Camping:
Escape from the everyday and reconnect with your wild side. Camping in the Catskills is the adventure you need to relax, rejuvenate, and reawaken your love of nature.
The Catskill Region is the perfect camping destination for families, friends, and solo-travelers alike. Towering peaks, sweeping valleys, roaring rivers, and untamed forests provide endless recreation opportunities for experienced explorers and those new to the outdoors. Begin a family tradition at one of the Catskill’s public campgrounds, enjoy a romantic glamping getaway, or journey into the backcountry and sleep under the stars.
Tent & RV Camping
Enjoy the beauty and excitement of the outdoors while also benefitting from modern amenities! Families and casual campers can enjoy an authentic camping experience without entirely disconnecting. New York State Parks and regional KOA campgrounds, such as North-South Lake Public Campgrounds, Saugerties/Woodstock, and Russell Brook Campsites, offer conveniences such as swimming pools, showers, restrooms, and running water and electric outlets at your campsite. Public campgrounds are a great introduction to some of the best camping in the Catskills. Many locations feature hiking and biking trails straight from the grounds into the surrounding mountains and valleys. Some even offer guided trips and gear rentals to help you make the most of your Catskills camping experience. Catskill Adventure Resort: Located in Wurtsboro, Sullivan County, Catskill Adventure Resort provides comfortable family camping, a private pond, an onsite skate park, and a swimming pool. RVs welcome!
Backcountry Camping
Primitive camping in the region’s backcountry is an excellent option for those seeking the rugged outdoor experience or hiking long-distance trails such as the Long Path, a 357-mile long-distance hiking trail spanning from northern New Jersey to the Albany, New York area. Primitive camping is camping in its purest form – no amenities, no technology. Just you, your tent, and the great outdoors. Primitive camping is widely available throughout the Catskill Park and Catskill Forest Preserve.
There are some restrictions campers should be aware of when planning a backcountry trip. The Department for Environmental Conservation (DEC) requires that primitive campsites be 150 feet from water, road, or trail, and if you’re planning on camping for more than three nights you’ll need a special permit. Some primitive sites are more accessible than others.
Cycling
The Catskills are home to varied cycling terrain that includes something for all levels – from flat, gravel trails covered by forest canopies and paved, peaceful roadways circling the region's reservoirs for beginners and intermediate-level riders, to switchback roads offering some of the toughest climbs on the East Coast for expert cyclers and hill addicts.
Cycling in the Catskills not only offers opportunities to explore the region from the seat of your bike, but unique and unexpected ways to enjoy other experiences like the region's growing craft beer and wine scene, farm-to-table restaurants, and historical museums and sites.
Fishing
Home to a variety of trout species, shad, bass, pike, pickerel and more, the Catskills have a long history as one of America's ultimate angling destinations. From the area's vast reservoirs that compose the New York City Watershed, to numerous lakes, rivers, streams and ponds, angle across the Catskills and fish the region's varied waterways.
Fly Fishing
One of the Catskills' greatest claims to fame is its outstanding fly fishing. With an endless supply of lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, streams, and creeks in which to cast a line, it's no wonder fly fishing has a rich history among this beautiful landscape.
Golf
The Catskills are filled with a variety of golf getaways catering to every level of golfer – from challenging championship courses to smaller, 9-hole courses accommodating those just learning the game. Hitting the links here also lends way to incredible scenic views of the Catskill Mountains and the region's rolling hillsides – what better a backdrop for honing your golf skills?
Hiking
Lace up your boots, pack your gear, strap on your packs, and hit the trails. With thousands of miles of scenic hiking trails to explore, the possibilities for adventure in the Catskills are endless. Climb to mountain summits, discover remote waterfalls, or take a walk through the woods and simply enjoy being in nature. The Catskill Mountains offer some of the most beautiful and diverse hiking terrains in the Northeast, making it the perfect destination for hikers of all experience levels.
No matter which path you choose, one thing is for certain; you will create a special bond with these mountains that will have you returning time and time again. With its incredible landscapes and abundant recreation opportunities, the Catskills Region is more than just a place – it's a way of life.
