Outdoors · Catskills
The Catskills in New York
The Catskills are the close-to-home mountain answer for a lot of New York: fire towers, waterfalls, trout water, ski hills, and small towns.
The Catskills are easy to reach, but the access is not one-size-fits-all. DEC Forest Preserve, NYC watershed land, campgrounds, ORDA venues, and private land can sit along the same mountain road.
A useful first plan has one anchor and one backup. Kaaterskill, a fire tower, North-South Lake, a reservoir, or Belleayre each starts with a different official page.
Parking and water access cause many of the avoidable problems here. Read the current Catskill notice, use only a legal lot or access point, and move to the backup when the first place is full.
The useful details
The rules that matter
The Catskills reward a simple plan: exact property, legal access, current conditions, and a backup that does not depend on squeezing into a full lot.
- Find the manager
-
DEC land, NYC watershed land, a campground, an ORDA venue, and private land do not share one access rule.
Use the signs and exact property page. A DEC trail may be open without a permit while nearby watershed land marked Entry by Permit requires a free NYC DEP access permit.
DEC Catskill access overview -> - Kaaterskill parking
-
Park only in a designated lot. The old Molly Smith lot on Route 23A is closed.
DEC lists Laurel House Road, Schutt Road, and North-South Lake Campground as current access choices. Laurel House to the overlook is about 0.3 mile one way; the lower pools are farther and much steeper. A full lot means use another official entrance or the backup.
DEC Kaaterskill access and parking -> - Peekamoose Blue Hole
-
From May 15 through September 15, Blue Hole and the Peekamoose Valley corridor require a $10 day-use permit tied to the vehicle.
Parking is limited to designated areas. At Blue Hole, camping, fires and stoves, alcohol, glass, generators, large coolers, and audio devices are prohibited; the day-use area closes around sunset.
DEC Peekamoose Blue Hole rules -> - Primitive camping
-
Use a marked Camp Here site, or stay at least 150 feet from any road, trail, or waterbody. Above 3,500 feet, camping is barred from March 22 through December 20.
A Forest Ranger permit is required for more than three nights or a group of 10 or more. Catskill Wilderness groups may not exceed 12, even with a permit. Developed campgrounds use separate seasons and reservations.
DEC primitive-camping rules -> - Fires and bears
-
Campfires are prohibited above 3,500 feet year-round. Below that line, use only dead and downed wood where fires are otherwise allowed.
A rigid bear canister is recommended in the Catskills but is not the general Catskill requirement used in the Eastern High Peaks. Store food and scented items so a bear cannot reach them.
DEC Catskill backcountry rules -> - NYC reservoirs
-
Some NYC watershed lands are Public Access Areas; land marked Entry by Permit needs the free DEP access permit.
Reservoir fishing also needs the DEC fishing credential. Boats on listed DEP reservoirs must be registered with DEP and steam-cleaned through its program. Do not carry a boat from another water and launch it on sight.
DEC summary of NYC DEP access -> - Season and water
-
Ice, mud, heavy rain, high stream crossings, summer crowds, and leaf-season traffic can each change the safe route.
Read the date on DEC's regional notice and then open the exact property page. If the regional bulletin is old, do not treat its weather language as today's condition. High water can make a lower creek route worse, not easier.
DEC Catskill notices and standing rules -> - Emergency
-
For a backcountry emergency, call 911 or 1-833-NYS-RANGERS. Do not count on quick cell service or a fast carry-out.
Carry a map, light, water, layers, and a turnaround time even on a short mountain day. Tell someone the exact trailhead and expected return time.
DEC Catskill emergency information ->
Ordinary example
A crowded Kaaterskill morning
A couple reaches Laurel House Road and finds the legal lot full. They do not park on Route 23A or block a shoulder. They open DEC's listed entrances, decide the other access would make the day too rushed, and use the lower trail they saved as a backup. The falls remain a good plan for another morning.
What changes the answer
Facts that change the answer
- The owner or manager
- DEC Forest Preserve, NYC DEP watershed land, ORDA, a campground, and private land can require different permission.
- Day use or overnight
- Camping adds distance, elevation, group-size, food, fire, and permit rules.
- The place and date
- Blue Hole has a seasonal permit; Kaaterskill has named legal entrances; weather and parking can close the practical path.
Do this next
Next steps
- Open the Catskill notice Read current closures, parking alerts, trail conditions, and special-use rules before driving into the mountains.
- Open the exact property Use the property map for the legal lot, route, campsite, and manager-specific rules.
- Build the overnight correctly If camping, check the statewide land rules and contact a Forest Ranger when the stay or group needs a permit.
Good first stops
Kaaterskill Wild Forest
This is the Catskill waterfall postcard, but DEC parking and safety guidance should shape the visit.
