Usually outdoor/nature spaces are slam dunk 5 stars, but I'm taking one star because parking is…read moreconfusing. There's a driveway that isn't for the park, then a small sign that says "parking second entrance," and the second entrance (I think?) is a walking path more than an entrance - since the "actual" parking area is dirt/stone. We drove the length of the walking path without encountering another car or person (thankfully!!!), but it's very narrow and winding. There IS a blue&yellow historical marker at the entrance to the parking area. Anyway.... The park itself is very small, but beautifully maintained, with plantings for every season, and LOTS of benches and places to sit, and truly stunning mountain views. There are also several fountains - I don't know if they're functional, because we went in early spring and it's not really fountain season quite yet, but if they are....how peaceful and lovely it must be when they're all running!! Can't wait to go back in summer to see it in full bloom, and fall for the Mum Festival - there were still lights in the huge evergreen, also! So they do that much for winter, if not more!

The park entrance came up quick and looked like a dead end by to our delight we found a hidden gem…read more Continue to the back that offered multiple picnic table, swings for the kids and just a nice little area to get off he road for awhile.

The falls are truly incredible…read more The trail down to the bottom of the falls, is a bit tricky. But so incredibly worth it. I would suggest not to believe the sign saying 189 steps.... it is definitely more! Take drinking water because you'll need that for sure. We went back in August and the heat was definitely there. The parking lot was pretty packed but throughout the trails people were pretty evenly spaced out. Not so much at the base of the falls themselves but there was still plenty of room to move around freely.

One of the tallest waterfall in NY, similar height to Taughannock Falls. Physical requirement is…read moredifferent tho, Kaaterskill Falls has about 500foot of elevation change and a lot of slippery stone steps at the end, if you come here when the weather is still cold. Parking: most people park at the Laurel-House Road parking area, because it is the closest. Or you can park at Mountain Top Historical Society, the old train station, which an extra mile. Starting from the old railroad station is nice, you can still see some old tracks on the ground. Walk to the overlook is fairly easy, once you get to the start point of Lower falls junction, it is where you need to be prepared. I recommend hiking shoe, especially in colder months where the ground is wet and iced. When you reach to the stone steps, they can get slippery. I am surprised no one fell in late March. Half of the steps were cover in ice and people were wearing regular sneakers. Once you reach the base of the two tier falls, the view is tremendous. If water levels are high, you can feel the energy of the water. There is a lot of spray from the falls when you get close. There is short trail to the middle tier pool. It was iced up during winter, spikes will definitely be useful. The end was amazing too. So close to the lead of the waterfall. You can keep going and follow Escarpment trail and follow the edge of the valley. There is monument for fireman Frank Layman who died during firefighting in 1900, at his monument, you can see route 23A bend around mountain. And if you keep going, there are a couple viewpoint to overlook the valley. Nice break points to enjoy the view and rest your legs.

My boyfriend and I were in Kaaterskill Falls for our annual hike at the Rail Trail, when we…read morediscovered Saugerties Lighthouse. I don't even know how to be honest. But we like to drive around getting lost a lot, which is how we discover most places. The entrance is a little hidden, small parking lot. The trail is full of greenery. There is a mixture of bridges and dirt paths. Also we noticed little figurines hidden along the way. They are very cute! The views on the way to the lighthouse were as stunning as of the lighthouse alone. At some point you have to walk over the water - so it is wise to look at the tide schedule so you don't get wet or trapped. The lighthouse is dipped in history that you can read on their website (saugertieslighthouse.com). It is truly an incredible little place. I read there are tour and you can even stay there overnight! We definitely want to do either one or both in the near future. It was definitely an amazing find, which we will incorporate into our annual visits. Breathtaking location. The volunteers are doing a great job maintaining it. Definitely made for a memorable visit.

This place is really cool! There aren't any other lighthouses that I know of in the immediate area…read moreof the Hudson Valley that is accessible on foot (without a boat). During the week the lighthouse deck is open so you can walk to the back deck to enjoy this place up close but on the weekends the deck is closed to guests that might be staying the night. You can actually lodge at the lighthouse which is even cooler than just visiting the outside. The walk to the base of the lighthouse is an easy walk but don't arrive too late because the tide could be really high making the walk likely very muddy or very wet to pass. Parking area is super small so arrive early to ensure parking or you'll have to wait in your car for a spot to open up. I wouldn't advise parking on the grass of the adjacent coast guard property since there are signs that say come back if there is no parking likely implying "If you park here you will be towed" but signs don't explicitly say that so beware if you park outside lot.

This is an extremely good walk/hike. "Easy" in terms of difficulty, this trail starts off on an…read moreeasy 1/4-mile walk down a meandering crushed-gravel path to a wooden gazebo, then down some grassy hills to the Hudson River "lookout" point. From there, you can venture into the woods for a 3/4 to a mile "easy hike" surrounded by trees, trickling stream & a few furry animals, like squirrels & chipmunks, collecting acorns. Kid friendly, this is a great walk/hike for the whole family.

