The Catskill Mountains of New York
Located in southeast New York State, between Albany and New York City. the Catskill Mountains region encompasses 700,000 acres of the Catskill Park and occupies parts of four counties: Sullivan, Delaware, Greene and Ulster.
The Catskill mountain ranges’ natural beauty includes breathtaking attractions like cascading waterfalls and scenic vistas, including some of the best fall foliage anywhere. The Catskill Mountains are also famous for its thousands of miles of diverse hiking and mountain biking trails, some of New York’s best ski resorts, opportunities for rock climbing, and abundance of lakes, ponds, creeks, and streams for paddling adventures, swimming, fishing and beginning new adventures. The Catskills are a natural playground for those who love the outdoors.
There are 98 peaks in the Catskill Mountains. The eastern mountains are higher in elevation while the western mountains flatten into the Allegheny Plateau.
Answers To Popular Questions About The Catskill Mountains:
How were the Catskill Mountains formed?
Stretching all the way to the Appalachian Mountains and rising from the Hudson Valley, the Catskill Mountains are not geologically considered mountains at all – they are actually a dissected plateau. Parts of the land were eroded and shaped by sediment deposits and flowing waterways, creating towering mountain-like cliffs.
Fun Fact: Panther Mountain, one of the Catskill High Peaks, is thought to be the site of a meteor landing that occurred 375 million years ago.
What is the tallest mountain in the Catskills?
Slide Mountain is the highest peak in the Catskills, with a summit elevation of 4,180 feet. It is located in the Eastern region of the Catskills in Ulster County.
Are the Catskills part of the Adirondacks?
No, the Catskill Mountains are not part of the Adirondack Mountains, which are further north in eastern upstate New York. However, the Catskill Mountain range does connect to the Pocono Mountain range in Northern Pennsylvania.
What is there to do in the Catskill Mountains?
The Catskills have been an escape for those looking to leave the bustling city lifestyle for hundreds of years. From all-inclusive, family-friendly resorts to endless outdoor recreation opportunities, the Catskills are a natural haven for adventure.
When can I visit the Catskills?
Visitors can enjoy the Catskill Mountains year round. When the snow starts to fall, the ski resorts in the Catskills come alive with skiers and snowboarders and the snowmobiling trails start buzzing with sleds.
In the summer, resorts offer adrenaline-pumping activities like mountain biking and zip-lining, or you can become a member of the Catskill Mountain 3500 Club by hiking each of the 35 Catskill Peaks over 3,500 feet in elevation.
What are the Catskill rivers, lakes and streams like?
The Catskill Mountains were shaped by its waterways, which today are popular spots for recreational water sports like kayaking, canoeing and rafting. The Catskills are also known as the birthplace of American fly fishing. The Delaware River System is stocked with more than 60 species of fish including species of trout, bass, perch, panfish, walleye and more.
The Catskills also provide clean and unfiltered drinking water for nine million people. The NYC Watershed has 19 reservoirs that provide fresh water to New York City through four supply systems: Catskill Supply System, Delaware Supply System, Croton Supply System, and Catskill/Delaware Supply System.
Are there historic sites in the Catskills?
The Catskills have helped shape American culture as the setting for many 19th-century Hudson River School paintings and the historic 1969 Woodstock Festival. Museums throughout the region celebrate the legacy of Catskills art and culture, such as the Thomas Cole Museum, Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum, Hanford Mills Museum and the Museum at Bethel Woods.
What are the Catskill Mountains famous for?
The Catskill Mountains are infamous for being the site of the Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, NY in 1969 and for being the filming location for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, Most recently it was the setting for the second season of the series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Come and visit us! Learn more about our Skiing and Snowboarding mountains and resorts, also near NYC and other major cities in the Northeast.
