People have long flocked to the Catskills Mountains in southeastern New York for a dose of nature and fresh air. The area has more than 30 peaks taller than 3,500 feet and is popular for hiking. Kaaterskill Falls Trail is one of the region’s more popular trails. When I visited on a Friday in mid-October, it was peak leaf-peeping season, and the Lower Falls Trail was getting plenty of use. It’s a short hike — 1.6 miles out and back — with a big payoff: up-close views of a gorgeous waterfall. But just because it’s short doesn’t make it easy. Here’s what to know before you hike it yourself.
When we visited the Mountain Top Arboretum on a beautiful autumn afternoon, it was lovely and peaceful. Hardly anybody was at this public garden near Tannersville, New York, in the Catskill Mountains. The arboretum’s boardwalks and trails boast 178 acres of wetlands, meadows, forest, and plants, plants, plants.
If you like to combine your hikes with some nature education, you’ll probably like the arboretum. Visitors can walk a few miles of trails while stopping to read interpretive signage. People like me who always need a refresher course on tree ID will appreciate the round blue name tags tacked to trunks here and there.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
During my visit, the fall leaves were very beautiful. But photos showing the arboretum meadows blossoming in spring, or snow blanketing the leafless trees in winter, suggest that it’s worth the trip year-round.
West Meadow
The arboretum is divided into East and West Meadows. The West Meadow features the Rain Garden, which slows spring and summer runoff. Plantings in Bird Cove offer shelter, food, and a place to nest for some of the 60 species of birds who frequent the arboretum.
Artist Harry Matthews calls his stacked rock art “Anthropoliths.” / Photo by Teresa Bergen
You can also stroll a spiral labyrinth or check out the stacked rock sculptures. I especially liked the collections of dwarf conifers.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
East Meadow
The East Meadow has the Pine Allée, where you can walk between grand rows of eastern white pine. I was excited to wander the Fern Trail — until I realized the obvious, which is that ferns die back into a crunchy dry mass of brown in autumn. I imagine it’s glorious in spring. My favorite part of the East Meadow was the Wetland Boardwalk, which was very colorful in the fall.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
Wildlife at the arboretum
Depending on the time of year and your own good fortune, you might encounter some small but interesting critters inside the arboretum. The West Meadow Rain Garden provides a rich habitat for many species, offering them a place to lay eggs under leaves, drink flower nectar, or eat some berries and seeds. Monarch butterflies appreciate the meadow’s milkweed, while the nocturnal spotted salamander uses soft rush as a protective covering to hide from predators.
A view of the West Meadow. / Photo by Teresa Bergen
Arboretum events
The arboretum hosts nature-related walks and workshops. Upcoming events include a class on making holiday centerpieces with natural materials, guided walks, and a tree ID class. Next March, artist Laura Leigh Lanchantin will teach the traditional method of making watercolor paint from the sedimentary rock and clay of the Catskill and Appalachian Mountains. Then, she’ll guide you through an open-air painting session with your new paint. All for 10 bucks!
If you go
This isn’t the place for your cutest shoes — unless your cutest shoes are rain boots. Be prepared for some mud and muck. A rain jacket also came in handy during our visit. You can wander the arboretum for free, but they appreciate a donation of at least five dollars. The nearby All Souls Church is also worth a look. We walked over from the West Meadow to check out this Episcopal stone church built in 1894.
All Souls Church. / Photo by Teresa Bergen
If you visit in winter, this is a good place to snowshoe. And sorry, Fido, no dogs allowed.
This trail in New York’s Catskill Mountains is just a few miles outside the busy, touristy town of Woodstock. The key to the trail’s popularity is in the name: that overlook means stunning and far-reaching views. Especially if you visit in the fall. Your 2.3-mile (4.6-mile roundtrip) walk pays off in letting you stand above a sea of golden leaves. Of course, I’m sure springtime green wouldn’t be bad, either.
Allow at least three hours for this moderately challenging hike through a mixed deciduous forest featuring maples and oaks. The trail may be a bit crowded, especially on weekends. Your leashed dog can also enjoy hiking the Overlook Mountain Trail. April through November are the best months to go. Here are some additional details to help you plan your trek.
Hidden within New York’s Catskill Forest Preserve, a shimmering pool of cool water awaits hikers who trek through Sundown Wild Forest. This gorgeous spot is known as Peekamoose Blue Hole, and it might just be your new favorite swimming hole.
What can Blue Hole visitors expect from their trip? First, guests will have to keep their fingers crossed to find a parking spot. The nearby Peekamoose Mountain Trailhead parking area can only fit 10 cars. On hot summer days, the lot can fill up fast.
After parking, guests only need to tackle a short hike to reach the serene beauty of Peekamoose Blue Hole. Rondout Creek’s chilly waters power this swimming spot and make it especially refreshing during warm months.
Like many beloved outdoor destinations, Peekamoose Blue Hole has attracted numerous visitors seeking adventurous wilderness experiences. Over time, growing crowds began damaging the area through overuse and littering. Today, such issues are mitigated with help from New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Potential visitors can responsibly enjoy Peekamoose Blue Hole by getting a $10 permit through Reserve America. As always, outdoor adventurers are also highly encouraged to follow Leave No Trace principles. This means properly disposing of all waste and keeping to established trails. The DEC also prohibits alcohol, glass containers, and using audio devices like radios in the area.
Agree to those rules? Then you’re ready to enjoy a day at Peekamoose Blue Hole. Whether you plan to dive into the deep or lounge on the bank, expect to enjoy views of a glittering stream flanked by lush trees. Guests who don’t plan on swimming can also visit in the fall to see the surrounding Sundown Wild Forest’s colorful foliage reflected in the water.
Learn even more about this special location here. Discover more swimming holes in Outdoors Wire’s round-up of the best spots in all 50 states.
