Plan Your Visit to the Catskills - Catskills Visitor Center (2024)

FAQs

What's so special about the Catskills? ›

The Catskills were named by early Dutch settlers. They are well known in American society as the setting for films and works of art, including many 19th-century Hudson River School paintings, as well as for being a favored destination for vacationers from New York City in the mid-20th century.

Cheap airfares, the popularity of seaside vacations and the decline of anti-Semitism had a huge impact on the tourism industry in the region. By the 1970s the area was a shadow of its 1960s peak, just one large resort hotel remained in the 1980s, and by the 1990s it too had fallen into bankruptcy.

We would definitely do this again! “A Natural scenic beauty from the Hill Top.” It's a Mountain range where skiing is done during winter over the ice-clad mountain slopes. But even, in summer it's place to be visited and enjoyed both with families as well as for romantic couples.

All told, 2.711 million people per year visit the West-of-the-Hudson Catskill-Delaware Watershed and the Catskill Park, Zweig found.

21st century. As of the 2010s, the region is a summer home for many Orthodox Jewish families. Some of the hotels have been converted into rehab centers, meditation centers or Orthodox Jewish hotels and resorts. The former hom*owack Lodge in Phillipsport was converted into a summer camp for Hasidic girls.

Today, modern high-rise casinos, waterpark hotels, family-friendly all-inclusive properties, boutique motels and ski lodges draw visitors for year-round relaxation and recreation amid the scenic Catskill Mountains.

The Catskills have a long up-and-down history as a hotspot for wealthy New Yorkers. Now, the owners of a local tiny house resort say millennials are helping the destination make its latest comeback.

Attention Catskill Hikers: Heavy rain has led to flooding conditions in the Catskills. For your safety, avoid trails with stream crossings and never attempt to cross high, fast-moving water. Please be advised that the trails are very wet and easily susceptible to damage and erosion.

The Catskills' resurgence as a vacation destination is headed into high gear in 2022. For years, the region has been building back to its Borscht Belt heyday, when New York City residents flocked to the countryside to stay in one of hundreds of Catskills resorts.

Spring (March-May)

This is a great time to take a hike in the many trails of the Catskills area. The flora and fauna will be emerging after a cold winter and the air will feel cool in your lungs.

How much does it cost to go to the Catskills? ›

There is no one set entrance to the Catskills and there are no fees to come. The Catskill Park was created to conserve and preserve the unique natural resources of this region. New York State created the Catskill Forest Preserve in 1885.

The origin of the name Catskill is somewhat contentious. It has long been argued that the name is derived from Kaaterskill (Dutch: “Wildcat Creek”), as one of the better-known nearby streams is called (probably because of the presence of bobcats).

Well-known trails get crowded and parking spots fill up quickly and early.

For years, the Catskills have been popular with city dwellers who want to leave the hectic urban sprawl behind and reconnect with nature. The green acreage and mountain ranges of the Catskills serve as the perfect backdrop to connect with the natural world.

Windham, the “Gem of the Catskills,” is one of the oldest small towns in the region. Established in 1798, it has been charming visitors for over two centuries.

The Catskill mountains are known for their dome-shaped peaks, while the Adirondacks are more jagged and rocky.

The adventure that follows is one of America's most cherished folktales – Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle. For nearly two centuries, the myth of Henry Hudson's ghost and Rip's lengthy slumber have endured, adding to the delightful enchantment the Great Northern Catskills hold for many contemporary visitors.