10 Easy Hikes in the Catskills
A few hours north of New York City lies a beautiful mountain region, the Catskills. The Catskills are a popular year-round destination because of its fun trails, stunning waterfalls, and ski resorts. Although the area offers many outdoor activities, hiking is the best way to experience the beauty of the Catskills.
And the best part? There are trails for all hiking levels! Whether you want to backpack, do a long day hike, or explore short and easy trails, the Catskills has something for everyone! This guide has everything you need to know about the best easy hikes in the Catskills that are great for all levels!
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When to Hike in the Catskills
Spring
Spring is a beautiful time to hike in the Catskills after the snow melts. However, winter conditions can last through spring on the trails, so it is crucial to research road and trail conditions and pack the appropriate gear.
Summer
Summer is one of the most popular times to hike in the Catskills because it has perfect hiking weather, and the trails will be open and snow-free! If you visit in the summer, I highly recommend arriving at the trailheads early in the morning because the parking lots fill up quickly.
Fall
Fall is another one of the most popular times to hike in the Catskills because of the beautiful foliage. Vibrant foliage takes over the mountains and valleys, leaving the area looking like a painting. Because this is one of the most popular times to visit the Catskills, I recommend arriving at the trailheads early in the morning to secure a parking spot.
Winter
Winter in the Catskills brings cold weather and snowy trails, so it is crucial to pack the appropriate hiking gear to stay warm and safe. Also, some of the roads leading to the trailheads close in the winter, so I recommend staying up-to-date with road closures if you are planning to visit.
What to Pack for Easy Hikes in the Catskills
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
The 10 Best Easy Hikes in the Catskills
Kaaterskill Falls
Length: 0.6 miles round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
If you are looking to hike one of the most beautiful and iconic easy hikes in the Catskills, Kaaterskill Falls is for you. Kaaterskill Falls is the most iconic waterfall in the Catskills because it is epic, standing 231 feet tall. The easiest way to view Kaaterskill Falls is to hike 0.6 miles round trip to the viewing platform overlooking the waterfall. The trail is flat and easy to navigate to the viewing platform!
If you are up for a longer hike, you can hike to the bottom of the falls for 2.3 miles round trip. The trail has many steps leading you to both drops and can be steep at times. If you decide to hike to the bottom, you have two ways to view Kaaterskill Falls. The first is to hike to the bottom of the first and longest drop, allowing you to walk behind the waterfall. The hike behind the waterfall is steep and slippery, so please use caution if you decide to hike it. The second way is to hike to the bottom drop, which gives you a stunning view of the entire falls. I highly recommend going to both if you have time!
No matter how you decide to enjoy Kaaterskill falls, it will quickly become one of your favorite easy hikes in the Catskills!
Catskill Mountain House
Length: 1.7 miles round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
Catskill Mountain House and Boulder Rock is a beautiful easy hike not far from Kaaterskill Falls. The 0.6-mile round trip easy hike in the Catskills follows along a well-maintained path to the Catskill Mountain House Site, which used to be a popular hotel for travelers, but now only offers a beautiful overlook.
If you want to hike further, you can follow the trail to Boulder Rock, which offers similar views, making it a 1.7-mile round trip hike. No matter how you decide to enjoy this trail, it will quickly become one of your favorite easy hikes in the Catskills!
Plattekill Falls
Length: 0.4 miles round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
Not far from Kaaterskill Falls is another easy hike in the Catskills to a waterfall. Unlike Kaaterskill Falls, Plattekill Falls is often overlooked by many visitors. The 70-foot waterfall requires a short and easy 0.4-mile round trip hike to view the stunning falls from the bottom and is worth a visit! There is limited parking along the street near the trailhead because it is in a private neighborhood. If you can find a parking spot, you can enjoy the easy hike to the beautiful waterfall!
Ashokan Promenade
Length: 5.5 miles round trip
Dog-friendly: No
The Ashokan Promenade is easily one of the most beautiful easy hikes in the Catskills. Although the hike is 5.5 miles round trip, you don’t need to hike the entire trail to take in the views. The Ashokan Promenade follows along the southern shores of the Ashokan Reservoir and offers beautiful views of the Catskill Mountains. The trail is relatively flat and paved, so it’s accessible to everyone! It’s a stunning trail in the Catskills that everyone should hike!
Awosting Falls
Length: 1.1 miles round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
Awosting Falls is the iconic 60-foot waterfall in Minnewaska State Park in the southern part of the Catskills. Minnewaska State Park offers many things to do, including waterfalls, fun trails, and scenic views around Lake Minnewaska. Awosting Falls is one of the first trailheads when you enter the state park and usually has a lot of visitors, so I recommend arriving as soon as the park opens (the hours vary throughout the year).
The 1.2-mile round trip easy hike follows the park road until it enters the forest near the waterfall. The trail then descends via switchbacks to the bottom of Awosting Falls, where you can take in its beauty! You cannot get close to the waterfall and must stay on the trail, but the trail offers stunning views of it! Awosting Falls is an easy hike in the Catskills that everyone should visit!
Stony Kill Falls
Length: 1 mile round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
Stony Kill Falls is another waterfall in Minnewaska State Park but is an often overlooked easy hike in the Catskills. The waterfall is similar to Awosting Falls but does not receive the same foot traffic, making it a great alternative if Awosting Falls is crowded!
The easy 1-mile round trip hike brings you to the side of the 87-foot waterfall, offering a beautiful view, and then to the top of it. The trail to the top is steep, so you can turn around after the waterfall overlook since that is the best view, in my opinion. The easy hike is well worth it to experience Stony Kill Falls!
Sam’s Point
Length: 1 mile round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
Sam’s Point is an easy hike in the Catskills that offers some of the best views in Minnewaska State Park. The 1-mile round trip hike follows a paved path to Sam’s Point Overlook, where you can enjoy beautiful views overlooking Minnewaska State Park. Because Sam’s Point is one of the most beautiful overlooks, the area can become crowded. On weekends and holidays, you need to make a parking reservation in advance to secure a spot.
If you want to hike a longer trail, you can enjoy a 6.8-mile round trip trail to Sam’s Point, the Ice Caves, and Vereerderkill Falls.
Diamond Notch Falls
Length: 1.7 miles round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
Although Diamond Notch Falls isn’t the tallest waterfall in the Catskills, it does not lack beauty. The easy 1.7-mile round trip hike brings you to the bottom of the waterfall, offering beautiful views. This area is especially beautiful in the fall, surrounded by vibrant foliage. You don’t want to miss this easy hike in the Catskills!
The Windham Path
Length: 2.4 miles round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
The Windham Path is a beautiful easy hike in the Catskills near Windham. The flat 2.4-mile round trip trail is incredibly scenic, offering gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. The Windham Path is one of the easiest hikes in the Catskills in this guide and is perfect for everyone looking to enjoy a beautiful walk.
Mine Kill Falls
Length: 1 mile round trip
Dog-friendly: Yes
If you want to hike to a beautiful waterfall in a gorge, Mine Kill Falls is perfect. The drive to it is a little out of the way, but in my opinion, it is worth it! The 1-mile round trip easy hike in the Catskills begins at the Mine Kill Falls overlook and follows along a well-maintained path to observation decks overlooking the top of the falls. You can only see the top of Mine Kill Falls from the observation decks, so I recommend hiking a little further to the bottom of the falls. The views of Mine Kill Falls from the bottom are unmatched, so I highly recommend hiking to it!
If you are looking for easy hikes in the Catskills, this guide is for you! It has everything you need to know about the best easy hikes in the Catskills that should be on every bucket list!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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