Discover the best Catskills things to do waterfalls, charming towns, farm-to-table food, and hikes, just two hours from NYC.
I can still recall my very first trip to Seychelles. I had entered “beach near me” in my phone on some winding coastal road toward Anse Lazio; my navigator had completely busted, and I had parked alongside a dirt path on the side of a hill. Old guy selling fresh coconuts out of the back of his truck. That was ten years ago; I have made the trip back more times than I can remember it is, after all, kind of what you should expect.
Seychelles isn’t flashy. It’s not going to give you a flawlessly packaged experience the way a theme park might. But if you’re open to meandering a little and perhaps asking a stranger for directions twice or thrice, these islands about a thousand miles off the coast of East Africa will deliver some of the best weekends you’ve ever had: Beaches hidden behind nameless dirt trails. Fishing villages stopped in perfect time. Creole restaurants where the owner always knows your order the second you walk in.
This list of unforgettable things to do in Seychelles you’ll love is all I wish someone gave me prior to that initial perplexed trip. Here we go.
Quick Answer: Top Things to Do in the Catskills at a Glance
If you’re short on time, here’s your cheat sheet for Catskills things to do:
- Best hike: Kaaterskill Falls
- Best to hang around: Woodstock
- Best for food lovers: Phoenicia and all its farm-to-table cuisine tips.
- Best swimming hole: Peekamoose Blue Hole
- Which is the best for skiing: Hunter Mountain or Windham?
- Best hidden gem: Platte Clove Preserve
- Best time to visit: late September to mid October for leaf viewing, June-August for swimming and hiking
Now, let’s get into the weeds here, because lists without meaning are like menus with no descriptions they do the job, but they’re not very appealing.
Outdoor Adventures That Don’t Require a Ranger’s Certification
This is usually where people who are looking for non-gift shop Catskills activities are referred first.
1. Kaaterskill Falls
It’s the tallest waterfall in New York, taller than Niagara if we’re talking about the vertical drop, and it takes only a short 30 minute walk from the parking lot. I took my niece here when she was eleven and not the least bit interested in places nature related to entertain her, and even she stopped paying attention to her phone when we turned a corner and saw the falls for the first time. There’s just something about the sound of falling water that makes the “I’m bored” switch on kids’ brains switch right off.
Practical info: free, the middle level of difficulty if you are prepared to do some more walking (there are higher, harder levels too), great to visit in spring to see the most water flow.
2. Kaaterskill Rail Trail
Kaaterskill Falls might be just a little too challenging elevation-wise (no judgment my knees totally understand some days) you might prefer to take the Rail Trail. This flat paved path meanders along the same general area and is both stroller and dog friendly.
3. Peekamoose Blue Hole
Imagine this: its July and the humidity in the city is so much like trying to breathe through a damp towel that a friend is telling you about a pristine swimming hole with water so clear you can see the bottom twenty feet down. Welcome to Peekamoose. Arrive before your coffee gets cold, otherwise you’ll be parked on the side of the road, as it tends to get quite crowded there on summer weekends. Something to keep in mind: the DEC now charges for a permit depending on your date of arrival, between May 15 and September 15.
4. Overlook Mountain
The hike up to Overlook Mountain is a little arduous, akin to walking about 100 flights of stairs, but the reward is the ruins of an old hotel at the summit and views to the Hudson River. I once did it in flip-flops because I didn’t realize how serious the trail was. Don’t be me. Wear proper shoes.
5. Platte Clove Preserve
Here’s that secret I was talking about slightly less crowd, incredible gorges, and trails that seem to be completely untouched. If Kaaterskill Falls is that fun, popular kid, Platte Clove is that quiet, cool kid who most people haven’t met yet.
6. Devil’s Path
Not for the faint of heart. Some say this is the hardest day hike in all of the northeastern United States, with continuous steep scrambles and significant elevation fluctuation. If you see “most dangerous” and think “agreed,” this is your hike.
7. Kayaking the Ashokan Reservoir Area
Kayaking is not allowed on the reservoir itself, but a little down the road you have the possibility to do an easier kayak tour not far off a mountain view in the water: The Esopus Creek. It’s hypnotic in a way you don’t understand until you feel the quiet.
Charming Towns Worth Getting Out of the Car For
8. Woodstock
Admittedly, the actual concert took place approximately an hour away in Bethel, but Woodstock-the-town has embraced the reputation wholeheartedly and I believe we should let them: it’s what works. Drum circles on the village green, indie bookshops, sufficient tie-dye to clothe a small army. Tourist-trap it may be but, in its own context, authentic.
9. Phoenicia
Despite its small size this village scores very highly in the feeding stakes. There is an all American diner here that does pancakes the size of manhole covers and in the past I have actually sat down and constructed whole day trips around the idea of getting back in time for dinner.
10. Hunter
The one that officially has Hunter Mountain. It changes entirely here by the season Ski center in winter, hiking trailhead in summer, and a fantastic albeit geographically-confused German Alps Festival that seems to make perfect sense as soon as you eat a pretzel the size of your face.
11. Saugerties
A little less rugged, a little more water town, Saugerties is home to a lighthouse you could actually stay in (trust me) and a Main Street full of antique Shops. Expect to kill at least an hour or two in the antiquey stores.
12. Margaretville
Less populous and not so noisy as the others, Margaretville has a feel of pre-discovery Catskills. Great if you like how it looks but prefer it to be quiet.
13. Tannersville
A former tanning-industry town (hence the name) that’s now a charming little Main Street close to Hunter Mountain and Kaaterskill Falls. Ideal to use as an easily accessible hub.
