The Quiet Magic of the Catskills in Spring
Every April, the Catskills exhale. Kaaterskill Falls roars back to life, the spring peepers start calling, and Main Streets that felt sleepy in March suddenly hum with farmers markets and weekenders up from the city. It is, quietly, the best-kept secret of upstate New York travel.
From Red Cottage, you are perfectly placed to catch it at its best. The foliage crowds haven’t arrived yet, the trails feel like they belong to the locals again, and if you can visit between mid-April and Memorial Day, you’ll get the Catskills at their most alive and least packed.
Spring Hikes and Waterfalls
April is the single best month of the year for waterfall hikes in the Catskills. Snowmelt sends rivers and creeks rushing over ledges that look like a trickle by August. Two destinations top the list every year.
Kaaterskill Falls
At 260 feet across two tiers, Kaaterskill Falls is the tallest waterfall in New York State and the headliner of any spring trip to the northern Catskills. After a wet April, the upper plunge thunders. There’s a short, easy walk from the Laurel House Road parking lot to the viewing platform at the top, plus a steep stone staircase down to the gorge between the upper and lower falls if you want the full immersion.
- Rating: 4.8 stars (1,470+ reviews)
- Address: Hunter, NY 12436
- Best time: Weekday mornings before 10 AM. The Laurel House lot fills fast on weekends, so be ready to use the Schutt Road overflow lot a half mile down.
- What to bring: Waterproof hiking boots, microspikes if you’re going in March, and a camera. Trails are slick and muddy through mid-May.
Overlook Mountain Wild Forest
Overlook Mountain is the moderate-effort, big-reward hike just outside Woodstock. The roughly 5-mile out-and-back climbs steadily up an old carriage road, passes the eerie ruins of the abandoned Overlook Mountain House hotel, and ends at a fire tower with one of the most spectacular Hudson Valley views in the region. On a clear spring day, you can see the Ashokan Reservoir, the Hudson River, and the high peaks of the southern Catskills.
- Rating: 4.8 stars (445+ reviews)
- Trailhead: Bearsville, NY 12409 (Meads Mountain Road, opposite the Tibetan Buddhist monastery)
- Best time: Mornings in late April or early May once the snow has fully melted off the upper ridge.
- Heads-up: The parking lot is small and fills early. There’s no water on the trail, so carry your own.
Quick tip on mud season
Mid-March through late April is locally known as mud season. The Catskills 3500 Club and DEC ask hikers to avoid trails above 3,000 feet during this window because soft soil damages the tread. Stick to lower-elevation hikes like Kaaterskill, Overlook, or the carriage roads at Mohonk Preserve until things firm up.
Spring Events and Seasonal Traditions
Spring in the Catskills is event season for locals. A few traditions are worth planning a trip around.
Trout Season Opening Day, April 1
If there’s one date that defines spring in the western Catskills, it’s April 1. The opening of trout season turns Roscoe (officially “Trout Town USA”) into the center of the fly fishing universe. The town hosts the Trout About Town scavenger hunt in early April, and local guides line up on the Beaverkill, the Willowemoc, and the upper Delaware. Even if you don’t fish, the riverside towns are at their most charming in the first week of April.
Catskills Cider Fest at Seminary Hill, May
Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery in Callicoon is a working orchard and the only Living Building Challenge certified cidery in the world, perched on a ridge with views straight down the Delaware Valley. Their spring cider festival pulls in cider makers from across the Northeast and pairs the pours with a seasonal menu from their kitchen.
- Rating: 4.6 stars (310+ reviews)
- Address: 43 Wagner Ln, Callicoon, NY 12723
- Hours: Friday 12-9 PM, Saturday 11 AM-9 PM, Sunday 11 AM-8 PM
- Phone: (845) 887-4056
- Don’t miss: The wood-fired pizza, dry ice ciders on tap, and the panoramic deck at sunset.
Mohonk Mountain House Tulip Festival, late April through mid-May
Just over the Catskills line in New Paltz, the historic Mohonk Mountain House plants more than 30,000 tulips every spring across its mountaintop gardens. You don’t need to be an overnight guest to experience it, day passes get you onto the gardens, the tea terrace, and the surrounding 70 miles of carriage trails through the Mohonk Preserve.
- Rating: 4.5 stars (4,280+ reviews)
- Address: 1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561
- Phone: (888) 976-2943
- Tip: Day passes are limited and sell out on weekends. Book at least a week ahead through the Mohonk website.
Spring Towns, Restaurants, and Tasting Rooms
Half the joy of a Catskills weekend is small-town wandering. Here are the stops we send guests to first.
The Heron, Narrowsburg
The Heron sits on Main Street in Narrowsburg with a back deck overlooking the Delaware River, and it’s the kind of farm-to-table restaurant where the menu changes with what local growers can pick that week. The vegan Katsu tofu bowl, the catfish and broccolini, and the honey butter biscuit have all become guest favorites.
