Palenville, Tannersville and Hunter Mountain Attractions

Our little corner of Greene County is home to some of the best outdoor activities in the Catskill Mountains.

Hunter Mountain—Best snowmaking in the US

15 minute drive
Forget the weather—Hunter’s snowmaking ensures a solid base from Thanksgiving through mid April!
The closest “big mountain” to metro NY. Trails for all abilities.

Brand new learning center makes Hunter a great place to learn to ski, snowboard, snow-tube and snowshoe.
Summer fun at Hunter: Mountain bilking off the lifts in summer! Summer and Fall outdoor food, crafts and music festivals.

Kaaterskill Falls--Highest 2-tiered waterfall in NY State

The Rip Van Winkle Trail (Route 23A) takes you on a breathtaking mountain drive to the Trailhead parking. Hike the easy, well maintained trail at the bottom of the Falls for a half mile or so to see the jaw-dropping splendor of Kaaterskill’s double waterfall. After this point it is not advised to attempt the steep and treacherous ascent to the top of the falls.

North/South Lake
Hundreds of acres of pristine state land. Swimming and recreational area in the summer.
In the winter, no fee use for hundreds of trails to delight the hearty winter sports person. Great for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Rip Van Winkle Country Club, Palenville

Golf specials for guests of the Woodbine
Beautiful mountain views, 9 hole par 36,
playable as an 18 hole par 72. Donald Ross design.
Public invited. Motor/hand carts, cocktails, lunch/dinner.
Route 23A, Palenville, NY 12463
Phone: 518-678-9779

Blackhead Mountain Country Club,  Round Top

Challenging 18 Holes, par 72. Championship golf course with beautiful mountain views. Restaurant and Cocktail Bar.

Story Farm

Local, nearby family farm sells fresh produce daily. Pick-your-own seasonal fruit and vegetables.

Zoom Flume

The largest water park in the Catskills. Giant water slides! Directions: Off Route 145, East Durham

Woodstock

Go back in time to 1969. This pretty village is alive with shops, galleries, crafts, magick and spiritual emporiums, as well as many fine restaurants. Most of all, enjoy the people watching--the local characters and drumming circles on the Green, and the occasional high-voltage celebrity sighting. There’s always something happening in Woodstock!

*** Recommended: Overlook Mountain

This 2 and a half mile hike has a wide, groomed trail but maintains a fairly relentless 45 degree climb most of the way. Well worth the sweat though--continue past the shell of the old Overlook Mountain House to the ranger’s tower at the top. Beautiful views of the Hudson Valley, Ashokan Reservoir and surrounding mountains. Bring water!
Rock City Road out of Woodstock and head straight up Mead’s Mountain Road.

*** Recommended: Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Monastery

Tibetan Buddhist monastery scenically situated at the trailhead to Overlook Mountain, above Woodstock.. It is the North American monastic seat of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Teachings and practices of the “whispered lineage” are preserved in their purity and made available to Western students who wish to learn about and practice Tibetan Buddhism. Respectful etiquette and attire required when visiting the splendid Shrine Room. Gift Shop sells books, CDs and artifacts.
335 Meads Mountain Road, Woodstock, NY 12498
845.679.5906 office

Woodstock Artist’s Association

this gallery right on the main drag of Tinker Street features group shows and spotlights individual talents of local Woodstock artists.

Woodstock's Artist’s Cemetery

A serene place for a walk--and fascinating resting place of local artists and visionaries of the past century.

Woodstock Outdoor Flea Market

Saturdays and Sundays in summer. Nick-nacks, collectibles--a browser's dream.

Saugerties

Saugerties abounds with old-world charm. Spend a pleasant afternoon browsing its many antiques stores, bookstores, shops and restaurants.

