People have been going to the Catskill Mountains region of New York State since the turn of the 19th century to relax and restore their spirits. Only about 100 miles northwest of New York City, the mountains offers a refuge from hectic city life. While once families went en masse to resorts like the one that was the backdrop for the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing, visitors to the mountains today seek other forms of outdoor entertainment as well. These include hiking, mountain climbing, trout fishing and skiing.
The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, a nonprofit, member-supported organization, defines the Catskill Mountain region as occupying several counties and townships in southeastern New York state. The area includes Otsego, Schoharie, Greene, Delaware, Ulster, and Sullivan counties, plus the townships of Coeymans, Knox, Rensalearville, Berne, Westerlo in Albany County. The Catskills begin about 100 miles northwest of New York City and extend all the way north to the capital at Albany.
Henry Hudson is the first white man known to have seen the Catskill Mountain Range. Hudson, an Englishman in the employ of the Dutch East Indian Company, sailed up the river that now bears his name in 1609 in search of a passage to the spice islands of the East.
The New York legislature established Catskill Park in 1904. The park encompasses more than 600,000 acres, roughly one-third of which is publicly owned; the rest remains in private hands. About half of Catskill Park comprises the Catskill Forest Reserve, set aside as "forever wild" by the New York state constitution. Because of this action, the Catskill Mountains have long been called "America's First Wilderness."
At least 35 of the Catskill Mountains are higher than 3,500 feet above sea level. Some serious hikers make it their goal to summit all of these mountains. The Catskill 3500 Club is an organization established in 1962 that is composed of people who have achieved this goal. As of June 2008, the club had more than 1,700 members.
Drained by six major river systems and home to many lakes and streams, the Catskills boast some of the best trout fishing in the eastern half of the United States. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) keeps rivers and lakes through the Catskill Mountains stocked with trout.
Hiking is a very popular pastime in the Catskills. The DEC has published a brochure, "Catskill Trails," that includes maps and other information about Escarpment Trail, the North Lake Area, Hunter Mountain/West Kill, the Devil's Pathway/Overlook Mountain, Panther Mountain, Burroughs Range/Slide Mountain, Belleayre, and Dry Brook Range. Prospective hikers should carry a good map with them and familiarize themselves with potential safety hazards on the trails.
At Belleayre Mountain, which is operated by the DEC, visitors can ski in the winter. In addition to eight lifts and 47 downhill trails, the mountain also has many groomed trails for cross-country skiers.