Catskill fire towers
Fire towers give the Catskills a mix of views, old mountain history, and hikes with a clear goal.
North-South Lake area
Campground, views, trails, and Kaaterskill access make it one of the easiest Catskill bases to understand.
Before you go
A few checks make the day easier.
- Use DEC's Catskill Backcountry page for current conditions.
- Build extra time for full lots and slower mountain roads.
- Stay on marked trails, especially around waterfalls and ledges.
- Use marked trails and viewing areas.
- Do not climb around barriers or onto wet ledges.
Where to go
Kaaterskill Wild Forest
This is the Catskill waterfall postcard, but DEC parking and safety guidance should shape the visit.
Getting there: Greene County, near Haines Falls, Hunter, and North-South Lake.
Plan the visit →Catskill fire towers
Fire towers give the Catskills a mix of views, old mountain history, and hikes with a clear goal.
Getting there: Six towers in the Catskill Park, including Overlook, Hunter, and Balsam Lake Mountain.
Plan the visit →North-South Lake area
Campground, views, trails, and Kaaterskill access make it one of the easiest Catskill bases to understand.
Getting there: Near Haines Falls and Palenville.
Plan the visit →Belleayre Mountain
A state-run ORDA mountain gives the Catskills a managed winter and shoulder-season anchor.
Getting there: Highmount, in the central Catskills.
Plan the visit →Catskill Forest Preserve
This is the public-land backbone behind the hikes, camping rules, and quiet hollows people come for.
Getting there: State lands across the Catskill Park.
Plan the visit →Plan the Catskills by anchor, not by county
The Catskills cross county lines and town lines, so the best first plan is built around a known anchor. Kaaterskill, North-South Lake, a fire tower, Belleayre, or a village base gives the day a center.
For families or first-timers, a shorter trail plus a town stop often works better than a long summit chase. The Catskills are good at small rewards: a view, a creek, a porch lunch, and home before dark.
For bigger hikes, check DEC conditions, maps, parking, and weather before you leave. Cell service can be patchy.
- •Use DEC's Catskill Backcountry page for current conditions.
- •Build extra time for full lots and slower mountain roads.
- •Stay on marked trails, especially around waterfalls and ledges.
Official source — NYSDEC — Catskill Backcountry Information →
Waterfall days need a little discipline
Kaaterskill is famous for good reason, but waterfall terrain is not a playground. Wet rock, cliff edges, ice, and unofficial paths are where people get into trouble.
DEC points visitors to recommended access points and parking areas. Follow those, even if an old map or social post suggests a shortcut.
A waterfall is still a good cheerful plan. Just treat the edge with respect and give yourself room if the place is crowded.
- •Use marked trails and viewing areas.
- •Do not climb around barriers or onto wet ledges.
- •Have a backup trail for days when parking is full.
Official source — NYSDEC — Kaaterskill Wild Forest →
The same trail can be four different trips
Spring mud, summer crowds, fall leaf traffic, and winter ice can make the same Catskill trail feel brand new each season.
That variety is a gift if you plan for it. Bring traction in cold months, water in summer, and patience during leaf season.
If you are moving nearby, the Catskills can become a weekend rhythm rather than a single big destination.
- •Winter and shoulder-season hikes may need traction or snowshoes.
- •Fall weekends can turn quiet roads into parking puzzles.
- •A lower creek walk can beat a summit when weather is messy.
Official source — NYSDEC — Hike Smart NY →
Quick reference
They are easier to reach, but the trails can still be steep, icy, muddy, and remote
Plan like it is real mountain terrain.
A fire tower hike is a good first goal if your group is ready for the distance and climb
Check DEC for the exact tower and trail.
It can be a good family outing if you use official access, stay on marked trails, and keep children close near ledges and water
It can be a good family outing if you use official access, stay on marked trails, and keep children close near ledges and water.
But rules differ between developed campgrounds and primitive camping
Use DEC camping and state-land rules.
Belleayre is an ORDA venue, and there are other Catskill ski areas
Yes. Check the venue for current operations.
Official sources
Use the agency page when dates, fees, closures, permits, or safety rules matter. Reviewed July 2026.
- NYSDEC — Welcome to the Catskills DEC Catskill Forest Preserve starting point.
- NYSDEC — Catskill Backcountry Information Current conditions, closures, and safety notes.
- NYSDEC — Kaaterskill Wild Forest Kaaterskill access and official place information.
- NYSDEC — Catskills Fire Tower Challenge Fire tower locations and challenge details.
- NYSDEC — State land camping rules Primitive camping rules that can apply on Forest Preserve lands.
- Belleayre Mountain Official Belleayre venue and operating information.
Related outdoors guides