Catskills
A subrange of the Appalachians in southeastern New York State, about 100 miles north-northwest of New York City, with hiking trails, Esopus Creek for tubing and autumn color.
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The Catskills are a subrange of the Appalachians in southeastern New York State, centered on Catskill Park, a forest preserve of about 700,000 acres. Most of the park is in Ulster County, with much of the rest in Greene County. The range sits west of the Hudson River, about 100 miles north-northwest of New York City and 40 miles southwest of Albany. Slide Mountain, in Ulster County, is the highest peak at 4,180 feet, and more than 30 peaks rise above 3,500 feet.
Visitors come for hiking, inner-tube floats on Esopus Creek, where many tubers start at Phoenicia, and five downhill ski areas in winter. Interstate 87 and the New York State Thruway bring drivers from the east, and Albany International and Stewart International are the nearest airports. Summers are warm and humid, while the high peaks are cold in winter. About 500 resorts in the Borscht Belt once served mainly Jewish vacationers in the mid-20th century, and artists and musicians have long settled around Woodstock and Phoenicia.
Catskills in five
- Rent a car in New York CityTrailways coaches serve some towns, but trailheads, waterfalls and villages are far apart. A car lets you link them, and the drive from the city is about 2–3 hours without traffic.New York travel guide
- Time the foliageColor usually peaks in early to mid-October, with higher elevations earlier. Book rooms well ahead for weekends, or go midweek.
- Pick a base: Woodstock, Phoenicia or HunterWoodstock has shops and music, Phoenicia has tubing and cafés, and Hunter has the ski mountain and Kaaterskill Falls nearby. Choose one and drive out.
- Check trail and waterfall accessPopular falls like Kaaterskill can have parking limits and crowds on summer weekends. Check the state or town page for current access before you go.
- Pair it with the Hudson Valley or Finger LakesThe Hudson Valley sits between the Catskills and New York City, and the Finger Lakes are about 3 hours west.Finger Lakes travel guide
Things to do in Catskills
See all attractions in Catskills
Need to know
- Airport
- None in the mountains; NYC airports or Albany (ALB), then a drive
- Getting around
- Car; some coach routes link main towns
- Best base
- Woodstock, Phoenicia or Hunter, by trip type
- Time needed
- 2–3 days; a long weekend is typical
- Time zone
- Eastern, UTC−5; UTC−4 in summer
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow, ski season
- FebruarySnow, cold
- MarchThaw, mud
- AprilSpring, waterfalls
- MayGreen, mild
- JuneWarm, tubing
- JulyWarm, busy
- AugustWarm, thunderstorms
- SeptemberMild, fall starts
- OctoberPeak fall color
- NovemberCool, quiet
- DecemberCold, snow
Right now in Catskills
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 16°
- Humidity
- 40%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Catskills
05:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today21°3°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Tue22°7°6%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Wed22°10°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu19°12°63%Thursday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Fri21°12°52%Friday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Sat14°4°52%Saturday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Sun13°2°14%Sunday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 14%.
Updated 01:21 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Woodstockabout 15–30 minutes by car from Phoenicia or HunterShops, art and live music.
- Hudson Valleyabout 1 hour by carRiver towns and mansions on the way to the city.Read the guide
- New York Cityabout 2–3 hours by carA long drive; best as the start or end.Read the guide
Before you go to Catskills
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Rules for Catskills, checked
- US entry: most visitors need an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program, or a visa. Check travel.state.gov before you book flights.
- Ashokan Reservoir fishing needs a permit, and ice fishing is prohibited. Check current permit rules with New York City's Department of Environmental Protection.
- Catskill Park is a protected Forest Preserve. Check camping, fishing and hiking rules on the New York State DEC site (dec.ny.gov) before you go.
- About 60% of Catskill Park is privately owned, and new public sections are added often. Check the DEC park map before you hike or camp.
Plan around Catskills
The usual starting point
Read the guideHudson Valley travel guideRiver towns on the way
Read the guideFinger Lakes travel guideWine and waterfalls, about 3 hours west
Read the guideEastern USA overviewHow the northeast fits together
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it and how to apply
Read the guideAll of the USAParks, cities and road trips
Read the guideCatskills FAQ
How far are the Catskills from New York City?
About 2–3 hours by car, depending on the town and traffic. Woodstock and Phoenicia are around 2 hours; Hunter is closer to 2.5 hours. Fridays and Sundays are slowest.
Do you need a car in the Catskills?
Yes, for most trips. Some coach routes link main towns, but trailheads and waterfalls are spread out, and taxis are limited.
When is the best time to visit the Catskills?
Early to mid-October for fall color, June to August for hiking and swimming, January to March for skiing at Hunter and nearby resorts. Spring is muddy but has full waterfalls.
How many days do you need in the Catskills?
A long weekend of two or three days covers a base town, a waterfall hike and a village. Add another day if you want the Hudson Valley on the way.
Is Woodstock in the Catskills?
Yes, Woodstock sits on the edge of the Catskills. The 1969 festival took place at a farm in Bethel, about an hour away, but the town is the center of the area's art and music scene.