7 Family-Friendly Hikes in the Catskills

Are you looking for some fun, family-friendly hikes in the Catskills? We’ve got you covered!

The Catskills is known for its incredible hikes full of views and waterfalls! Although many hikes are long and challenging due to the steep grades and inclines (hello, Hunter Mountain!), there are still plenty of family-friendly options in the area.

During our trip to the Catskills, we had fun with the kids at Kaaterskill Falls and Inspiration Point. And we did the Artist Rock/Sunset Rock hike at sunset! That was a first for us, but it won’t be the last!

The guide below shares some of the best hikes you can do as a family in the Catskills. Some lead to waterfalls, and some lead to gorgeous views. All of them are worth doing!

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Preparing for Your Family-Friendly Hike in the Catskills

Be a Responsible Visitor

Remember as you visit these places to respect nature. Stay on established paths, pack out your trash (including food waste), and leave what you find behind.

The more popular these destinations become, the more we need to be diligent about keeping our parks and lands clean and safe for all. You can learn more here.

Have the Right Stuff

It’s always best to be prepared for any hike. This is what we recommend for hiking in the Catskills

• Shoes: The trails below can be rocky and steep. As always, we recommend sturdy hiking boots or trail sneakers.
• Water Bottles: No matter how short the hike is, you’ll always want a water bottle on hand, especially in the hotter months.
• Bug Spray and Sunscreen: Mosquitoes and gnats can be in full force, depending on the time of year. A good insect repellant will make the hike more pleasant.
• Clothing: When hiking, you’ll want to dress in layers. Usually, it’s cooler in the mornings, but you’ll heat up as you walk along. Wearing t-shirts under lightweight zip-up sweatshirts is ideal in the spring and fall.
• Snacks or Picnic Lunch: Depending on which trails you choose and the time of day, you’ll want to have a few snacks or even a lunch ready to eat!
• Hand sanitizer / Hand Wipes: You never know when you need to wipe down! Especially before eating.
• Bandages: Isn’t it inevitable that someone will fall and scrape a knee on a rock? It’s always good to have some bandages or even a small first-aid kit on hand.
• Backpack: To carry everything in. Need I say more? I prefer one with side pockets to hold the water bottles and a front pocket to hold the wipes and bandages. But you can use whatever you own.
• Detailed Map: Before you hike, make sure you have a map of the trails. This one by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is clear and easy to read. It includes the first few trails listed below.

Family-Friendly Trails in the Catskills

1. Kaaterskill Falls

As one of the tallest waterfalls in New York state, Kaaterskill Falls is a hike worth doing in the Catskills. The nice thing about Kaaterskill Falls is that you can see it from the overlook platform, which is an easy and accessible trail, but you can also hike down to the bottom! It’s a trail we’d recommend to anyone, especially if you’re visiting over a weekend or for the day.

Visitor Tip: If you are visiting over a holiday weekend or in the summer months, arrive at the parking areas early! They can fill up very quickly.

Overlook Platform

• Trail Location: Laurel-House Road parking area or Scutt Road parking area
• Trail Length: From Laurel-House Road, the platform is .3-mile. From Scutt Road, it’s about .75-miles
• Trail Difficulty: Easy from Laurel-House Road. Moderate from Scutt Road due to the rocks and roots.

No matter if you choose to go to the bottom of the falls or not, you’ll want to stop at the overlook platform first. The hike to the viewing platform from the Laurel-House Road parking is a short .3 miles and relatively easy.

Most likely, the Laurel-House Road parking will only be open to cards who require handicapped parking, so you’ll need to access the overlook platform from the Scutt Road Parking area.

The trail from Scutt Road is a little longer, about .75-miles, and is rocky. After you cross the first footbridge, make a right and continue on the Blue Trail. Then, follow the signs to the viewing platform.

