When to Go

Spring in the Catskills brings the reemergence of dormant fauna, mating, and foraging for food as buds burst into flower on the branches. In summer, the mountains fill with travelers roaming dense forests, splashing in cool rivers and watering holes, and attending countless festivals. Autumn foliage burns golden amber, rich red, brilliant orange, and occasionally pink. In winter, bare, silvery branches stretch to the sky, laden with mounds of snow and icicles. The only time to avoid visiting is during mud season—usually mid-March to mid-May—when the melting snow and rainfall turn the region into a gooey mess, and many businesses close.