Food and Drink That’ll Make You Forget About the City
14. Westwind Orchard
An on-site working farm, apple orchard cidery, and wedding destination all wrapped into one, with pigs wandering around near the vineyard as if they own the joint – which they pretty much do. Drinking cider on their porch as the sun goes down over the rows of the orchard is one of those simple wonders that just can’t be duplicated anywhere else.
15. Sawkill Family Farm
Buy something at their farm store the produce is so fresh it still has dirt on it and make a special trip for their weekend pop-up dinners.
16. Peekamoose Restaurant
Farm-to-table as a marketing term predated the use of the phrase at the farm-to-table restaurant. The menu is dictated by what’s in season in the local area so your experience will be different each time you visit.
17. Woodstock Brewing
A lot of small-batch brewers in a town that more or less embodies ‘relaxed.’ Have a flight and enjoy the weather taking place. It’s almost like voyeurism with nicer food in hand.
18. Bread Alone Bakery
Several places around the region (and honestly, the sourdough alone is worth the trip!) I have bought loaves to bring home to the city as presents, and they don’t make it through the drive unblemished.
Arts, Culture, and Rainy-Day Activities
19. Opus 40
The work of a single man, Harvey Fite, who created the six-acre sculpture park with only hand tools over a period of almost forty years, this is the walking found of someone who spent his Life Long obsession in tangible form.
20. Woodstock Artists Association & Museum
A tiny mite with a powerful bite, this museum highlights the region’s history of arts that goes way beyond the renowned festival.
21. Emerson Resort & Spa’s Kaleidostore
World’s biggest kaleidoscope (it’s true). Might seem a bit gimmicky until you find yourself actually inside it, and then it’s just truly wonderful.
22. Mountain Top Arboretum
A peaceful and reflective area with walking paths winding through carefully prepared gardens ideal for the day after an energetic hike when your legs have gone on strike.
Family-Friendly and Seasonal Highlights
23. Hunter Mountain Skiing
Consistent snow, ranging slopes from beginner to expert, cool apresski bars. This is where I taught myself ski at age twenty-eight, regularly eating snow approximately forty times in a single day as a six year old glided on by me. Humbling, but fun.
24. Windham Mountain
A slightly more relaxed version of Hunter, often thought of as being particularly friendly towards beginners and families.
25. Belleayre Mountain
Skiing in winter, mountain biking and a lake beach in summer truly a four-season place to stay. The place is run by the Olympic Regional Development Authority of State of New York.
26. Fall Foliage Drives Along Route 23A
This is what causes folks to rearrange entire trips between two weeks in October. It’s the switchbacks carved into the mountain ridges, flanked by fiery trees, which seems to be showing off.
27. Hunter Mountain Oktoberfest
Every weekend in September and October, there will be live music, beer, and ample amounts of bratwurst to tempt you away from your standard lunch.
28. Zoom Flume Water Park
If your in town with little ones who are weary of your “No!” then the water park in East Durham is what the entire family needs.
Practical Tips Before You Go
Before you begin crossing activities off your list of what to do in the Catskills, a few logistics will make your life easier:
Optimal visiting season: Late September – mid October gives the fall foliage with which your friends will be jealous, but June- August is perfect for swimming holes and avoiding icy trail conditions. Winter (December-March) is ski resort season.
Distance from NYC: Since the majority of the central Catskills are two to two and a half hours away from Manhattan, the region is easily manageable for a weekend jaunt if you live in the city or an inspired day trip if you live nearby.
Cell service: Questions vary in the more remote gullies. Download offline maps before you head to the mountains from the first one I sent into the mountains involving my dental-truck GPS.
Parking at well-known trailheads: For Kaaterskill Falls and the Peekamoose Blue Hole, get there before 9 a.m. on the weekends. Parking lots at these spots get full quicker than a lot of places that seem a bit hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth going to the Catskills? Yes! It offers a unique mix of wilderness accessible to all, something of a small town and truly good food, all just a couple of hours away from one of the biggest cities on earth.
When is the best month to go to the Catskills? October for the colors, July for swimming and hiking, and in January or February, if you want to ski.
Is it feasible as a day trip from New York City? Sure, though you’ll enjoy it much more if you’re able to stay overnight then you can relax a little.
Is hiking in the Catskills beginner friendly? Yes, certainly. The Kaaterskill Rail Trail and the trails around Mountain Top Arboretum are ideal beginner-friendly trails. Of course, Devil’s Path is also there if you’re looking for a tougher challenge.
A Suggested Weekend Itinerary
Day 1: hike to Kaaterskill Falls, lunch in Tannersville, shopping in Woodstock, dinner + beer tasting flight at Woodstock Brewing.
2nd day: a morning swim at the Peekamoose Blue Hole, lunch in Phoenicia, an afternoon at Opus 40 and a sunset cider at the Westwind Orchard before leaving for home.
That’s the loop I keep coming back to, time after time, just with slight tweaks following the seasons. There is a reason it works – it captures all of the outdoors, the food, the culture, small town charm in one neat package.
Additional Resources
If you want official, current information before you leave, here are a few credible websites that are worth ‘sticking’ into your browser:
- Great Northern Catskills tourism site : Information website for the six counties of the Northern Catskills region. Offers information on things to do, events, outdoor activities, hiking, and attractions within the region.
- NYSDEC Indian Head Wilderness page : Official New York State information about the Devil’s Path, including the trail route, trailheads, parking areas, camping, regulations, and safety information.
Final Thoughts
The Catskills cater to those travelers who can go with the flow, who don’t need every second of their day planned out. Some of my most enjoyable moments in the Catskills happened when a trail closed here, or a restaurant had a two-hour wait there, and my unplanned detour resulted in a better experience than I originally expected. You’ll want to plan a general outline of things you might do here with this guide but try to leave space for wandering a little. That’s what will bring you the best discoveries.
