Outdoors · Catskills
The Catskills in New York
The Catskills are the close-to-home mountain answer for a lot of New York: fire towers, waterfalls, trout water, ski hills, and small towns.
The Catskills sit close enough to New York City and the Hudson Valley that a day trip can become a real mountain day fast. That is part of the charm and part of the caution.
Here you get Forest Preserve trails, the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge, Kaaterskill Falls, North-South Lake, trout streams, ski areas, and village weekends that feel easier than the High Peaks.
Easy to reach does not mean easy to wing. Parking, waterfall safety, mud, ice, and backcountry rules still matter.
Good first stops
Kaaterskill Wild Forest
This is the Catskill waterfall postcard, but DEC parking and safety guidance should shape the visit.
Catskill fire towers
Fire towers give the Catskills a mix of views, old mountain history, and hikes with a clear goal.
North-South Lake area
Campground, views, trails, and Kaaterskill access make it one of the easiest Catskill bases to understand.
Before you go
A few checks make the day easier.
- Use DEC's Catskill Backcountry page for current conditions.
- Build extra time for full lots and slower mountain roads.
- Stay on marked trails, especially around waterfalls and ledges.
- Use marked trails and viewing areas.
- Do not climb around barriers or onto wet ledges.
Where to go
Kaaterskill Wild Forest
This is the Catskill waterfall postcard, but DEC parking and safety guidance should shape the visit.
Getting there: Greene County, near Haines Falls, Hunter, and North-South Lake.
Plan the visit →Catskill fire towers
Fire towers give the Catskills a mix of views, old mountain history, and hikes with a clear goal.
Getting there: Six towers in the Catskill Park, including Overlook, Hunter, and Balsam Lake Mountain.
Plan the visit →North-South Lake area
Campground, views, trails, and Kaaterskill access make it one of the easiest Catskill bases to understand.
Getting there: Near Haines Falls and Palenville.
Plan the visit →Belleayre Mountain
A state-run ORDA mountain gives the Catskills a managed winter and shoulder-season anchor.
Getting there: Highmount, in the central Catskills.
Plan the visit →Catskill Forest Preserve
This is the public-land backbone behind the hikes, camping rules, and quiet hollows people come for.
Getting there: State lands across the Catskill Park.
Plan the visit →Plan the Catskills by anchor, not by county
The Catskills cross county lines and town lines, so the best first plan is built around a known anchor. Kaaterskill, North-South Lake, a fire tower, Belleayre, or a village base gives the day a center.
For families or first-timers, a shorter trail plus a town stop often works better than a long summit chase. The Catskills are good at small rewards: a view, a creek, a porch lunch, and home before dark.
For bigger hikes, check DEC conditions, maps, parking, and weather before you leave. Cell service can be patchy.
- •Use DEC's Catskill Backcountry page for current conditions.
- •Build extra time for full lots and slower mountain roads.
- •Stay on marked trails, especially around waterfalls and ledges.
Official source — NYSDEC — Catskill Backcountry Information →
Waterfall days need a little discipline
Kaaterskill is famous for good reason, but waterfall terrain is not a playground. Wet rock, cliff edges, ice, and unofficial paths are where people get into trouble.
DEC points visitors to recommended access points and parking areas. Follow those, even if an old map or social post suggests a shortcut.
A waterfall is still a good cheerful plan. Just treat the edge with respect and give yourself room if the place is crowded.
- •Use marked trails and viewing areas.
- •Do not climb around barriers or onto wet ledges.
- •Have a backup trail for days when parking is full.
Official source — NYSDEC — Kaaterskill Wild Forest →
The same trail can be four different trips
Spring mud, summer crowds, fall leaf traffic, and winter ice can make the same Catskill trail feel brand new each season.
That variety is a gift if you plan for it. Bring traction in cold months, water in summer, and patience during leaf season.
If you are moving nearby, the Catskills can become a weekend rhythm rather than a single big destination.
- •Winter and shoulder-season hikes may need traction or snowshoes.
- •Fall weekends can turn quiet roads into parking puzzles.
- •A lower creek walk can beat a summit when weather is messy.
Official source — NYSDEC — Hike Smart NY →
Quick reference
they are easier to reach, but the trails can still be steep, icy, muddy, and remote
Plan like it is real mountain terrain.
A fire tower hike is a good first goal if your group is ready for the distance and climb
Check DEC for the exact tower and trail.
It can be a good family outing if you use official access, stay on marked trails, and keep children close near ledges and water
It can be a good family outing if you use official access, stay on marked trails, and keep children close near ledges and water.
but rules differ between developed campgrounds and primitive camping
Use DEC camping and state-land rules.
Belleayre is an ORDA venue, and there are other Catskill ski areas
Yes. Check the venue for current operations.
Official sources
Use the agency page when dates, fees, closures, permits, or safety rules matter. Reviewed June 2026.
- NYSDEC — Welcome to the Catskills DEC Catskill Forest Preserve starting point.
- NYSDEC — Catskill Backcountry Information Current conditions, closures, and safety notes.
- NYSDEC — Kaaterskill Wild Forest Kaaterskill access and official place information.
- NYSDEC — Catskills Fire Tower Challenge Fire tower locations and challenge details.
- NYSDEC — State land camping rules Primitive camping rules that can apply on Forest Preserve lands.
- ORDA — Venues Official ORDA hub for Belleayre and other state-run mountain venues.
Related outdoors guides
All outdoor guides ->