know how people can forget those things). Anyway I loved it so mich and want to go back soon... PSA, brace yourself, its colddd

Close it down!!!!! As soon as the city people found it, it has been RUINED!!!! Unsafe, Disrespectful for you and the environment, condoms, glass human shit!!!! Save the environment and shut it down!!!!!!! They are PIGS that do not know the meaning of respect!!!

I am a city person and I would never litter in the city or this beautiful place. I am sad to read these review. I still want to see/experience it. I have read nothing good here. somebody must have positive feed back.

I am a city person and I would never litter in the city or this beautiful place. I am sad to read these review. I still want to see/experience it. I have read nothing good here. somebody must have positive feed back.

I went one time and there was a huge family party going on. It was almost like this huge family didn't want to lay out money for a party hall. Instead they just trashed this natural swim hole with their crap food and garbage. I went back the next day to help clean up since the assholes didn't.

Ruined by city people coming up

This is an incredible location, I was in awe when I first discovered this place. Unfortunately it's has turned from a blue hole to a "piss-hole" too many people disrespecting the environment, garbage all over, music blasting, people too loud, it's just terrible. It looked and felt as if I was in a third world country. NYS, please put some restrictions on this location!

I love this location but unfortunately the internet has destroyed a beautiful place. Its a terrible shame when you go to a place of beauty that is overcrowded and people have no respect for their surroundings. We found dirty diapers, used condoms and litter everywhere. People were rude and felt the world revolves around them and no respect for anyone else. My husband and I picked up what we could with the trash. was one of my favorite places to hang but the age of the internet has destroyed it. Not everyone in the world needs to know how to get to every swimming hole.

Blogs like this advertising these sites are helping to destroy our national treasures. The people who come here after reading the blogs are pigs.

People are absolute pigs here. They leave trash everywhere, they are obnoxious, it's like tattoo heaven. Trash is everywhere, including the people. Sorry, but it is true.

Back in the 90's most beautiful spot around maybe a handful of ppl now garbage and over crowded nasty place the water was crystal clear back then now a dingy green color the beauty was taken away when the tvan networks found it and started telling ppl it was the place to be lots more ppl no more beauty it's really sad my children don't get to enjoy the beauty I did

Serious new regulations in place due to the abuse last year. Very limited parking, no fires, no music, no glass, tow away zone.

to many gays

Destroyed. Cops, glass, blasting music, diapers, hundreds of people. Pathetic.

OUT OF TOWNERS/LOWLIFES HAVE LITTERED & DESTROYED THESE BEAUTIFUL PLACES! PIGS!STAY HOME IF YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR NATURE!!!!

This place has been ruined by too many people over running it and leaving trash all over. Stop publishing these locations!

Hola buenas Visite este lugar increíble este verano con mis amigos y termine recibiendo una multa, si usted desea ir a verlo hagalo temprano, así que usted puede encontrar Una plaza de aparcamiento. Mucha gente aparca su vehículo en el medio de la carretera por lo que es difícil para los demás y las ambulancias para entrar. no es un lugar seguro un niño perdió la vida este año . De nuevo en usted planea ir a ser respetuoso con la naturaleza limpiar su basura y no se estacione en cualquier lugar porque puede terminar pagando $ 800 para un día de "diversión" . La policía está planeando aplicar leyes mas fuertes el próximo año donde incluso las gruas se llevaran los vehiculos en el medio de la carretera. Tambien planean establecer una distancia entre el agua y donde va a colocar la barbacoa . Tengan cuidado y diviertanse

Guys I visited this awesome place this summer with my friends and ended up getting a ticket, if you wish to go check it out do it early so that you can find parking people park their cars in the middle of the road making it hard for others and ambulances to go in. It is not a safe spot a kid lost his life this year there. Again in you plan to go be respectful with nature clean up after yourselves and do not park anywere because you can end up paying $800 for a "fun" day. Police is planning on re-enforcing laws next year towing cars and setting a distance between water and where you plan to place a barbecue grill. Heads up, and have fun

