Kaaterskill Falls
A two-tier waterfall of roughly 260 feet, long painted by the Hudson River School and still the most famous short hike in the Catskills. The payoff is big, but so are the crowds and the rules on parking.
1.5-3 hoursDetails →
New York
The Catskills
The Catskills are the mountains New Yorkers escape to, a green sweep of ridges, hollows and waterfalls two hours north of the city.
This is the country of Kaaterskill Falls and the Hudson River School painters who made it famous, of the fire tower on Overlook Mountain, the cliff-edge lookouts above North-South Lake and the ski slopes of Hunter, Windham and Belleayre. It is also the home of Woodstock the artists colony, Bethel Woods and the field where the 1969 festival really happened, the stone sculpture of Opus 40 and the Borscht Belt history that still echoes in Sullivan County. Summer means tubing the Esopus Creek, rail bikes and farm walks with llamas and goats, autumn means color, and winter means snow. Twickly collects the sights worth a ticket, the guided tours that make the logistics easy, and hotels from Hunter to Saugerties.
Don't miss
Kaaterskill Falls
A two-tier waterfall of roughly 260 feet, long painted by the Hudson River School and still the most famous short hike in the Catskills. The payoff is big, but so are the crowds and the rules on parking.
Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Hike
A wide, steady climb above Woodstock to a fire tower, the ruins of an abandoned grand hotel and a view that takes in the Hudson Valley and a sweep of the Catskills.
Bethel Woods and the Museum at the 1969 Woodstock Site
The museum at the field where Woodstock really happened, with exhibits on the festival, the 1960s and the music that came out of them, on a campus that still hosts summer concerts.
Woodstock Village and the Artists Colony
A walkable village of galleries, record shops, cafes and tie-dye, with a real artists-colony history that predates the 1969 festival by six decades.
Things to do in The Catskills
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
North-South Lake and the Catskill Mountain House Site
A state-run lake, beach and campground high on the escarpment, with the Escarpment Trail lookouts and the site where the famous Catskill Mountain House once stood.
Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Hike
A wide, steady climb above Woodstock to a fire tower, the ruins of an abandoned grand hotel and a view that takes in the Hudson Valley and a sweep of the Catskills.
3-4 hoursDetails →
Bethel Woods and the Museum at the 1969 Woodstock Site
The museum at the field where Woodstock really happened, with exhibits on the festival, the 1960s and the music that came out of them, on a campus that still hosts summer concerts.
Woodstock Village and the Artists Colony
A walkable village of galleries, record shops, cafes and tie-dye, with a real artists-colony history that predates the 1969 festival by six decades.
2-4 hoursDetails →
Opus 40 Sculpture Park and Quarry
A six-and-a-half-acre earthwork of fitted bluestone, built by one man over decades in an abandoned quarry in Saugerties and still one of the strangest and most beautiful places in the Catskills.
Hunter Mountain Skiing, Skyride and Summer Adventures
The second-highest peak in the Catskills at 4,040 feet, with big snowmaking skiing in winter and a scenic chairlift, zip lines and festivals in the warmer months.
Windham Mountain Skiing and Village Base
A friendly, well-groomed ski mountain and a classic Catskills village, a short drive from Hunter and an easy day or weekend from New York City.
Belleayre Mountain Skiing and Summer Gondola
A state-owned mountain in the central Catskills with family skiing in winter and a scenic gondola, hiking and the Belleayre Music Festival in warmer months.
Esopus Creek Tubing in Phoenicia
The classic Catskills summer ritual: a lazy float down the Esopus Creek from Phoenicia on a rented inner tube, with riffles, swimming holes and mountain scenery all the way.
Rail Explorers Pedal Rail Bikes at Phoenicia
Pedal-powered rail bikes that roll along former Ulster and Delaware railroad tracks beside the Esopus Creek, an easy and unusual way to see the Catskills.
The Emerson Kaleidoscope at Mount Tremper
A towering kaleidoscope in a silo-shaped building at Mount Tremper, one of the Catskills quirkiest roadside attractions and a cheerful stop for families on the way to the mountains.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Scribners Catskill Lodge
Hunter / Northern Catskills
A design-minded mountain lodge near Hunter with views of the ridge, a restaurant and bar and easy access to skiing, hiking and Kaaterskill Falls.
Check rates →The Woodstock Inn on the Millstream
Woodstock
An inn on a millstream just outside the village of Woodstock, with a relaxed, rural feel and easy access to the galleries, shops and trails of the artists colony.
Check rates →Hotel Dylan
Woodstock
A boutique hotel in Woodstock with a creative, music-inflected design, a restaurant and bar and a short drive to the village, the mountains and the Bethel Woods site.
Check rates →Melour Resort
Tannersville
A resort-style stay in the village of Tannersville, close to Hunter Mountain, Kaaterskill Falls and the painted shops of Main Street.
Check rates →Eastwind Windham
Windham
A mountain lodge in Windham, a few minutes from Windham Mountain, with a lodge atmosphere that suits ski weekends and summer hiking breaks.
Check rates →The Roxbury
Roxbury / Western Catskills
A design-forward stay in the village of Roxbury, in the quiet central Catskills near Belleayre, Plattekill and the Delaware County farm roads.
Check rates →Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern
Saugerties
A boutique hotel in a historic mill building in Saugerties, with a tavern, creekside views and easy access to Woodstock, Opus 40 and the Hudson.
Check rates →Holiday Inn Express and Suites Saugerties
Saugerties / Thruway
A dependable chain hotel near the Thruway in Saugerties, convenient for Woodstock, Opus 40 and the eastern Catskills, with straightforward comforts.
Check rates →Comfort Inn Saugerties
Saugerties / Thruway
A budget-friendly hotel in Saugerties, close to the Thruway, with a simple base for exploring Woodstock, Kingston and the eastern Catskills.
Check rates →Emerson Resort and Spa
Mount Tremper / Central Catskills
A full-service mountain resort in Mount Tremper with a spa, restaurant and wooded grounds, handy for Woodstock, Phoenicia, tubing and the high peaks.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Kaaterskill FallsStay
Scribners Catskill LodgeHunter / Northern Catskills
Do
Overlook Mountain Fire Tower HikeStay
Emerson Resort and SpaMount Tremper / Central Catskills
Do
Bethel Woods and the Museum at the 1969 Woodstock SiteStay
Hotel DylanWoodstock
The Catskills guides
The Catskills in Three Days: Waterfalls, Woodstock and Mountain Views
A three-day Catskills plan that groups the sights by area, so you spend your time on trails and in villages instead of on winding mountain roads.
Where to Stay in the Catskills: Six Bases Compared
The Catskills spread across several counties, and where you sleep shapes your trip. This guide compares the main bases and who each one suits.
The Best Time to Visit the Catskills: Season by Season
Each season in the Catskills offers something different, from waterfalls in spring to ice climbing in winter. Here is what to expect and when to book.
The Catskills with Kids: Farms, Water and Easy Trails
A family guide to the Catskills, with animal encounters, summer water play, gentle hikes and rainy-day backups for children of different ages.
Catskills Hikes and Waterfalls: Where to Start
A practical introduction to hiking in the Catskills, with beginner-friendly waterfalls, classic summits and guidance on gear, safety and guided options.
The Catskills from New York City: Getting There and Day Trips
How to reach the Catskills from New York City by car, bus and transport-only services, with realistic day-trip ideas and weekend timing tips.