*** Recommended: Saugerties Lighthouse

A scenic nature trail takes you out to the lighthouse through a wetlands preserve teeming with wildflowers, marsh grasses and river birds. The lighthouse contains a museum with regular tours on the weekends, and the deck out back has picnic tables and stunning views of the Hudson. Bring a cooler--it’s a wonderful spot to watch the sun set over the surrounding Catskill Mountains.
Lighthouse Drive, Saugerties, NY 12477, Phone: 845/247-0656,
E-mail: info@saugertieslighthouse.com, Website: http://www.saugertieslighthouse.com

Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS-ON-THE-HUDSON)

A summer-long extravaganza--the finest hunter/jumpers nationwide stampede the town of Saugerties to compete at this brand new Olympic-grade equestrian center. The grounds hold stabling for 1,500 horses as well as restaurants, shopping --even a Mercedes dealership. 

100% of gate proceeds go to benefit Family of Woodstock--a non-for-profit organization assisting teens and families in crisis.
454 Washington Ave, Saugerties. 845-246-8833.

 Western Catskills--Phoenecia

*** Recommended: Town Tinker Tube Rental
Phoenecia’s main industry (perhaps sadly)--tubing the Esopus Creek is a LOT of fun. Drift lazily downstream but don’t be fooled, there are a few unexpected surprises that require a keen eye and a lot of attention. This lovely little mountain town, known for it’s excellent fishing, also has some nice shops and restaurants.
Bridge Street, Phoenicia, 12464
May thru September daily 9 to 6
Phone: 845-688-5553

Catskill Corners 

Great for families--World’s largest kaleidoscope, the Gallery of Light & Magic, including Capt. Kaleido’s Star Works & Tom’s Crystal Palace. The Spotted Dog Restaurant is themed on fire engines and fire-fighting apparatus . Several intriguing gift shops.
Directions: Route 28, in Mt. Tremper, 19 miles west of Thruway exit 19.
Off Rt. 23A in Haines Falls at the end of County Route 18 

Catskill Mountain Railroad

great for kids, ride the antique, open cars from Catskill Corners to Phonecia. You can even rent your tubes and have the railroad take you there, while you tube back.

Fishing The Esopus River

One of the best wild rainbow trout populations in the northeast, it runs cold and clean, the legacy of the high Catskill peaks from which it rises. Esopus contains brook, brown and rainbow trout, but rainbows are easily the most abundant.
In the Catskills, stocking is delayed until later in April to allow flows to recede and water temperatures to rise. In these streams, which include such nationally renowned waters as the Beaver Kill, Willowemoc, Neversink and Esopus, wild trout and hatchery-holdovers from previous years provide the opportunity for good early season fishing.

Fishing Licenses--Licenses Are Required to Fish!

Everyone must have a valid fishing license in their possession while fishing, except persons under 16 years of age.

A fishing license is required on the entire length of all Hudson River tributaries south of the Troy Dam to the Tappan Zee Bridge even if the tributary is subject to tidal flow. Local licenses available at:
Garrison’s, Rip Van Winkle Outfitters
Address: Main Street, Route 23A, Tannersville
Town of Hunter Town Hall - Monday-Friday only
Address: Haines Falls.
Phone: 518-589-6150

Across the river, Dutchess County

River Road

A beautiful drive past stately mansions and ancient apple orchards. Follow River Road past Bard College (stop in and take a look at Frank Gehry’s fabulous Center for Performing Arts) to the tiny village of Tivoli. It’s a blip on the map, but home to a surprising number of good restaurants and galleries.

*** Recommended: Poet’s Walk

Heartbreakingly lovely walk from River Road to the Hudson River. Scenic seating is placed along the way--rest up on the last rough-hewn bench and contemplate the beauty of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountain Range. (Stop for an outdoor-patio dinner at the Black Bear in Tivoli for a perfect, romantic day.)

*** Recommended: Olana

A Persian masterpiece of architecture and landscaping, named for a fortress treasure-house in ancient Persia, Olana was the home of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900), one of America’s most important artists, a student of Thomas Cole, and a major figure in the Hudson River School of landscape painting.
Church’s beautiful home affords stunning views of the Hudson River, and tours explain his art and artifacts. Located across the river in the town of Hudson, entrance is on 9G, one mile south of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.