Things to Do in Catskills, NY

Slide Mountain

At 4,180 feet, Slide Mountain is the highest mountain peak, not only in the Catskills but in Ulster County as well as in all of New York State if you do not count the Adirondack High Peaks and the Delaware River watershed. Located in the small town of Shandaken in Ulster County, Slide Mountain is a very popular hiking destination, and can be reached from three different approaches if you want a well-marked trail, and many more if you prefer bushwhacks.

The difficulty of the hike and the distance depends on the trail chosen, and it varies significantly. Like other peaks in the Catskills, the summit is rounded and gentle, and forms a narrow ridge that turns into a wider space on the eastern end. The mountain is covered with many kinds of maples, beech and yellow birch. Boreal forests at higher elevations mostly consist of balsam fir.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a museum and performing arts center located in Bethel, less than 90 miles from New York City, at the site of the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival.

The center has a large outdoor amphitheater for 15,000 people, a smaller indoor Event Gallery for 400 guests, a Conservatory that is used for arts education and the Museum.

A 2,000-acre campus offers a range of community and educational programs and performances, such as the annual Harvest Festival, concerts, lectures and discussions.

The Center draws its philosophy and inspiration from the political, social and cultural events of the 1960s, including the historic Woodstock Music and Art Fair.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd, Bethel, NY 12720, Phone: 866-781-2922

Catskill Animal Sanctuary

For more than 22 years, the Catskill Animal Sanctuary has been providing a safe haven for all kinds of animals in distress. The facility is located on 150 sprawling acres in the Hudson Valley where they have provided a permanent and safe home for more than 5000 rescued farm animals since 2001. If you love animals and would like to have an up-close and personal animal experience with some of the friendly resident animals you are more than welcome to pay a visit. You can join a weekend public tour or book a private tour during the week. If you would like to take your interaction to the next level you can book an overnight stay in the beautiful historic 1814 Homestead.

Catskill Animal Sanctuary, 316 Old Stage Rd, Saugerties, NY 12477, 845 336 8447, Map

Minisink Battlefield County Park

Minisink Battlefield County Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the Revolutionary War. As the site of the Battle of Minisink, the park is built on the only Revolutionary War battlefield that is north of the Upper Delaware River.

This 57-acre park boasts picnic areas, a large pavilion, and restrooms. There are also scenic walking trails throughout the park. At the interpretive center, guests can learn about the Battle of Minisink as well as the plant and animal life in the county park. There is no admission fee.

Minisink Battlefield County Park, Route 97 Country Road 168, Barryville, NY 12719, Phone: 845-807-0261

Windham Mountain

Located in New York's Northern Catskills, Windham Mountain is a popular family friendly resort in the charming town of Windham, only two hours from New York City.

The resort offers a superb ski experience with 54 trails over two peaks, six terrain parks and 12 lifts over 278 acres of diverse ski terrain, with a 1,600 foot vertical rise and the most riding and skiing within 200 miles of the Big Apple.

Windham Mountain Resort offers year round fun with an inn, alpine spa, night skiing, a golf course, adventure park, three restaurants and a mountain bike park you can reach by a chair lift.

Windham Mountain , 19 Resort Dr, Windham, NY 12496, Phone: 518-734-4300

Falling Waters Preserve

Covering 149 acres of undeveloped land, Falling Waters Preserve in Saugerties is home to some of the most scenic and tranquil areas along the banks of the Hudson River. The preserve has a unique history as the former site of the Mulford Ice House, a massive structure that held more than 10,000 tons of ice harvested from the Hudson River during winter months. Now Falling Waters Preserve is a popular destination for hikers, fishing enthusiasts, and skiers. There are two miles of trails on the preserve that treat guests to views of tumbling waterfalls, vast meadows, and placid stretches of the Hudson River.

Falling Waters Preserve , Dominican Lane, Saugerties, New York 12477, Phone: 845-473-4440

Plattekill Mountain, Catskills, NY

Located in the town of Roxbury, New York, not far from Catskill Park, Plattekill Mountain is a private family friendly resort that offers great skiing in the winter and fantastic trails for mountain biking when the snow melts. The mountain has a vertical drop of 1,100 feet and 38 trails ranging from beginner to truly challenging.

There are two chair lifts to the mountain peaks and surface lifts in the snow tubing park and at the beginner's area.

Every summer a series of free concerts called Music on the Mountain brings thousands to the grassy slopes. Besides mountain biking, summer also offers kayaking, guided hikes, fly fishing and overnight camping.

Plattekill Mountain, 469 Plattekill Rd, Roxbury, New York 12474, Phone: 607-326-3500

Empire State Railway Museum

High up in the mountains, in the heart of the magnificent Catskills in upstate New York, the Empire State Railway Museum stands as a vivid reminder of more romantic times, when one could hear the hoot of the train as it traveled through high mountain passes to destinations unknown.

In 1899, the classic Phoenicia Junction railroad station looked just like so many others, connecting small upstate New York towns from Kingston Point on the Hudson River to a shared station with the New York, West Shore & Buffalo.

Little station has been lovingly restored and converted into a museum dedicated to preserving the memory of historic Ulster & Delaware Railroad and Phoenicia station. What used to be a baggage room is now a gallery exhibiting the Museum's collection of historic photographs and railroad artifacts collected locally. The former waiting room is the venue for regular seminars and meetings. When the weather allows, from May to October, visitors can board a train at the Phoenicia station for a short but scenic ride through the Catskill Mountains.

Empire State Railway Museum, 70 Lower High St, Phoenicia, New York 12464, Phone: 845-688-7501

Hunter Mountain in the Catskills, NY

Only two hours from New York City and one hour from Albany, Hunter Mountain has fun for the whole family, year round.

A part of the Great Northern Catskill Mountains, Hunter Mountain offers such adventures as the longest and highest zipline in North America, a scenic Skyride chair lift to the mountain summit at 3,200 feet, guide services for fly fishing, exciting off-road rides, miles of hiking through the dense forests and much more. Hunter Mountain Resort on the banks of the Dolans Lake offers affordable and comfortable accommodations with condos featuring kitchens and fireplaces. The Resort has its own ski school, gym, spa, three bars, two restaurants and a food court.

Hunter Mountain, 7740 Main St, Hunter, New York 12442, Phone: 518-263-4223

Hanford Mills Museum

Hanford Mills is one of the few places to see a water- and steam-powered historic mill in action. Founded in the 1840s, the sawmill eventually included a gristmill, a feedmill, a woodworking shop, and a hardware store. Hanford Mills quickly gained a reputation for being innovative and creative by using tools like waterwheels, water turbines, and gas engines.

Visitors can tour several Hanford Mills Museum buildings on their own, however, the best way to experience the museum is on a guided tour which includes the sawmill, gristmill and woodworking shop. The site includes the Will Hanford House, the John and Lizzie Hanford Farmstead, and the Walter J. Smith Hardware Store.

Hanford Mills Museum , 51 County Route 12, East Meredith, NY 13757, Phone: 607-278-5744