The Catksill 3500 Club, an organization of intrepid souls dedicated to hiking all 35 Catskills peaks with summits of 3,500 feet or more, outlines high-peaks hikes in its quarterly Catskill Canister ($10 annual subscription). The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, in Arkville, occasionally runs guided hikes in the northern Catskills. Alternatively, you can join the Rip Van Winkle Hikers on one of their beginner, intermediate, or advanced group hikes; nearly every weekend the hikers congregate in Saugerties (a few miles east of the northern Catskills), at the parking lot on the corner of Market and Main streets, and then carpool to their destination. In the southern Catskills, the Catskill Hiking Shack (in Wurtsboro, about a 20-minute drive southeast of Monticello) carries hiking and camping gear and will point you to the area's best hiking spots.

Hiking in the Catskills can be amazing, but the rocky terrain and abundance of wildlife, including raccoons, skunks, porcupines, and bears, mean that extra care should be taken whenever you head away from populated areas. The state's Department of Environmental Conservation includes safety information on its Web site.

Biking

Delaware County Chamber of Commerce (114 Main St., Delhi, 13753. 607/746-2281. www.delawarecounty.org). Mountain Bike Inn (Rte. 23A, Haines Falls. 518/589-9079. www.mountainbikeinn.com). Sullivan County Visitor's Association (100 North St., Monticello, 12701. 800/882-2287. www.scva.net).

Canoeing & Kayaking

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (845/256-3161 Esopus water-release information. www.dec.state.ny.us).

Fishing

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (866/933-2257 fishing licenses; 845/256-3000 general information. www.dec.state.ny.us).

Hiking

Catskill Center for Conservation and Development (43355 Rte. 28, Arkville. 845/586-2611. www.catskillcenter.org). Catskill Hiking Shack (169 Sullivan St., Wurtsboro. 845/888-4453. www.catskillhikes.com). Catskill 3500 Club (members.aol.com/howiedash/catskill_3500_club.htm). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (845/256-3000. www.dec.state.ny.us). Rip Van Winkle Hikers (845/246-8616. www.newyorkheritage.com/rvw).