P.S.A. HEADS UP! This week I was visiting the Town of Denning N.Y to answer a parking violation that I received while enjoying a day at Blue Hole with the family. We have been visiting for years and we love and cherish our wild forest. We could NOT find a parking because of over crowding! This ticket was an opportunity to address the court with some concerns about our beloved area. This summer Blue hole had a different face, GARBAGE! My wife and I make it a habit to always travel with shopping bags to collect garbage left behind or rain washed down stream but this summer at Blue hole we needed CONTRACTOR BAGS!..REALLY!. As I looked out to the massive crowd congregating at our beautiful swimming hole I couldn't help but noticing the unfamiliar faces. They all seemed from out of town....way out of town. N.Y.C if I had to guess.I'm being nice, they were from the city. You may ask how would I know that?..We'll I was a city resident for 20yrs before relocating to the Hudson Vally 17 yrs ago and I haven't left. As a Hispanic man I was embarrassed to see the Hispanic community from the city disrespecting our area. I can go on and explain the violations but the comments on this page say it all. While at Blue Hole I took that moment to start addressing the out of towners on what is expected of them when it came to respecting our space. I went around from group to group letting them know the proper etiquette while visiting this area. Some were a bit confused as to why I was addressing them and some even said they did not speak english. Guess what, I SPEAK SPANISH!.. The look on their faces was priceless!. I also had to eject some swimmers out of the water because they thought it was smart to jump from rock to rock with a bottle of beer in hand. They would look at me and pause for a moment but they could not argue with logic, they complied. A few times I encountered some Park Rangers and they were all concerned. Now for the good news....I was told by the Judge, whom I have much respect for that visitors coming to the area of Blue Hole will have to adhere to the parking rules THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN PLACE!.. Here's the twist, instead of receiving a ticket you will receive a PARKING BOOT..How awesome!. GOOGLE parking boot if you are not familiar but I will assure you city folks know. Upon receiving a lovely BOOT your vehicle will be towed, not down the street but further north to the city of Kingston about a 45min drive. This means you will have to get a ride or call a cab, wait but there's no cell service. Yep, the inconvenience of it all. If you decide to wait for a later date to recover your vehicle expect storage fees on top of the MASSIVE fine, up in the areas of a $1,000.00. I believe this method will deter outsiders that plan on visiting and violating our beautiful area from ever returning. KEEP YOUR NASTY HABIT IN YOUR BACKYARD! For those who understand what is expected PLEASE come and visit and leave it pristine and FOREVER WILD! We try to visit as much as possible and look forward to seeing you. I usually have a Cowboy hat, sunglasses and a contractor bag in hand so stop me and say hi.

I was up at the Blue Hole yesterday, cleaning up other peoples trash. Everything from diapers to colostomy bags, and drugs. Discusting. Hundreds of people there, the noise was horrible. Such a shame. I remember when it was a beautiful peaceful place to go. It need to be shut down.

I used to spend many hot summer days at the blue hole as a teen and college student. Whether with friends or my family, I always found it to be peaceful, clean, and a chance to escape the heat while being around nature. Other visitors would give you space (and you would give them space as well), clean up after themselves, respect the roadway, and were generally nice. I saw the negative reviews while planning a trip to the Catskills to introduce my boyfriend to where I grew up but still opted to drive to the blue hole with hope, since we were heading over there near sunset, it would have cleared out. I was wrong. For miles there were cars double-parked in parking lots, parked on the side of the road, and people filled the creek-edges. Beside this, the state police had just arrived and were giving out citations as quickly as they could. People were leaving in droves and walking down the center of the road with no regard to my moving car. I had to drive on the other side of the road to get by and still, they wouldn't move. There were coolers left in the middle of the road, people were standing in the middle and talking, there was smoke everywhere. It was horrific. I figured we could just drive by and look from our car but we couldn't even do that, our full attention was on not hitting someone. We passed by homes that were close to the blue hole and people were gathered on porches, looking angry, and I completely understand their anger. It was awful. These visitors have no regard for the locals or the beautiful land. I can't believe how horrible it was and the only comforts I had 1) a man mentioned he saw someone just drop their garbage so be picked it up after them to throw it out 2) the state police were handing out more citations than I ever saw. I hope it gets better and returns to the peaceful place it was when I was younger. Rankings based entirely on what I witnessed today (if it was the way it was, it would've been 4s and 5s across the board)

Been coming to this place for over 20 years, this weekend was the first time this year and I was so disappointed at all the garbage and all the rude people. The internet has killed this once beautiful place. Had a long talk with a ranger and he told me that the blue hole will be shut down and camping will be by permit only. It is a shame, but hopefully this plan will work.

I have been passing through that area on a mid-August Sunday almost every year since 2004, and it is with great dismay that I've seen such chaos grow there over the past couple of years. Last Sunday (Aug 16) I saw dozens of people parked illegally, crossing the road with 12-packs and Jack Daniels bottles in hand. At one point, there was a car parked/stopped RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, blocking traffic in both directions. Something needs to be done. I only pray that New York State Parks Dept has enough budget money to deal with it after all the de-funding they've experiences the past few years. Very sad.

I live three miles down on Peekamoose Road from the Blue Hole, In my opinion Peggy and others are correct, we need to fix these problems, we counted 107 cars last weekend, I would say 500 to 600 people. We propose, no camping or picnicking at the blue hole, swimming only, and that the state has been given a plan to build bath rooms and showers at both ends of the camping, hiking and other wilderness activity areas, and to correct the parking issues, and increase the number of campsites and parking, with garbage pickup. Protecting the environment and preserving our wilderness are essential problems to be addressed. We Linda and I have also proposed that the residents of the Town of Denning form a Tri-Valley Chamber of Commerce, encompassing Neversink and Denning, and the rest of the Tri Valley School area, to deal with such issues. Interested contact 845-985-0501, ask for Linda

Very sad situation. We live on the road and it has ruined our neighborhood. Karina is 100% correct. There is garbage, loud music and you can't even get through because the road is blocked with people. The police have reported there were 700 people there last weekend. They are giving out parking tickets and under age drinking tickets. We are hoping they just close it down. It is HORRIBLE.

