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2) Road 16 (Platte Clove Road): Recommended scenic route to take: Start at Tannersville and drive east on Road 16 toward West Saugerties. To date this is my favorite scenic drive in the Catskill Mountains. It’s located in the southern section of the Kaaterskill Wild Forest and is only about 15 miles long. However on those 15 miles is a ...
- Fruition Chocolate Works. One of the most fun places to stay while driving the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway is Fruition Chocolate Works in Boiceville.
- Bike The Ashokan Rail Trail. If you’re looking for a scenic bike ride during your road trip, you’ll want to head out onto the Ashokan Rail Trail. This bike trail is 11.5 miles, and takes you along the northern part of the Ashokan Reservoir.
- Have Breakfast Or Lunch At Bread Alone Bakery. Bread Alone Bakery is one of the cutest little stops you can make along the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway.
- See The World’s Largest Kaleidoscope. One of the quirkiest stops you can make on the drive is swinging by the Emerson Resort in Mount Tremper to see the world’s largest kaleidoscope.
- Shawangunk Scenic Byway
- Upper Delaware Scenic Byway
- Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway
- The Ultimate Catskills Road Trip Itinerary
- Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway
- Swinging Bridge Reservoir Road Trip
- Windham and The Durham Valley Scenic Byway
Best for fall foliage
Start and end in New Paltz; Distance – 88 miles; allow half a day The Shawangunk Scenic Byway links a collection of backroads together like a giant charm bracelet. Historic towns, expansive parks and sweeping vistas shine along the circuitous path as it slinks up the Shawangunk Ridge and descends into verdant valleys. The drive itself is best during autumn’s leaf-peeping season, but travelers can enjoy treasures hidden just beyond the byway year-round. There are four distinct sections of the...
Best for cinematic scenery
Start – Hancock, End – Port Jervis; Distance – 70 miles; allow half a day If cruising along the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (Route 97) conjures images of fancy car commercials, you’re right on track: companies from BMW to Porsche often use a section of the road known as the Hawk’s Nest in their ads. Navigating the cement squiggle between the Poconos and the Catskills might be the stuff of motorcycle fantasies, but you don’t have to be a backroad desperado to enjoy the journey. Charming towns...
The quintessential Catskills experience
Start – Shokan; End – Andes; Distance – 52 miles; allow half a day The Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway (Route 28) is the region’s “best of” list in road form: it breezes along babbling brooks, old-growth forests and mountain passes while gliding through cozy hamlets. Without stopping, the drive takes roughly one hour, but adventurous travelers should allow ample time to enjoy the hikes, farm-to-table dining and scenic photo-ops along the way. Start in Shokan, a tiny town north of the Ashokan...
Best for long weekend vacations
Start and end in Kingston; Distance – 192 miles; allow 2-3 days Make the most of a Catskills weekend by planning a road trip that rings the entire region. This itinerary connects three scenic byways with trendy towns and Edenic diversions. The drive takes roughly 4.5 hours without stops, but it’s best to break up the trip into two or three days. Start in Kingston – New York’s first capital city – and follow Route 28 as it heads past the Ashokan Reservoir and along the Catskill Mountains Sceni...
Best for natural wonders and epic hikes
Start – Palenville; End – Hunter; Distance – 41 miles; allow half a day Cloves, a distinctive geographic feature of the Catskills, are clefts cut by waterfalls and rivers as they zigzag through mountains. Thomas Cole, the 19th-century landscape painter and founder of the Hudson River School, immortalized their sublime beauty in his artwork, beckoning future generations to follow in his footsteps. Today, the Mountain Cloves Scenic Bywayfollows the most dramatic of these clefts as they wind fro...
Best backroad adventure with little traffic
Start – Mongaup Valley; End – Sparrow Bush; Distance – 20 miles; allow 1-2 hours Find your inner Robert Frost by taking the road less traveled in Sullivan County. This trip, which links Mongaup Valley to Sparrow Bush, follows a chain of residential backroads that pass the Swinging Bridge Reservoir, the Rio Reservoir and the Mongaup River. Plan to drive the road in summer, when sun-dappled cement sparkles under leafy trees and you can roll down your windows to luxuriate in the country air. The...
Best for visiting local farms
Start and end in Windham; Distance – 21 miles; alow 1-2 hours If you ask a Catskills local for directions to the Irish Alps, they won’t send you to the Emerald Isle – they’ll send you to Durham. This pastoral region earned its nickname in the mid-20th century when folks with Erin-go-bragh gall started traveling here en masse for summer vacations. Today, the Durham Valley Scenic Byway explores the Irish Alps as they descend from Mount Pisgah into valleys with rolling farmland and a fair share...
Feb 25, 2019 · New York State's storied Catskill Mountains are a must-see, so head out on this scenic backroads drive to experience the natural and man-made wonders of this region. Driving Directions:From Catskill, New York, follow New York State Route 23 West to Prattsville. Backtrack on Route 23 East to State Route 23A East through the Catskill Park.
- Kim Knox Beckius
Scenic Byway Map. Scenic Byway Map. The Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway stretches 52 miles across four towns, each having its own hamlets or villages. The Eastern Gateway of the Byway is approximately 12 miles West of Exit 19 on the NYS Thruway (87) and the Western Gateway of the Byway is approximately 33 miles East of Exit 14W on Interstate 88 ...
Route 214 – 23A – 32 – 20. This breathtaking route through the Catskills has been painted and written about countless times. As you gradually climb the surrounding mountains, you’ll pass cascading waterfalls, flowing streams, and fertile countryside before heading back into the forest. Whether you take to the road on two wheels or four ...
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Mar 19, 2024 · For those who want to explore more of this scenic road trip in the Catskills, detours include the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower and Kaaterskill Falls. Distance: 11.7 miles via NY-23A W. Drive Time: Approximately 19 minutes. Scenic Attractions: Kaaterskill Falls, Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Hunter Mountain Fire Tower.
