AN INCOMPLETE GUIDE TO THE CATSKILLS
WHERE WE LIKE TO GO AND WHAT WE LIKE TO DO
OUTDOORS
Windham Path (2 min) - A mostly flat, hard packed trail perfect for walking your pup or going on an easy run. It’s uncommonly peaceful and beautiful, winding along the Batavia Kill with open views towards Windham Mountain.
Kaaterskill Falls (24 min) - The biggest destination in the Catskills for good reason. Drive to the upper viewing platform and hike down to the bottom without having to worry about the crowds that come from the other side.
Sunset Rock (24 min) - Our favorite hike in the area. Sunset Rock may be the destination but the journey is worth the trip alone. Start at the Catskill Mountain House Site and continue along, stopping at every overlook you can find. There's an unbelievable view of North-South Lake from Sunset Rock. This is the hike to do. Moderate difficulty, it should take around 2 hours roundtrip (also very easy to loop in with Kaaterskill Falls).
Black Dome (12 min) - Difficult and strenuous but not terribly long. Absolutely the best views of any hike in the area but you have to earn it. There are plenty of side trails and different ways to go up so do a little research beforehand.
Elm Ridge Park (3 min) - Our favorite trail run but also so much fun for serious mountain biking. There’s no real peak to hit, just strands and loops of undulating terrain. Find your way to Run Noot and Gold Mine and have a blast barreling down.
Mountaintop Arboretum (14 min) - Tranquil and pastoral, a restorative walk through woodland and meadow with inspiring mountain views and varied plant and wildlife.
Hunter Mountain Fire Tower (16 min or 30 min) - If you’re looking for the best view in the Catskills, nothing compares to the top of the fire tower. Enter from the ski side at Becker Hollow for a relatively easy 2.35 mi roundtrip hike or go full send and hit it from the 7 mile Spruceton trailhead and enjoy some well-earned beers at West Kill afterwards.
Mountain Brook Horseback Riding (15 min) - Horseback riding in the heart of the Catskills through 2 kilometers of trails and sweeping mountain views.
Greene County Festival Calendar!
FALL
Kelder’s Farm (60 min) – A classic fall outing. Think winding corn mazes, pumpkin picking, hayrides, and farmstand treats. It’s a little further out, but makes for a perfect autumn day trip.
Rose Hill Farm (50 min) – A picturesque, family-run orchard with heirloom apples, pick-your-own options, and a cidery onsite for post-pick tastings.
Stone Ridge Orchard (45 min) – Rolling hills, ancient apple trees, and plenty of varieties to fill your basket. They often host events and tastings too.
Maplewood Farm (1 hr 10 min) – A scenic drive into the western Catskills, rewarded with rustic charm and crisp mountain apples. A quieter, more laid-back spot.
Terrace Mountain Orchard (1 hr) – A classic orchard experience with big views, rows of trees, and plenty of seasonal treats to round out your haul.
SPRING/SUMMER
CD Lane Park (7 min) - There's an actual sandy beach and a really nice walking path above the reservoir which makes for a nice, easy outing in a gorgeous surrounding. There’s also free kayak and SUP rentals and roped off swimming lanes.
Colgate Lake (15 min) - Pack some food, pack some wine, pack your bathing suit. Go here on a warm day and lay in the grass and swim in the lake and marvel at how beautiful the Catskills is.
North-South Lake (25 min) - The biggest lake in the Catskills and one of the most scenic. You can swim, paddle, picnic, or take a short hike to one of several epic overlooks, like Kaaterskill Falls, Sunset Rock, Inspiration Point, and the spot where the Catskill Mountain House once stood, with views stretching all the way to the Hudson River.
EAT
Breakfast/Lunch/Coffee
Paracasa (1 min walk down the hill) - Grab and go provisions, coffee, matcha, and the best cinnamon rolls you're likely to ever have
Fellow Mountain Cafe (10 min) - Grab and go sandwiches and pastries and good coffee.
Little Rico and Kitty's are our favorite options if you're specifically in the Hudson area (30 min)
Mama's Boy Burger (20 min) - If you're in the Tannersville area, this is like one of those cute roadside burger and shake places you see in movies you wish actually existed
Other notable: Shandaken Bake, Last Chance
Dinner Fancier
Restaurant Matilda (0 min) - Our on-site restaurant inspired by the dynamic landscape of the Catskills! Open Wed - Sun
Deer Mountain Inn (17 min) - Classic mountain lodge with great food and drinks. Open everyday.
Casa Susanna (25 min) - Acclaimed modern Mexican food in a charming setting. Also an excellent natural wine list! Open Thurs - Tues.
Julia's Local (18 min) - Local meets Scandinavian (think local trout cured and smoked like Norwegian salmon) in a very homey space. You're likely to be served by Julia herself. The kind of experience you can only have in the Catskills. Open Wed - Sat.
Other notable in the greater area: Hemlock (bar), Rivertown Lodge, Manor Rock, Stissing House, Brushland Eating House
Not-so-fancy
Zack's Place (1 min walk down the hill) - A real local bar. No frills burgers, wings and beer. Best suited for I'm tired and don't want to go far. Only open on weekdays.
Similar: Babblers, Taphouse, Tipp Tavern, Lilly's
DRINK!
Klocke Estate (44min) – A serene vineyard producing elegant local wines. Tastings are relaxed, and the mountain views pair just as well as the bottles.