Dreamy any walk you choose to start on during any season. Beginner's level. Nice view of the Hudson.read more

Love hiking here! If…read moreyou're in this part of the Catskills, I highly recommend this trail. It's easily accessible and an easier hike to do. The trail is well-groomed and very walkable. There aren't any scrambles or large boulders, which is good.. The view from the top is pretty epic, and the fire tower which has been closed every time I've hiked the mountain has great views too. I would highly recommend this hike.

This place is absolutely amazing! I've hiked all the Catskills mountains three times over through…read morethe years and I had never been to overlook because there was no reason to but I had heard so much about this location I just had to visit and satisfy my curiosity on why this place is so popular. First off the parking lot is medium sized and parking on the road (even off the road) is risky because certain spots you are not allowed to park so arrive early, get a legit parking spot and save yourself the wasted trip or the hassle of returning to your vehicle to a ticket or it completely gone (towed). The hike up and back for Overlook is approximately 5 miles so everyone is spot on mentioning the distance. It's fairly steep all the way up and while you don't have any views on the way up, you do encounter some old ruins which is a neat break along the way. Once you do make it to the top you are met with a small shed that has some very minor historical information inside and on peak weekends you'll find stewards that can assist with information about the area and hiking tips. The fire tower can't be missed to the left after the small shed and the view is to the right of the shed. I have to say, I've been atop many mountains and it's been a long while since I've had my breath taken away but when I saw the view at Overlook it was breath taking. What made the view so beautiful and different than other mountains I've hiked is that the view is expansive with no mountains obstructing so you can see as far as the eyes can see. It's truly a remarkable view being so high up and seeing so far out. This mountain is known for its rattlesnake population. Sadly I never got to see one because I always hike in the early morning hours and they normally come out at around high noon when the sun is the hottest.

It's a nice park and historical site. They have several…read morepermanent BBQ grills picnic tables, water fountain. A group of us went for the fireworks, that were supposed to be from Saugerties, NY. We arrived midday; to see the re-enactments and enjoy the great weather. There was an ice cream truck and a food truck. They Always had a line. By the time dusk was approaching the crowds started to fill the great lawns facing the Hudson and the city of Saugerties. By 9:15 pm there were a few sporadic flares from the West Bank of the Hudson. By almost 10 pm it was pretty obvious there would not be a fireworks display that night. We've seen plenty of fireworks displays, so for us was NBD. Felt kind of bad for the young families whose kids were probably disappointed.

The word that came to mind most often, as I was strolling around the grounds, was "unspoiled."…read moreThey're probably a bit less fancy, more basic, than other mansion grounds, but they're very well maintained, with enough signs to be informative. The gardens were nice and also well maintained, but not fancy - some signs as to the varieties of flowers and plants would be nice. There's several places to the south of the house offering scenic views of the Hudson River, and the Catskills beyond that. Mansion tours were going on while I was there. A sign at the entrance says that paid parking for 2020 began on 6/6, where you pay the fee of $5 at one of the machines at either end of the parking lot. Unfortunately, it's not $5, it's $6 now. Rest rooms are available behind the parking lot, and there's a fairly large area behind it and to the south for sitting, picnics, and light recreation (e.g., folks were throwing frisbees). Dogs are permitted on a leash. Even on a nice day on a weekend, there's plenty of space for everyone. Though I imagine this is a very popular site to visit during fall foliage season.

This park is worth a visit. There's a great view of the Hudson River and the valley. And there's a…read morenice playground for the kiddies. In the center of the top level you'll find a female statue who looks as if she's watching over the town's residents. Parking's plentiful in the adjacent lot so come check this park out!

The city of Hudson must make tons of money off expired parking meters. From out of town so expired…read moremeter is quite possible especially when man in pouring rain gives tickets to just expired meters and to small businesses right in front of their stores. Ticket was $8 plus $3.50 fee to pay online or phone. There are NO public parking lots. Great way to treat tourists who spend lots of $$$ in that town. Just beware when parking at meters--WHICH ARE EVERYWHERE!!

Falling waters is a good, easy going trail for novices and walkers. Located off 9W, it's pretty…read moreeasy to get to. As the name would suggest, there's a few small waterfalls along both ends of the trail which are pretty and good for kids. Rainfall has been be decent for them to really be going, and even at their heaviest they're not too crazy (this is not Kaaterskill). It's also right on the Hudson River, so you get good views too. If you want just a quick walk or you have a stroller, the way down to the water is the way to go (yes, you still get the obligatory waterfall). If you take the longer path, you get the bigger waterfall, sweeping views of the Hudson, and also steep up/down hills along the water. Either way this should take terribly long and isn't far from civilization, so it's a good option for families.

Beautiful peaceful place to hike. I love the scenery, it's history. Convenient location.read more