I hiked along the Plotter Kill, a small creek in Rotterdam that flows in the bottom of a very tall and steep ravine.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/plotter_kill.png)
The ravine formed only 10,000 years ago as the area emerged from the ice age. I started at the Rotterdam Kiwanis Park (I highly recommend starting at the Plotter Kill Nature Preserve parking lot instead to avoid certain obstacles).
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/20_park_sign_sm.jpg)
The trek involved going under a train track and the NYS thruway through tunnels. Fortunately the water level was low enough to allow reasonably easy passage. Two options were available for underpassing the train tracks.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/02_under_w_thruway_sm.jpg)
The first set of tunnels lead to Drago's Cove, from which three tunnels bypass the Thruway traffic.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/03_under_e_thruway_sm.jpg)
After the tunnels it was a relief to find a trail. There is a really nice loop trail that runs along the edge of both sides of the ravine covering several long miles.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/04_trail_sm.jpg)
I never saw them, but the park is home to several large waterfalls. I only managed to see some nice smaller ones along the way up the ravine.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/05_waterfall_sm.jpg)
Steep ravine walls and interesting rocky overhangs loomed overhead as I walked.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/07_rock_overhang_sm.jpg)
Frozen trickles collect into large ice sculptures.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/08_ice_sm.jpg)
Best not to look down while scrambling out of the ravine.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/09_down_ravine_wall_sm.jpg)
After a few hours of hiking, I followed a trail back into the ravine and across the creek and up the other side along a power line access road. The rough road was taking me in the wrong direction, but thankfully eventually crossed paths with the South Rim Trail, which I could take back to Drago's Cove.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/11_trail_meets_power_sm.jpg)
The powerline access roads could provide miles and miles of walking, but not today.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/12_power_line_access_sm.jpg)
The powerlines make for an ideal place to put a trail marker.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/13_hot_trail_marker_sm.jpg)
The ground was clear of ice and snow, except for the trail. Previous hikers packed the snow into a slippery Iceman wake. At one point as I walked, my feet slipped out from under me over the edge of a steep hill. I suddenly found myself butt-sliding down a hill for 15 feet or so before stopping my decent. Whoopsie!
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/15_whoops_trail_sm.jpg)
A less than ideal tree bridge over the creek...
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/17_tree_bridge_sm.jpg)
...gets me to the side I need to be on.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/16_stream_crossing_sm.jpg)
I work my way back through the tunnels to where the Plotter Kill confluences with the Mohawk River.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/18_mohawk_confluence_sm.jpg)
Nearby the Autumn Tree displays it's name gruesomely carved into it's severed thumb.
![](http://jstookey.com/images/2012/20120204_plotter_kill/19_autumn_tree_sm.jpg)
Related Links
* Plotter Kill Nature Preserve Brochure - Trail Map
* Norockingchairforme Hikes the Plotter Kill - A retired guy aggressively exploring the area