Trail to the Lower Falls at Kaaterskill Falls

• Trail Location: Laurel-House Road parking area or Scutt Road parking area
• Trail Length: From Laurel-House Road, about 1.6 miles (out-and-back), includes Overlook Platform. From Scutt Road, about 2 miles (out-and-back), not including the Overlook Platform
• Trail Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult. The 403 steps to the bottom of the lower falls could be difficult for some to climb back up.

After you’ve seen Kaaterskill Falls from the top, you’ll want to see it from the bottom!

Take the Blue Trail (Escarpment) to the Lower Falls trail and then branch off to the Yellow Trail. You’ll head down many stone steps to the falls from there.

If you’re coming from the overlook platform, backtrack to the first bridge. After you cross the bridge, follow the Blue Trail signs to Inspiration Point and the Lower Falls.

The Yellow Trail gives you access to both the bottom of the top falls and the bottom of the lower falls. Be warned, there are 403 steps (we counted!) to reach the lower falls. And you’ll have to climb back up them. But it’s worth it!

2. Inspiration Point

• Trail Location: Scutt Road parking area
• Trail Length: Varies depending on the route and parking location. From Scutt Road and following Blue > Red >Yellow >Blue (Escarpment) is about 3 miles (out-and-back). If you visit Kaaterskill Falls first and take Yellow>Red>Blue back to the parking lot, it’s about 4 miles (out-and-back)
• Trail Difficulty: Moderate – There are some steep and rocky spots along the Blue Trail. The Red>Yellow is a flatter and a little easier.

A hike with a view is one of the best kinds of hikes. And Inspiration Point gives an incredible vista!

There are a few ways to reach Inspiration Point from the Scutt Road parking area. Both options require parking at the Scutt Road lot and following the Blue Trail to the first footbridge.

For the easiest of the two options, continue straight along the Red Trail after crossing the footbridge and bear right onto the Yellow Trail. This section is relatively flat (a shared horse trail), but there is a steeper descent from the Yellow Trail to the Blue (escarpment) Trail.

When you reach the Blue Trail, make a left and continue about .3 miles to Inspiration Point.

The more challenging option takes you past the trail to the lower falls of Kaaterskill Falls, so you can easily combine the two (see above for more information).

After the first footbridge, make a right to continue on the Blue Trail. Before you cross the next bridge (that leads to the Overlook Platform), continue left onto the Blue Trail. From there, follow the signs to Inspiration Point, about 1.5 miles.

There are several spots along the Blue Trail as you head to Inspiration Point to look out and enjoy the view. However, Inspiration Point is worth the trek up and down the steep sections of the trail.

3. Ashokan Rail Trail

• Trail Location: 3 trailheads are located at Boiceville Bridge in Boiceville, Ashokan Station in Shokan, and the Woodstock Dike in West Hurley.
• Trail Length: Up to 11.5 miles, one way.
• Trail Difficulty: Easy and wheelchair and stroller accessible

This accessible trail in the Catskills is over 11 miles long! But you can make it as long or short as you want. The trail is 12 feet wide and made up of highly compacted crushed stone. And at each trailhead, there are portable restrooms.

The Ashokan Rail Trail was completed in 2019. It’s an easy trail in the Catskills that follows along the Ashokan Reservoir, giving visitors a beautiful view any time of year. There are several benches along the trail to rest and take it all in.

It’s not far from Saugerties and Woodstock and could be a fun activity after visiting Opus40 Sculpture Park or having lunch nearby.

4. Artists Rocks/Sunset Rock/Newman’s Ledge

• Trail Location: North-South Lake Campground (There is a fee to enter the campground to access the trails)
• Trail Length: Artists Rocks, about .8 miles out-and-back; Sunset Rock, about 2 miles out-and-back; Newman’s Ledge, about 2.2 miles out-and-back. If you visit all 3 points, about 2.6 miles out and back
• Trail Difficulty: Moderate with some steep and rocky sections

For one trail that leads to several different views, you can’t beat this out-and-back trail at the North-South Lake Campground.

There is a day-use fee to access the campground. However, the price also includes access to swimming in the lakes, fishing, and boat rentals.

