Four Seasons
The Western Catskills is lucky to experience the four seasons in all their brilliant, rich beauty. Every season is bustles with activity. We encourage our fall guests to come back and try us in the winter and next year for summer fun.
FALL comes FIRST in the Western Catskills
Fall foliage starts popping it's colors in mid September in the Western Catskills. Our high altitudes and cooler evenings start prodding the trees to move towards dormancy earlier than you might expect. It continues on through Columbus Weekend and then the leaves fall. 
Two great ways to enjoy the foliage are on an hour and a half train ride on the Delaware and Ulster Railroad www.durr.org or on a ski lift ride at Plattekill Mountain www.plattekill.com. Harvest festivals about in every town - check out our event calendar for dates at www.delawarecountytoday.com.
A great way to experience the mountains is with a guided hike, paddle or rope course. You can arrange for these privately through the Catskill Outback Adventures. www.catskilloutback.com Or check in on (or even better yet - join!! the Catskill Mountain Club and their volunteer led hikes, bikes, paddles and workshops. www.catskillmountainclub.org. Many members of the club assist with the planning of the Lark in the Park - an annual celebration of the anniversary of the founding of the Catskill Forest Preserve - find out more at www.catskillpark.org. NEW this summer - Stone Tavern Farm now boasts the Catskills longest ZIP LINE measuring in at 1100 feet. Check out Roxbury's newest playground!
Working up a sweat biking is actually fun in the fall and Plattekill Mountain provides two great ways to do this. Hardcore - go down the mountains ski runs. www.plattekill.com Less adventurous can rent bikes and have yourselves dropped off on the scenic and flat Catskill Scenic Trail - a former railroad bed now open to the public as a rail trail. www.catskillscenictrail.org
But there is still plenty of great hiking weather after the leaves come down, as well as hunting season for turkey and other fowl and the archery season for deer. You'll even find intrepid anglers on the rivers here and there. For a listing of local guides contact the New York State Outdoor Guide Association www.nysoga.org.
While you're here check out a winter ski season rental and get a great deal on a season ski pass at Plattekill. It's a charming family friendly mountain with great instructors to help you improve your skills and Saturday night tubing fun. Advanced skiers love the challenging double black diamond runs on the mountain. And there's snow making galore with improved machines that churn up the runs and maintaina great surface no matter what mother nature throws at us. Winter rocks in the Western Catskills - stay tuned for more on that soon.
Fall comes FIRST in the Western Catskills.