- Rating: 4.6 stars (370+ reviews)
- Address: 40 Main St, Narrowsburg, NY 12764
- Hours: Thursday-Friday 5-8 PM, Saturday 12-3 PM, Sunday 11 AM-3 PM (closed Mon-Wed)
- Phone: (845) 252-3333
Catskill Brewery, Livingston Manor
Catskill Brewery brews on a passive-house-certified site in Livingston Manor and pulls a fly-fishing-and-locals crowd that’s quintessentially western Catskills. They open the taproom for the official Fly Fishing Opening Day Ceremony on April 1 with casting lessons, fly-tying demos, and live music.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (240+ reviews)
- Address: 672 Old Rte 17, Livingston Manor, NY 12758
- Hours: Mon, Wed 3-7 PM, Thurs 3-8 PM, Fri-Sat 12-8 PM, Sun 12-7 PM (closed Tue)
- Phone: (845) 439-1232
- Try: Their Ratface McDouglas, a guest favorite that consistently sells out.
Catskill Art Space, Livingston Manor
A stop on the way to or from the brewery, the Catskill Art Space (CAS) is a free two-story contemporary art museum that anchors Livingston Manor’s Main Street. The permanent installation by James Turrell alone is worth the drive, the rotating shows feature artists like Francis Cape and others working at a serious national level.
- Rating: 4.8 stars (32+ reviews)
- Address: 48 Main St, Livingston Manor, NY 12758
- Hours: Friday-Saturday 11 AM-5 PM, Sunday 11 AM-3 PM (closed Mon-Thu)
- Phone: (845) 436-4227
Beekman 1802 Kindness Shop, Sharon Springs
Just north of the Catskills proper in Sharon Springs, the Beekman 1802 store is a destination unto itself. Their goat-milk skincare line built a national following, and spring is when their Baby Goat Tours kick off, you can sign up for a working farm tour and meet newborn goats. Pair it with lunch in the village of Sharon Springs for a perfect day trip.
- Rating: 4.6 stars (430+ reviews)
- Address: 187 Main St, Sharon Springs, NY 13459
- Hours: Daily 10 AM-6 PM (closed Tuesday)
- Phone: (888) 801-1802
A Sample 3-Day Spring Itinerary
If you want a turnkey weekend, this is the rhythm we recommend to first-time spring visitors.
Friday afternoon: Drive up from the city, settle into your rental, and head to Livingston Manor for an early dinner at Catskill Brewery and a quick walk through Catskill Art Space.
Saturday: Sunrise hike to the Kaaterskill Falls viewing platform. Brunch in Tannersville. Afternoon at Catskill Animal Sanctuary or Meadowbrook Farm depending on the weather. Dinner at The Heron in Narrowsburg.
Sunday: A morning at Mohonk Mountain House for the tulip gardens and a carriage trail walk. Lunch in New Paltz. Wrap up with a stop at the Saugerties Lighthouse on the way home.
This loop covers all four Catskills counties (Greene, Ulster, Sullivan, Delaware) without ever feeling rushed.
Plan Your Catskills Spring Escape
Spring in the Catskills isn’t summer. It’s quieter, rougher around the edges, and a whole lot more rewarding if you come prepared. The waterfalls run hard, the towns feel local again, and the homes we manage are at their cozy best with the woodstove still earning its keep at night.
When you’re ready to book, browse our collection of Catskills vacation rentals or reach out to our team. We’ve been doing this since 2007, and we’d love to help you put together the perfect spring weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit the Catskills in spring?
The sweet spot is mid-April through Memorial Day. Early April gives you the loudest waterfalls and trout opening day, late April through mid-May brings the wildflower bloom and Mohonk’s tulip festival, and the last week of May leans into summer with longer days and full menus at every restaurant.
What’s the weather like in the Catskills in spring?
Highly variable. Daytime highs swing from the upper 30s in March to the low 70s by late May, and overnight lows can still dip below freezing in early April. Pack layers, a waterproof shell, and waterproof shoes. Snow is possible at higher elevations through April.
Is mud season really a problem for hiking in the Catskills?
Yes, especially on high-elevation trails (above 3,000 feet). The DEC and Catskills 3500 Club ask hikers to stay off the high peaks during peak mud season because soft trail tread is easily damaged. Lower elevation hikes like Kaaterskill Falls, Overlook Mountain, the Mohonk Preserve carriage roads, and the Mongaup Pond loop are all good spring choices.
Do I need a car to visit the Catskills in spring?
Effectively yes. Trailways buses serve some towns from the Port Authority in Manhattan, but the trailheads, restaurants, and tasting rooms are spread across hundreds of square miles. A rental car (or your own) makes the trip dramatically easier.
Are restaurants and tasting rooms open in early April?
Most are, with limited hours. Many places run a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule until Memorial Day weekend, when they expand to six or seven days. Always check hours before you go, and reservations are wise on Saturdays even in April.
Is spring a good time to visit the Catskills with kids?
Absolutely. The Catskill Mountain Railroad, Catskill Animal Sanctuary, the easy walk to the Kaaterskill Falls viewing platform, and the boardwalk to Saugerties Lighthouse are all kid-friendly, and the spring shoulder season means smaller crowds at every one of them.
