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.

We did the ~1 mile hike to the upper falls from the Scutt Road parking lot. The hike is fairly…read moreeasy, though sections of the trail have a lot of rocks and roots. A few small hills, but not much elevation change. The viewing point gets quite crowded, so it's probably best to go during off peak times. We started out at 5:45pm and there were still lots of people there. Because it's been quite dry, the falls were not gushing, but still offered a satisfying steady stream. From the upper viewing point, you can see the hikers on the lower levels below. The lower hike winds around to the bottom pool of the falls, so it's kind of cool to see from above, almost like a mini Grand Canyon. It's worth the journey and the lower falls hike is probably quite nice too, but we didn't have time for it on this trip.

There is so much to love about this campground. The campsites are nice, the beach is beautiful, and…read morethere are so many lovely trails to take. The hikes to Mary's Glen, Sunset Rock, and Inspiration Point were easy and the views so rewarding! The Hudson River Valley is gorgeous to look at from so high up! Its not far from other attractions like Kaaterskill falls either.

I don't normally write reviews especially a negative one. We had a very upsetting experience at…read moreNorth-South Lake. We drove over two hours to visit my husband's childhood campground for the first time with our three kids (ages 5, 7, and 9). When we arrived at the entrance, we were asked if it was a day visit, and we said yes, we were only staying for the day. We paid the fee, received a map, and drove in. My husband was so excited to finally share this place and create memories with our children. Looking for a place to park, we thought we were lucky to find an empty campsite in one of the loops where he used to camp as a child. We parked the car hoping to enjoy the view of the lake, take a walk, and maybe make the kids a couple of s'mores before heading home. At around 2:15-2:30 p.m., the "SUPERVISOR" in the white Kia approached us in an extremely rude and nasty manner, speaking as if we were committing a serious crime and comparing our situation to "sleeping in someone else's hotel room." She asked us if we had a reservation; we said no. She said, "Someone else reserved this spot." We were very apologetic, embarrassed, and immediately put our stuff in the car. I said they could have told us; we would have moved right away. I'm sorry. She said, "They aren't supposed to talk to you; that's why they send me here." She told us we had ten minutes to leave, waited there while we put our chair, blanket, and s'more cookies in the car, and refused our 9-year-old daughter access to the bathroom while we packed up our three things, and even followed us out of the loop to make sure we didn't park elsewhere. My daughter came to us crying because the lady told her she couldn't use the bathroom and had to get in the car. Well, she had an accident in the car right as we were pulling out. We were mortified and apologetic. My husband even offered to leave the firewood we had just purchased for the next campers, but she was dismissive and harsh about that as well. The following day, I called and asked to speak with a manager to explain how we were treated. The manager was just as unfriendly and miserable sounding as the supervisor. I was told they had been looking for us "for hours" and that it's "common sense" not to park in a campsite. She actually said it's considered trespassing. So, a friendly warning for first-time visitors: Apparently, if you don't know that "day use" doesn't mean "park in any empty campsite," just for the day, you're officially a trespassing criminal--at least according to the manager. Yes, really. Reading the website now, I see that check-in for people with reservations is at 2 p.m., which was the time we were trying to make a small fire, so unless someone left their site and returned, it's unclear how they could have been looking for us "for hours." We were right there at 2pm. The website also states: Day Use * Anyone who is not camping is a day-user. Day-use hours are from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Day-users are not allowed between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. We were not camping but didn't realize we couldn't park in an empty campsite. I think "common sense" would be to inform DAY USE visitors at the ENTRANCE to use public parking, especially for families or first-time visitors who may not be camping experts. Bottom line: this was my husband's childhood family spot. We just wanted to take a beautiful fall drive and have a special day with our kids. We understand now that we needed to reserve the parking spot ahead of time, and it was an honest misunderstanding. I would have even offered to pay for the campers' stay for their trouble. What we wish for is that the staff had approached us respectfully and explained the situation instead of treating us like criminals. Imagine being such a miserable person and working in such a BEAUTIFUL and peaceful place for families. This was meant to be a special family day, honoring memories of my father-in-law and creating new ones with our children. Instead, it became stressful and humiliating. Sadly, this is what our children will remember about the day and about North South Lake The photo is the space we took up and the stuff we had with us. Lol

I recently stayed at AutoCamp Catskills for a camping trip with four other people, and overall it…read morewas a new and interesting experience. We booked the Family Cabin, which was decent, but there were a few areas that could use improvement. The water pressure in the bathroom was noticeably low, which made showering a bit inconvenient. Also, there wasn't a clear or accessible place to dispose of trash once it piled up. It would be helpful if staff came around periodically with trash bags or provided designated disposal areas closer to the cabins. On the positive side, the 24-hour front desk text service was extremely convenient. Anytime we had a question, someone responded quickly. The cabin itself didn't have an oven, but it did include a stovetop and microwave, which was enough for simple meals. I also appreciated that they offered free coffee and access to bikes, which added to the overall experience. AutoCamp has a great concept and a beautiful location. With a few adjustments to the cabin amenities and trash management, it would make the stay even better. Overall, still a solid spot for a unique getaway in the Catskills.