From short, family-friendly hikes to Catskills 3500 Club peaks (those that reach an elevation above 3500 feet), there is a trail for everyone in the Catskills. Check out these popular Catskills hikes and get inspired for your next mountain excursion!
Motorcycling
There’s nothing quite the scenic byways in the Catskills. From carving up hairpin turns passing by towering waterfalls, to cruising on wide routes amid beautiful, bucolic farmlands with the Catskill Mountains in the distance, the region’s varying terrain lends way to some of the Northeast’s best motorcycling.
Paddling
You won't find ample opportunities for cruising around on a motorboat in the Catskills – but the area's vast reservoirs, lakes, and countless streams, rivers, and creeks do offer one of the Northeast's top paddling destinations. Whether you explore it via kayak, canoe, rowboat, small sailboat, or SUP board, well, that's up to you – in the Catskills, it's whatever floats your boat... paddling pun intended.
Scenic Drives & Covered Bridges
Roll down the windows, turn the radio to your favorite song, and take a scenic drive through the Catskills. Long straights contrast with winding hillsides to make the Catskill Mountains a driving paradise. With endless beauty to explore, every turn in the road leads to a new discovery. There will be picturesque vistas, world-class cultural attractions, and fantastic Catskills food finds abound.
There is a certain contentment and nostalgia that comes with lazily meandering from town to town and village to village through lush forests and past towering mountains. Whether you're a weekend warrior, looking to experience as much of the region as possible in a short amount of time, or a seasoned visitor looking to uncover something new, a little windshield time is just what you need to make the most of your Catskills adventure.
From irresistible restaurants to century-old landmarks, the unique and historic features of the Catskills landscape make for some of the best scenic drives near NYC.
Winter
It's winter in the Catskills, and while the landscape looks as though time stands still, the region is teaming with outdoor winter fun! White snow glistens on frosty mountain peaks. Rolling farmland is blanketed in a smooth layer of sparkling white. Pristine waters freeze into natural sculptures. Experience the ultimate winter wonderland and join the many skiers and snowboarders flocking to stunning mountain resorts, or explore backcountry trails on Nordic skis or snowshoes. Make lasting memories with your family tubing down a massive hill or relax in a beautiful base lodge while the kids take their third "just one more run!" While it's close enough to New York City for an easy weekend trip, there is so much to do you'll want to spend your entire vacation exploring outdoor winter fun in the Catskills.
Skiing and Snowboarding
The mountainous terrain of the Catskills is home to some of New York State’s best ski resorts. With a wide variety of terrain, plenty of natural snowfall, and prime conditions for snowmaking, both expert riders and beginners will find the slopes of their dreams. Challenge yourself on rugged, ungroomed black diamonds, catch serious air in the terrain park, or enroll your newest skier in lessons at one of many on-mountain ski schools. As you swish down the mountain, be sure to take in the stunning views all around you.
Off-Mountain Activities
You don’t have to be a skier or snowboarder to enjoy a day at the mountain. Many of the Catskills top ski resorts offer off-mountain activities for the perfect family-friendly vacation – including snow tubing! Some resorts will even carry your tube back up the mountain for you, or let you take a lift so you don’t have to walk. If whizzing down a mountain isn’t for you, try ice skating or relax inside the lodge with a warm beverage and a tasty meal. You can even pamper yourself with a spa treatment! It’s the perfect après ski experience to round out a day at the mountain.
Nordic Skiing and Snowshoeing
The Catskills boasts miles of groomed and ungroomed trails through peaceful forests and over glistening fields – the perfect terrain for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing! If you’re new to the sport, or looking for manicured trails, visit one of several Nordic Ski and snowshoe centers. Or, if you’re a seasoned skinny skier, explore the backcountry on miles of public trails.
Snowmobiling
Put a little speed in your Catskills winter experience. Fire up a snowmobile and zoom across the Catskills' rolling country hillsides and through snow-covered woods on the region’s network of designated snowmobiling trails. From interconnecting state trails in the western Catskills, to privately owned backcountry systems, sledders will find plenty of space to satisfy their inner speed junkie.
As the closest major skiing destination for NYC residents and visitors, the Catskills are the perfect place to spend your winter vacation!
