WATERFALL GUIDES: Russell Dunn's "Mohawk Region Waterfall Guide" ($15.95), "Hudson Valley Waterfall Guide" ($17.95), "Catskill Region Waterfall Guide" ($14.95) and "Adirondack Waterfall Guide" ($14.95) published by Black Dome Press, www.blackdomepress.com or 800-513-9013.

WATERFALLS: Here are some scenic spots described in Dunn's waterfall guides:

• Bash Bish Falls: Near Copake Falls, 40 miles south of Albany at the Massachusetts state line, reachable by an easy, half-mile walk on a gravel road through forest bordering a boulder-strewn stream with numerous pools and picnic spots. The spectacular, 80-foot-tall waterfall drops from high cliffs into a clear, bowl-shaped pool that's a popular swimming hole in hot weather. Described in "Hudson Valley Waterfall Guide."

• Cohoes Falls: A registered National Historic Landmark 10 miles north of Albany near the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers, reachable by a roadside overlook. The 70-foot-high, 600-foot-wide falls once rivaled Niagara as New York's premier natural wonder and was visited by thousands of tourists each year. Today, its shaly ledges are mostly dry much of the year, as the water has been diverted for hydroelectric generation and the Barge Canal. Described in "Mohawk Region Waterfall Guide."

• Roaring Brook Falls: Along Route 73 in Keene Valley in the Adirondack High Peaks region, 100 miles north of Albany. This narrow flume plummets from the shoulders of Giant Mountain. A jumble of huge boulders at its base is a popular climber's playground, and rock jocks are often seen scaling precipitous cliffs above. It's also popular with ice climbers in winter. Described in "Adirondack Waterfall Guide."

• Kaaterskill Falls: A half-mile hike from Route 23A in the Catskill Mountains near Palenville, 36 miles southwest of Albany. The 300-foot, two-drop waterfall was an icon subject for Hudson River School painters Thomas Cole and Asher Durand, as well as an inspiration for influential naturalists, authors and poets of the 19th century. The trail to the falls is steep and treacherous, but is the most-hiked trail in the Catskill park. Described in "Catskill Region Waterfall Guide."

WORLD WATERFALL DATABASE: www.world-waterfalls.com