I'll be honest, roughing it in the great outdoors is not my cup of tea, but "Glamping" is just fine…read morewith me! AutoCamp offers a "Glamorous Camping" experience which is the perfect blend of outdoor adventure with all the creature comforts of modern living conveniences. This is a great choice for those who want to experience nature without sacrificing the conveniences of home. We stayed in a 31 foot "Airstream" which offered: * A Queen size temper pedic bed. * 2 zone HVAC thermostat. * Modern shower complete with toiletries. * Mini fridge, microwave, hot water pot * LED TV, outdoor grill, pots, pans, cups, plates and kitchen sink. The main Clubhouse has plenty of board games and a bar offering adult beverages and simple bar type food like pizza and burgers. There is a little store selling microwaveable snacks. There is complimentary breakfast served in the morning, but it offers only coffee, tea and some loose granola from a dispenser. If you buy anything use your debit or credit card, they dont accept cash here, other than cash tips at the bar. Autocamp has tents, cabins and premium accommodations for rent as well. Glamping is a refreshing way to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with nature in style and comfort. NOTE: Woodstock is the next town over and has some excellent restaurants and stores.

Horrible customer experience!! Rude people keeping Saugerties trashy with their trashy business. No…read morewonder they are losing so much money, they are snakes. Don't come and camp here, there are many better campgrounds like Brookside which is worlds better than this dusty dirty campground. Rip Van Winkle campground set up shop in paradise and made the place a dump, keeping the creek dirty, garbage everywhere, and can't take care of their property. Not the beauty you go upstate for. Pathetic owners!

We only live 20 minutes away, but wanted to be close to home because we were taking a new-to-us pop…read moreup, a 3 year old and a 5 month old puppy camping for the first time - brilliant, I know! This campground came highly recommended because of all the stuff for kids to do - not a lie!! There's at least a half dozen playgrounds of various "skill levels," a movie screen, RC track, bouncy slide, paddleboats, pool, sluice, creek to explore & swim/fish in, a rec room.... I'm sure I'm forgetting! Plus a dog park! The night we set up it was hot, but by the time we were done we couldn't take our little guy swimming - the pool looked nice and always had folks in it. The snack shack was (shockingly) reasonably priced! We got coffee and it was HOT. The campstore was well stocked and also not excessively overpriced! We liked that they texted us reminders - events, check out time. The rest of our stay it rained and was chilly, so we didn't get to play too much on the playgrounds, but my son loved what he did see. Additionally, there are many toilets - they're tiny, but if you want to pee inside with TP and lights and running water, they definitely do the job. There were also several trash areas, and many of the trash had a dog waste area with bags provided. This place was CLEAN. We didn't see any dog poop or trash anywhere. After the very hot day, the bathroom was a little buggy, but that's not the campgrounds fault - the bathrooms were VERY clean. Our ONLY complaints, the wood was a little expensive and you can't bring in outside wood (that said, it is kiln dried so it lights practically instantly and you only need a little bit if you're just cooking a quick meal) and there was no grate/rack on the fire pit! Thankfully, since we're close by, we ran home and grabbed a spare smoker rack. There were a lot of "perma-campers," people that clearly come for every weekend or all summer, and they were SO nice. Everyone was friendly - the campground wasn't loud and I never worried about our safety. I can see why people stay there for extended times, we've already decided we may make it our inaugural trip every year.

I think this may be my favorite state park within a short driving distance from my home. There are…read moreso many hiking trails of different levels, and carriage road trails too! And the views are amazing, plus there are a bunch of waterfalls! While it does get crowded, especially in the parking lots, I find the hiking trails to be a little less crowded than the parks that are a little closer to NYC. Even though I am not a rock climber I do also enjoy seeing the climbers out there doing their thing.

This is my eighth review of MSPP, and each one has been 5 stars. Today was no different. Came by w…read morebest friend, Pots & Pans AKA, The Missing Ink. We had designs on hiking to Lake Awosting and swimming, but today was very hot and humid w the only breeze coming from fluttering butterfly wings. Plus LA is over an 8-mile round-trip. So, discretion being the better part of valor, we looped around Lake Minnewaska (about 2 miles), and rewarded ourselves w a very refreshing dip in that lake. Beautiful scenery as well. Please remember to leave no trace (carry out what you carry in). Also, good idea to bring bug spray as this is black fly season. Sunscreen as well. 5 scenic, refreshing stars

Margaret and Bernie are really really nice. They even deliver firewood. Prices are very affordable…read moreand the location is very close to Windham Mountain

Stayed there for 20 years , laid back place love Bernie and Margaret , been thinking of going back…read moresoon

Campground is serene with awesome views. We were right next to one of the horse pens and despite a…read moresurprisingly cold weekend, we're quite content. Restaurants and stores are fairly convenient. The only thing to "prepare" for are the facilities: a few dirty porta-potties (one with a sizeable wasp nest) but otherwise an awesome experience.

