The future of the Catskills is in our hands! Join CRISP (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership) as we work to remove invasive species on the Ashokan Rail Trail. 

Work days run from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Each work day will include an orientation, basic training on use of equipment, and invasive species identification. Volunteers will meet at one of several trailheads along the Ashokan Rail Trail—the exact location of the trailhead will be emailed to volunteers at least two days prior to each work day.

If you have not yet volunteered with the Catskill Center this year, you may be asked to complete our volunteer form and waivers prior to registering. If you have any questions or need assistance, let us know and we're happy to help.

The future of the Catskills is in our hands! Join CRISP (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership) as we work to remove invasive species on the Ashokan Rail Trail. 

Work days run from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Each work day will include an orientation, basic training on use of equipment, and invasive species identification. Volunteers will meet at one of several trailheads along the Ashokan Rail Trail—the exact location of the trailhead will be emailed to volunteers at least two days prior to each work day.

If you have not yet volunteered with the Catskill Center this year, you may be asked to complete our volunteer form and waivers prior to registering. If you have any questions or need assistance, let us know and we're happy to help.

The future of the Catskills is in our hands! Join CRISP (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership) as we work to remove invasive species on the Ashokan Rail Trail. 

Work days run from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Each work day will include an orientation, basic training on use of equipment, and invasive species identification. Volunteers will meet at one of several trailheads along the Ashokan Rail Trail—the exact location of the trailhead will be emailed to volunteers at least two days prior to each work day.

If you have not yet volunteered with the Catskill Center this year, you may be asked to complete our volunteer form and waivers prior to registering. If you have any questions or need assistance, let us know and we're happy to help.

Location: Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 NY-28, Mt Tremper, NY 12457

Join Catskill Center staff Alexa Tumbarello on a winter photography walk at the Catskills Visitor Center. Come ready to learn about the basics of photo composition, photography outdoor ethics, and more!

Group discussion will vary depending on interest. The best camera to bring is the one you have! Smartphones, DSLRs, film cameras all welcome. Dress for the weather including hat, gloves, and a warm jacket—much of the program will be held outside.

Registration is encouraged but not required. Email atumbarello@catskillcenter.org to register.

Location: Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 NY-28, Mt Tremper, NY 12457

The future of the Catskills is in your hands! As a volunteer, you will be contributing to the ongoing mission of protecting and preserving the Catskills for future generations. Volunteers work in many capacities: participating in invasive species projects, interpreting scientific and cultural information at the visitor center, or helping out behind-the-scenes.

Join us for our Volunteer Open House to learn about volunteer opportunities, meet the staff, and see the Catskills Visitor Center!

Location: Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 NY-28, Mt Tremper, NY 12457

Join Catskill Center Staff Alexa Tumbarello at the Catskills Visitor Center for a 1-hour talk and mini-hike to learn the basics of winter hiking! The program will cover safety, gear, tips for staying comfortable, and more. Bring your questions and desire to learn!

Participants should dress for cold weather including a hat, gloves, and warm jacket. Advanced registration is helpful but not required.

Location: Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 NY-28, Mt Tremper, NY 12457

Join Catskill Center Staff Alexa Tumbarello for a 1-hour talk and mini-hike at the Catskills Visitor Center to learn the basics of winter hiking! The program will cover safety, gear, tips for staying comfortable, and more. Bring your questions and desire to learn!

Participants should dress for cold weather including a hat, gloves, and warm jacket. Advanced registration is helpful but not required.

Ring in the New Year in the Western Catskills! Join Catskill Center staff on a guided hike up Bramley Mountain in Delhi, NY. This 4-mile loop hike travels through an old stone quarry and up to the summit of Bramley Mountain with stunning views of the Western Catskills.

Pets are welcome but must be well-behaved and on leash. Hikers should bring water, a snack, microspikes if they have them, warm layers, hat gloves, and a change of warm socks for the drive home!

Pre-registration requested by Friday, December 29! Email atumbarello@catskillcenter.org

Kick off the new year outdoors with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s 13th Annual First Day Hikes program. Visit Dec.ny.gov for details.

Please check our events page for information on the two hikes available.

Start the new year enjoying great views while completing one of the six fire towers in the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge!

Loop Trail and Upper Esopus Fire Tower at the Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 State Rt 28, Mt. Tremper, NY 12457

Please meet your hike leader at the entrance to the Catskills Visitor Center at 11am.

The 0.5 mile loop trail provides an accessible hike for everyone. Walk the trail with Catskill Center staff David Hans while he shares tips for enjoying nature. For those interested, the Upper Esopus Fire Tower will be open and available to climb. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable footwear.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 15 people. Space is limited.

Get your tickets now

2023 FALL BENEFIT

SATURDAY, OCTOBEr 7

CATSKILLS VISITOR CENTER

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Sunday, September 3, 10am—3pm at the Catskills Visitor Center!

