Catskill Mountains Activities
- The Catskills offer some of the best skiing in the region, with easy access to the area from New York City and Albany. The mountains have runs for beginners and experts alike. Belleayre Mountain has been a haven for New York skiers since its first official ski season in 1949. Holiday, Hunter, Mount Peter, Plattekill and Windham mountains round out the vast winter sports opportunities in the Catskills, with activities like cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding and tubing. These areas also provide activities for the whole family in the summer months, too, with hiking, swimming, and nature discovery opportunities.
- Fly fishing has been a part of the Catskill region for over a hundred years. Pioneers of trout fishing came to the area at the end of the 1800s and made their mark on American flyfishing by innovating the crafts of fly tying and rod making. There is even a Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum that endeavors to preserve and honor the rich angling tradition of the area. They have educational programs and exhibit artifacts of fishing history. Fly fishers can find outstanding opportunities for fishing in the many rivers and streams of the area, including the Beaverkill River, the Willowemoc, the Esopus Creek, and the Neversink River. All are picturesque and prime fishing spots.
- Between the Shawangunk Mountains and the Hudson River, the Shawangunk Wine Trail features 11 member wineries. Each winery on the trail adheres to the winemaking traditions of the French Huguenots who settled in the region in the 1600s. The trail offers small and large wineries producing both red and white wines. There are festivals and events throughout the year that celebrate the wine region and all it has to offer, including jazz concerts, a strawberry festival, themed tours and holiday events.
- The Catskills provide truly scenic opportunities for golf. Golfers of all handicaps will find much to delight them in the Catskills, including courses lined with ponds, pine trees, oak trees and the majestic mountains. Memorable courses include the Stone Dock Golf Club, the Blackhill Mountain Lodge and Country Club and the Sunny Hill Golf Club.