The trailhead to Artists Rock/Sunset Rock/Newman’s Ledge is right next to the day-use lot and is clearly marked. You’ll start on the Yellow Trail, and then you’ll need to connect to the Blue (escarpment) Trail to continue to the views.

The first stop is Artists Rock, which gives gorgeous views of the Hudson River towards the east. The trail splits at less than a mile, allowing you to continue on the Blue Trail to Newman’s Ledge or take the Yellow Trail to Sunset Rock. If you have the time and energy, it’s easy to do both!

This trail is a perfect sunset hike trail. The views at Sunset Rock of the sun setting behind the mountain over the lake are magnificent. Just remember to pack headlamps and flashlights for your hike back to the car. And keep in mind you’ll need to be at your car before 9 pm to avoid a ticket.

5. Catskills Visitor Center Trails

• Trail Location: Catskills Visitor Center
• Trail Length: Each trail is .5 miles out and back
• Trail Difficulty: Easy – Moderate (the Esopus Creek Trail is accessible)

For some easy and family-friendly trails in the Catskills, look no further than the Catskills Visitor Center. They have multiple trails that are all short (a half mile out and back) that lead to the Esopus Creek and a fire tower.

The Catskills Visitor Center Interpretive Loop Trail is flat and has several signs along the path describing the history and geology of the area. It leads to the 80-foot-tall Upper Esopus Fire Tower, which is open on weekends from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.

The Catskills Visitor Center Esopus Creek Trail is an ADA-compliant, accessible trail that leads to Esopus Creek through a beautiful meadow.

Lastly, the Catskills Visitor Center Upper Ridge Trail is a more traditional, moderate trail that has an elevation gain of 170 feet. There is a picnic area at the end of the trail that gives you pretty views of the area.

6. Pratt Rock

• Trail Location: 8H5H+V3 Prattsville, New York on Main Street / Route 23. The is a small parking lot for about 10 cars at the trailhead.
• Trail Length: .5 miles to the rocks and back, or just over 1 mile if you take the trail to the overlook
• Trail Difficulty: Moderate due to steep incline

Pratt Rock is a unique attraction commissioned by Prattsville’s founder, Zadock Pratt, and is called the “Mount Rushmore of the Catskills,”.

There is a small parking area that holds about 10 cars and an information kiosk at the bottom of the hill. The trail is unmarked. However, worn down by all the previous visitors, so it’s easy to follow.

The hike to Pratt Rock is short but steep.

From the bottom of the trail, you can see some of the carvings. However, it’s fun to climb right up next to the rock for a close-up look at everything. The trail to the carvings and back down is about a 1/2 mile, but its steep grade makes it a moderate hike.

If you want a longer hike, backtrack on the trail to the carved bench and make a right. From there, you can follow the trail to an overlook above the carvings. It gives a beautiful view of the valley and river.

7. Diamond Notch Falls

• Trail Location: 2679-2633 Spruceton Rd, West Kill, NY
• Trail Length: 2 miles, out-and-back
• Trail Difficulty: Easy, though rocky in spots

The Diamond Notch Falls trail is perfect for introducing kids to hiking or winding down your hiking day. This 2-mile out-and-back trail is relatively flat, with some rocky sections that are easy to navigate.

It follows along the West Kill, giving you a calm and peaceful hike. Once you reach the falls, you’ll want to walk down to them to see them better.

You’ll have to park down the road from the trailhead. The trail does not start by the sign but rather just past the ranger home down the road.

Other Things to Do in the Catskills With Kids

The Catskills has so many amazing things to do, especially for families who enjoy spending time outdoors. We loved walking the nature trail at the Saugerties Lighthouse and exploring the sculpture park, Opus40. You can also kayak or canoe at the North-South Lake Campground or ride a bike on an old railway!

Wrapping Family-Friendly Hikes in the Catskills

The Catskills is a perfect destination for families who love to hike! With several trails that lead to overlooks or waterfalls or just an easy walk around a reservoir, there are plenty of hikes that you and your kids can do together in the Catskills.

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