How about participating in a fun day on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend? Join us for a Catskills Celebration at the Catskills Visitor Center, (suggested donation $5 per person, $15 per family) Bring friends and family to participate in activities that celebrate the many facets of the Catskills. Take an educational nature walk. Find and identify the creatures (macroinvertebrates) living in our streams. Create art with staff from the Thomas Cole Site. Listen to award-winning Native American music group Spirit of Thunderheart. Experience the thrill of seeing Birds of Prey up close. Take a stroll to the Esopus Creek with Justin Wexler to learn about native cultures of the Catskills.

More detail on the Catskills Visitor Center website and event page!

On the eve of Saturday Sept. 2, find a place with a view of your favorite fire tower for the 10th annual Lighting of the Fire Towers event!

Watch as the cabs light up from 9:00- 9:30pm. Catskill Center volunteers will light the fire towers. Find out which of the fire towers will be lit by visiting the Forest Fire Lookout Association’s webpage here: nysffla.org/light.html

The event showcases a piece of fire tower history.The men and women who were in the fire tower cabs protected the Catskills from forest fires by providing firefighters with an early detection and reporting system that was amazingly accurate. For years, these fire tower observers watched faithfully like beacons over the Catskills!

catskillfiretowers.org

Suggested viewing locations for:

Balsam Lake Mountain

1) Scenic Overlook at the top of Palmer Hill along State Route 28 between Margaretville and Andes

2) At the top of Todd Mt Road (Ulster County Route 49A) near the intersection with Kelly Road

3) Dingle Hill in Andes, NY. Dingle Hill Road and Ridge Road are both in Andes and can offer a view from your car of the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower

Hunter Mountain

1) Gordon Realty on Route 23A in Hunter has granted permission for viewers to use their parking lot for the “Lighting of the Towers” event Saturday, September 5.

Gordon Realty, Inc.

6528 Route 23A

Hunter, NY 12442

518-589-9000

http://www.gordonrealty.com

Mount Tremper

1) State Route 28 near the intersection of State Route 28A

Overlook Mountain

1) Thorn Preserve off Zena Road

2) Zena Corn Field

3) Zena School

Red Hill

1) The pull-off on top of the Rondout Reservoir – Merriman Dam on Rt. 55 about 7 or 8 miles west of Ellenville.

2) Claryville/Denning Rd. near the YMCA East Valley Farm.

3) Red Hill Knolls Rd.

4) Rudolph Rd.

5) Blue Hill Rd. west of Claryville

6) East side of Bridge over the Rondout Creek on Rt. 55A

7) Balsam Lake Mt. Fire Tower

8) Summits of the following high peaks; Peekamoose, Table, Lone, Friday, Cornell, Slide, Fir, Big Indian, Doubletop, and Graham Mts.

9) Most of the Rt. 52 pull-offs east of Ellenville on the way to Pine Bush.

10) Mohonk Mt. House and Skytop Tower

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s David Hans for a hike up Overlook Mountain during the second of August’s TWO FULL MOONS. Overlook Mountain is a 5 mile in-and-out hike of moderate difficulty, offering great views of the Hudson Valley from the eastern-facing viewpoint just a short walk from the Observers Cabin by the Fire Tower.

Even though the moon will add light, any cloud coverage can block out that light, so headlamps are recommended. However, flashlights are not recommended, especially for those using trekking poles. We’ll meet at 7pm at the Overlook Mountain Trailhead to get early views of the moon around 9pm.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join us to help restore and protect the native environment at Calicoon Riverside Park. During this workday, we will show you how to identify and report invasive species through iMapInvasives, and properly remove them throughout the area. Learn more about Calicoon Riverside Park here. Please contact staff with any questions at volunteer@catskillcenter.org

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s Brent LeRash for a ¾-mile hike around our Interpretive Trail. Stop and read the iInterpretive signage along the trail while you enjoy this ADA-accessible path around the Catskills Visitor Center property. We also have a Fire Tower (Upper Esopus Fire Tower, which is part of the 2023 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge) just off the Interpretive Trail which offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, including Tremper Mountain. 

The Hike will begin at 11am. Meet up will be at the Pavilion on the grounds of the Catskills Visitor Center. To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 16 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join our Catskill stewards, Patrick and Sam, for a Leave No Trace hike at Kaaterskill Falls. Arrive at the Laurel House parking lot by 9am and meet the stewards at the kiosk at the beginning of the trail.

We will hike down to the Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform. Along the way, our Catskill stewards will talk about some of the issues of concern on trails, Leave No Trace Principles, and how to Recreate Responsibly. Please bring water, and wear hiking boots or shoes. Sandals are not permitted on the hike. To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join our Community Relations Specialist and bird enthusiast Finn Parnell for a birding walk around the Catskills Visitor Center. We’ll be listening for and identifying birds along the 0.5 mile, accessible loop trail. For those interested, the Upper Esopus Fire Tower will be open and available to climb. Please wear comfortable footwear. Binoculars are available to borrow. You will meet the hike leader at the entrance to the Catskills Visitor Center at 10am.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join us to help restore and protect the native environment at Calicoon Riverside Park. During this workday, we will show you how to identify and report invasive species through iMapInvasives, and properly remove them throughout the area. Learn more about Calicoon Riverside Park here. Please contact staff with any questions at volunteer@catskillcenter.org

Join one of our Fire Tower stewards, Kristy, for this hike to Red Hill Fire Tower and get one step closer to completing the 2023 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge!