Rose Hill (50 min) – A farmstead winery with a dreamy tasting room and rolling fields. A good place to lose track of an afternoon.
West Kill (38 min) – Rustic, wooded, and deeply Catskills. Their beers are inspired by the landscape—wild, seasonal, and best enjoyed outside.
Return Brewing (35 min) – A playful brewery mixing creative, sometimes experimental beers with a fun, lively taproom vibe.
Left Bank Ciders (33 min) – Small-batch, natural ciders with plenty of character. Grab a flight and settle into their charming riverside taproom.
Suarez Family Brewing (39 min) – Known for crisp, delicate lagers and farmhouse ales. Understated, refined, and worth the short drive.
WINTER
Hunter Mountain (10 min) – Big-mountain energy with terrain for all levels. Skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and a lively après-ski scene make it an all-day destination
Windham Mountain (4 min) – A touch more family friendly and quieter all around but just as fun. Known for wide, well-groomed trails, snow tubing, and a cozy base lodge.
SHOP
Tannersville (17 min) - Close to the inn, the town is small but dense with antique shops and little bakeries and coffee shops. It’s kind of that ideal mountain town that only exists in movies.
+ Last Chance for beer, Sundry for home goods, Bear & Fox for coffee, Tannersville Antiques for curios, Fred’s for donuts.
Hudson (34 min) - The town is full of charming shops and cafes. A slow, meandering walk in and out of each storefront is a pleasant way to spend a day if the weather is tepid and/or you’re not feeling so outdoorsy.
+ Talbott & Arding for muffuletta, Mel The Bakery for bread, Cafe Mutton for lunch, BackBar for drinks
Antique Warehouse (34 min) - A massive warehouse full of, well, everything vintage and antique (including clothing!). It’s the kind of place you’ll be happy to just roam around in, snaking through all the nooks and crannies, marveling at the life-size giraffe and endless assortment of furniture and art.
Gardenheir (2 min) - Just down the road, for those tools and candles and blankets and cool home stuff you really can’t find anywhere else, with a strong focus on gardencore sophistication.
Briars & Brambles (2 min) – A cozy independent bookstore with staff-curated shelves, children’s books, and puzzles. The perfect stop to pick up something new for a quiet weekend by the fire.
Windham Mountain Outfitters (2 min) - Every mountain town needs an equipment hub. Ski and snowshoe rentals, mountain bike repairs, clothing, supplies, and knowledgeable staff for all your outdoor adventure needs.
Pidgin (20 min) – A beautifully curated shop with a mix of antiques, art, and thoughtful objects. It has that kind of quiet, soulful energy where you’ll find something special you didn’t know you needed.
Story Farms (26 min) - Family run farmstand with a lovely selection of organic fruits, vegetables, and assorted local products. This would be a really great stop when you’re headed back home to stock up!
Elevated Wine (12 min) - Charming selection of wines and spirits with a deep appreciation for natural wines from around the world. If you’re looking for a bottle to take to the lake, this is the place.
look for ‘+’ for surrounding area favorites
SPA
Skin Concept Esthetics and Wellness Spa (3 minutes) - Luxury wellness specializing in facial treatments and massage!
The Windham Spa (5 minutes) - Endearing mountain wellness boutique specializing in personalized fully body massage treatments and even full-spectrum Cannabinoid therapies.
HIDDEN GEMS
The Catskills is wide reaching and wonderfully layered. There are tiny little gems of towns scattered throughout the region with every version of small-town warmth you can imagine. Take a long drive and get lost! The roads are quiet and the views are breathtaking and, really, you have nowhere else to be, and nothing else to do, but take it all in.
You are exactly where you’re supposed to be.
WELCOME TO HENSONVILLE!
The population of Hensonville sits at 378 people, give or take a few. We’re a tiny hamlet of Windham in the middle of a much larger and far reaching region. If Windham is famously known as The Gem of The Catskills, we like to say that Hensonville is The Gem of The Gem of The Catskills.
Stay at the inn and take a short stroll down the hill to main street, where you’ll find our specialty grocery shop, Paracasa.
Get in your car and drive 6 minutes over to CD Lane Park and lie on the beach, swim in the lake, and take a leisurely walk around the reservoir - or continue another 3 minutes to Black Dome Mountain for unbelievable hiking.
Jog a couple of loops around Windham Path, or challenge yourself to a trail run at Elm Ridge Park. Our favorite lazy day in The Catskills? 10 minutes gets you to Colgate Lake, soft grass, and a rippled mountain vista. Another 10 and you’re at the number one hiking destination in The Catskills - Kaaterskill Falls and North-South Lake. And don’t forget skiing in winter - 4 minutes to Windham Mountain and 10 to Hunter.
Of course it doesn’t end there! We’re perfectly situated in heart of it all! There’s a reason they call this region The Great Northern Catskills.
Need some more recommendations? Check out the area map we’ve left in your room for all our favorites. And if you’re looking for something specific, it would be our absolute pleasure to be your guide.
Thoughtfully curated pantry and provisions for home and away.
Conveniently located in Hensonville, NY, a short walk down the hill from the inn.
Featuring a wide range of products sourced both locally and abroad, Paracasa is a specialty grocer to stock up for intimate dinners, large parties, picnics by the lake, delicious pastries, and grab & go essentials.
