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Platte Clove is a ravine located in Catskill
Mountains of New York. Platte Clove is mostly in Greene
County, although the lowest portions of Platte Clove are
in Ulster County. Platte Clove was created during the
last Ice Age as meltwater eroded its way through from
the Catskill Plateau to the Hudson below. The stream
that evolved is today Plattekill Creek.
In the early 19th century, early American artists
were struck by the rugged, wild scenery of Platte Clove
and other locations in the northeastern Catskills.
Depictions of Platte Cove by Thomas Cole and others led
to the artists being named the Hudson River School.
A narrow, two-lane road that climbs 1,200 vertical
feet in 1.4 miles from West Saugerties along Platte
Clove's north wall is the only route through it. Trucks
and buses are banned from Platte Clove, and it is not
maintained or even plowed between November and April.
The cliffs near the Platte Clove's headwall offer
spectacular views of the nearby waterfalls but have also
been the site of fatal accidents.
On June 4, 2010 Olivia Rose Belfiglio fell 100 feet
from the top of a cliff and died at the bottom of Platte
Clove. (Information from Wikipedia regarding Platte
Clove) |
by Russell Dunn