We will leave from the Denning Road Trailhead at 9am. This is a moderate trail that is 4 miles round trip (out and back) to the fire tower. Trailhead address is: 2205 Denning Rd, Claryville, NY 12725-5266

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s Brent LeRash for a ½-mile, round-trip, hike up the Ridge Trail to enjoy a nice spot for a picnic. The moderate uphill hike leads to a set of picnic tables at the top of the ridge. Plan to bring a lunch or snack to enjoy there. We also have a Fire Tower just off the Interpretive Trail, which offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, including Tremper Mountain. The Upper Esopus Fire Tower is part of the Fire Tower Challenge, so don’t miss out.

The hike will begin at 11:30am. Meet up will be at the Pavillion on the grounds of the Catskills Visitor Center (right next to the Visitor Center). To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join us to help restore and protect the native environment at Calicoon Riverside Park. During this workday, we will show you how to identify and report invasive species through iMapInvasives, and properly remove them throughout the area. Learn more about Calicoon Riverside Park here.

Join one of our Fire Tower stewards, Matt, for this 6 mile, out-and-back hike to the top of Balsam Lake Mountain to climb the fire tower and enjoy the views. This is a great way to work on completing the 2023 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge, which is organized by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. We’ll meet at the Dry Brook Ridge trailhead on Mill Brook Road in Arkville at 9am. Registration is required and spots are limited! 

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s Brent LeRash for a ¾-mile hike around our Interpretive Trail. Read our interpretive signage along the way while you enjoy this ADA-accessible path around the Catskills Visitor Center property. We also have a Fire Tower just off the Interpretive Trail which offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, including Tremper Mountain. 

The hike will begin at 11am. We’ll meet at the Pavilion on the grounds of the Catskills Visitor Center (right next to the Visitor Center). To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 16 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Anyone who registers for Hike for the Catskills will be invited to meet at West Kill Brewing at 2pm, where each person will get a drink ticket. It will be the THIRD release party for “Mountain Life” Pale Ale. A portion of the proceeds from these ale sales benefit the Catskill center.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s David Hans for a short hike to Diamond Notch Falls from Spruceton Rd. The trail follows the creek along an old service road and the hike will reach its turning point at the trail junction by Diamond Notch Falls.

The hike will begin from the Spruceton Rd Trailhead. If the lot is full, we’ll meet at the Forest Preserve lot just a bit down from the trailhead, on the right. All attendees are welcome to visit West Kill Brewing afterward where we will be hosting our Hike for the Catskills Kickoff Party, starting at 2pm.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join one of our Fire Tower stewards for this 7 mile out-and-back fun and moderately challenging hike to the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower. This tower has the distinction of being located at the highest elevation of any fire tower in New York state. Enjoy some great views while completing your hike to one of the six fire towers in the 2023 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge!

The moderately difficult hike has a 1,768 elevation gain from the trailhead. Beautiful, 360 views of the Catskills will greet us from the top cab of the fire tower. We’ll meet at the Spruceton Trail Parking Lot off of Spruceton Road at 9am. Registration is required and spots are limited for this 9am-3:30pm hike.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s David Hans for a hike up Overlook Mountain during the first of August’s TWO FULL MOONS. Overlook Mountain is a 5 mile in-and-out hike of moderate difficulty, offering great views of the Hudson Valley from the eastern-facing viewpoint just a short walk from the Observers Cabin by the Fire Tower.

Even though the moon will add light, any cloud coverage can block out that light, so headlamps are recommended. However, flashlights are not recommended, especially for those using trekking poles. The meetup will be at 5pm at the Overlook Mountain Trailhead to get early views of the moon around 7:30pm.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

For more information and to register for Hike for the Catskills click here.

Register HERe

Use Code: CATSKILLCENTER at checkout for 5% off.

The Running Kind will raise money for the Catskill Center during this Climb It For Climate event at Belleayre. Climb It For Climate is a three-part mountain running series that will challenge runners' skills over the course of three events. This series will take place at three different scenic locations over technical, rugged trail networks, each offering a unique mountain running experience.

Sitting just under 3500ft, this formidable mountain offers epic views of the stunning Catskill High Peaks around every turn. Runners participating in the full CIFC series will earn points by competing in a half marathon, while a friendlier 5K will be open to the general public.

Join us to help restore and protect the native environment at Calicoon Riverside Park. During this workday, we will show you how to identify and report invasive species through iMapInvasives, and properly remove them throughout the area. Learn more about Calicoon Riverside Park here. Please contact Kate Cooper with any questions at volunteer@catskillcenter.org