Wally's Farm is an amazing place to camp. The view is amazing, the sites are really spread out, and…read morethere's so much to do in the area. Hiking, food, breweries. I've been twice now and my only regret is not going more often!

Lake Taghkanic State Park is an expansive area with a pavillion, large beach, water activities,…read moreboat rentals, picnic tables, tent, trailer and RVcampsites; hiking, biking, crosscounty and snowmobile trails; short and long term rental cottages yearround. The park area is about a mile off the Taconic Highway in a relatively secluded area of Columbia County in New York State. Beautiful spot for a day visit or cabin rental for a summer vacation with the family.

Updated Review: For the beach area only…read more Yinz already know I love this campground. This past weekend I returned just for the lake for a Fat Beach Swim with my plus size hiking group and it was soooo fun! I snagged parking right by the lake, it was super clean, and the crowds were lovely. I felt super comfortable as a Black woman and as a fat person. Very diverse beachgoers. Our crew - over 20 of us! - set up tents, beach umbrellas, tables, coolers, etc. and all of our stuff was safe while we swam. Lifeguards and rangers were unobtrusive. The roped off area went back to a good 7 ft deep so it was easy to wade or actually swim. Bathrooms were very clean and I heard good reports about the concession stand. Tips: -$10 to enter -There was a Statie checkpoint set up as soon as I pulled in at 2pm. Seatbelts and sobriety so don't get caught lacking. -the sand and exposure gets hot hot hot so bring flip flops, sunglasses, and a hat. Enjoy yourself!!

I kicked and scream...(well no...not really) because as much as I enjoy walking in the woods, I…read moredon't like sleeping in it. My time came to rough it in the woods because I don't do camping. Dominicans don't do camping. Period! But hubby's a Nuyorican and he loves all this stuff. In a Yurt? Well...That's the question I got when I told folks where I was staying for the weekend. But...it's a give and take and all in the name of love. Right? Caryn & Mark own Awakening Garden grounds. There's a Yurt, 2 Cabins, a Tepee and a Buddha Hut to choose from. (Call or check website for prices). Pitching a tent was definitely out of the question. Now you're asking......what the heck is a Yurt? Well Google says its a, "circular tent"- and that's precisely what it is- but bigger. Our Yurt, has no bathroom- but the 'Bathhouse' is literally 5 steps away (and no...it's not a latrine- by the way). It doubles (or triples) as a small kitchenette with a small fridge, sink and 2-burner hot plate, a full bathroom with a shower, 'Dining Area' and a gorgeous carpeted nook if you want to do Yoga (perfect). Yurt rental for us (at this time of year was $370 ($135 for each of the first two nights and $100 for the third night) plus $30 cleaning fee. It's super comfortable with a Queen-size bed, but there's extra room within the Yurt that could easily sleep at least 2 more people (please double check with the owners first for a payment scale and/or if more people are allowed before you bring your posse). Coming at this time in the Fall was perfect and we didn't need to worry about freezing up here. The Yurt has 2 portable heaters and kept us super toasty for this time of the year. Plus there's a potbelly stove as an added measure. Additionally, there's a baseboard heater in the "Bathhouse". Don't want to pitch a tent? Or do the Hut or cabin stay? But you still want to get that outdoorsy, woodsy feel? Then staying in a Yurt is your best bet to give you a bit of both worlds. Oh by the way...it's just you and Nature at it's finest because there's no TV. And WiFi? If you're lucky- because it comes and goes! Didn't realize how much more I'd appreciate Nature and sleeping in a Yurt made me feel like I was right in the thick of it- which we were. This is totally off the spectrum for me compared to my new fave and up-to-trend hotel- The Emerson- but we wanted to switch things up. I'm really not taking points off because there isn't a TV. Or because we had to walk 5 little steps out of our Yurt and into a Bathhouse. Or because there wasn't a thermostat to regulate the heater. All I kept saying to myself was- 'things could be a lot f*cking worse in the woods'. This Yurt is up to standards and met me in many ways for it being in the woods. 4+1/2! Both Caryn and Mark run Awakening Garden very nicely. It's truly Zen here.

We've been looking for the right mix of nature and comfort for several years and finally found it…read moreat the Awakening Garden. It is off the road and the area is quite large to walk around and feel yourself alone in the woods. At the same time, there is absolutely everything one would need from civilization: hot shower and electricity. We stayed in Thoreau house which has eclectic, but very cosy interior with old furniture and it was very romantic to sleep in the attic. Also, this place is very close to gorgeous Kaaterskill Falls and several nice lakes.