I am disgusted at what has happened to this place. my family owns a house nearby and we would always love packing a lunch and going to the blue hole for a relaxing day outside. we decided to go recently, not knowing that it would be any different than what it was before. it used to be a nice quiet place that only the locals knew about. there was never parking issues, very small bits of litter occasionally. but even then the locals would pick up the garbage to keep the area beautiful. there would never be more than 15 people whenever i went. when we arrived at the blue hole this time, we were greeted with two state troopers and a park ranger putting tickets on about 20 cars parked illegally in a line on the side of the narrow road. we got out of the car and looked down at the blue hole. at least 150 people there, about 8 different barbecues, beer bottles and other trash EVERYWHERE. this once amazing place is completely ruined

I am in complete disgust after been here this weekend . I have been there once or twice before couple of months ago and I left the place astonished on how beautiful the place was , not this time around . It is disgusting and shameful what people have done to it . I being Hispanic myself feel safe to this that the Dominicans coming from the city with their disgusting and on obnoxiously loud speakers with music nobody wants to listen to , their freaking huge barbecues . I saw over 50 people yesterday with a 7 grills each , smoke everywhere , pot smoke everywhere . People sitting in the middle of the creek throwing glass beer bottles . I wanted to leave crying. Too bad I drove 3 hours from Long Island to enjoy a beautiful day in nature . Park rangers or police should really step in at this point . I heard the music almost 1/3 of mile down the road . Glass bottles being tossed so disrespectful .

Place has been ruined by over use. There is no parking and there is garbage everywhere now. I hear a rumor that parks people may close the area off.

There is no parking at the Blue Hole itself, and parking at the Peekamoose Mountain is primarily for hikers. Because of recent overuse/misuse the traditional roadside parking areas are cordoned off. If you go, please remember that this is a narrow, somewhat dangerous road, and that it is a wilderness area. Unfortunately, today it looked like Coney Island, and while I am delighted that people from the City are able to escape crowded conditions there, I was dismayed to see blatant littering, including a woman dumping a bag of trash from her car on the roadside. This is a beloved area to many local people—please, cherish it, enjoy it with respect, and carry out what you bought in. I'm dismayed at the mess I saw at a place that is usually pristine.

We were there on 8/3 to hike up the mountain and I just have to echo what others have said about the garbage. IT IS A MESS. Like makes you want to puke mess. Beer cans, Dunkin Donuts boxes, Slim Jim wrappers, etc., EVERYWHERE. Totally absolutely vile and disgusting. And shame on the people who made this mess. True there are no garbage cans, but come on, take your garbage home with you. Don't throw it on the ground. Put it in a bag and take it home. I hope these litter bugs get caught and forced to pay, because what they're doing to this beautiful place is sick, and it's a crime.

We went Friday 7/31 and it wasn’t too crowded. Beautiful spot but LOTS of litter and garbage; almost to the point it literally made you sick to your stomach. How someone could ever trash such a gorgeous place is beyond me. There were beer bottles and plates, food, napkins just lying on the side of the swimming hole. Just disgusting. It almost ruined the experience for my family. All my husband and I wanted to do was shout to everyone, “Allright..everyone pitch in and let’s get this place cleaned up!” Trouble is, there isn’t a trashcan to be found. Time for NY state to allot some funds to put a few garbage cans and get it cleaned up. It is free but it’s being abused. Now it’s time to charge a fee to be there. I’d gladly pay.

I agree with Foster- we drove through on 8/1 and it was like a circus. There is little legal parking available and we didn't want to risk being ticketed, so didn't even try to get out of the car. Just as well, though, as when we drove past the hole, there was music blasting like it was a beer commercial. There were people all over the place, and I'm sure they left a mess, although I didn't stay to see it. This is not a location that can accommodate these crowds. Sorry it's become too popular to enjoy.

Over 200+ people at the once little known Peekamoose swimming hole this weekend. Radio’s blaring, garbage everywhere, baby cribs, tarps, portable grills, and the occasional vomit, oh and more garbage. Those that have been to this place before would no doubt shed a tear to see what it has become. The internet has destroyed this place.

It is a shame that people leave their trash behind. Beautiful place turning into a landfill. Please leave it the way you found it or even better. We went 7-30-15. Park ranger said it was clean, but by the end of the day 7-29-15 it was turned into this disgusting sight.

Went on a thursday after it rain and there was almost nobody. Water was super cold and i was decenly clean from the use i heard it gets. Parking is limited and if you park on the side of the road you can get up $700 fine.

There was NO parking available....the 10 spots available were taken and forest rangers were telling people to leave.