A Catskills Fall Foliage Day Trip: New Paltz, Kaaterskill Falls and Belleayre

For fall foliage this year, I did a day trip to the Catskills in New York: breakfast in New Paltz, a hike to the top of Kaaterskill Falls, and an afternoon at Belleayre Mountain for the gondola. The colors were worth it. The traffic and one part of the day were less so. Here’s how it went, plus what to know before you try it on a peak foliage weekend.

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Catskills fall day trip at a glance

• When: Fall 2026, during foliage season

• Route: New Paltz → Kaaterskill Falls → Belleayre Mountain

• Getting around: by car. There’s no practical way to link these stops without one.

• Best for: leaf peeping, an easy hike with big views, a relaxed afternoon

• Biggest tip: start early. Parking at Kaaterskill Falls fills fast on fall weekends.

Breakfast at Little Loaf Bakeshop in New Paltz

We started the day with breakfast at Little Loaf Bakeshop on Main Street in New Paltz. It’s an all-vegan bakery with a coffee bar and seating, and a good first stop before heading north into the mountains.

Check their hours before you go: their own listings show them closed on Wednesdays and the kitchen closing mid-afternoon.

Kaaterskill Falls: hiking to the top

Next was Kaaterskill Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in New York, with two drops totaling about 260 feet. We hiked to the top of the falls only. We didn’t go down to the bottom of the waterfall.

The views from up there in fall were the highlight of my day: the whole Kaaterskill Clove was covered in yellow, orange and red.

Which trail goes to the top?

According to the NYS DEC, from the Laurel House Road parking area it’s about 0.3 miles on a firm gravel trail to the observation platform overlooking the falls, with little elevation change. Continuing down to the lower pools at the base is a steeper, more rugged descent, so wear proper footwear if you go that way. From the Scutt Road parking area, you follow the blue-marked Escarpment Trail south and cross the Spruce Brook bridge to reach the viewing platform.

Safety rules

• Stay on the trail and at least 6 feet from cliff edges.

• Don’t enter the stream within 150 feet of the falls.

• No alcohol, fires, stoves or music.

• The area closes 30 minutes after sunset and opens 30 minutes before sunrise.

People have been seriously hurt and killed at Kaaterskill Falls, so take the edge rules seriously, especially for photos.

Traffic and parking during peak foliage

This is the part nobody puts on Instagram. On peak foliage weekends, Kaaterskill Falls gets very busy, and the roads around it feel it. Here’s what to know (official guidance as of October 2026):

• No parking on Route 23A. The Town of Hunter bans parking along Route 23A in Kaaterskill Clove from May through October, including all the pull-offs. The Molly Smith lot on 23A is closed. Illegally parked cars get ticketed and towed.

• Park at a designated lot: Laurel House Road (closest to the top-of-falls viewing platform), Scutt Road (via the Escarpment Trail) or the South Lake area.

• Lots fill early. The Catskills Visitor Center says they generally fill by 10 AM on weekends, earlier on holidays, and stay full until evening.

• Route 23A is slow. It’s a narrow, winding road through the clove, with sharp curves, heavy traffic and lots of people walking. On peak weekends, expect stop-and-go traffic and allow plenty of extra time.

• Have a backup. If a lot is full, move on to the next one rather than risking a tow. The Town of Hunter also suggests the Kaaterskill Trolley as a way to skip the parking hunt.

• Go early or midweek. Arriving early in the morning, late in the day or on a weekday makes the biggest difference.

Belleayre Mountain: the Catskill Thunder Gondola

In the afternoon, we drove west to Belleayre Mountain in Highmount to ride the Catskill Thunder Gondola, the scenic gondola ride to the summit.

My honest take

I was somewhat disappointed. The ride up gives you nice views of the foliage, but there was nothing to do at the top of the gondola. If you're going only for the summit, set your expectations. My tip is to stay on and ride straight back down instead of getting off at the top, because the lines to get back to the base are usually long.

What saved the afternoon: Belleayre’s Fall Festival was going on that weekend, and we caught the last of it. The festival runs on two October weekends, with local food, drink and craft vendors, live music and family activities at the base area.

Gondola tickets, hours and how to buy (as of October 2026, check before you go)

These are Belleayre’s published 2026 round-trip scenic gondola prices:

• Adults (20–64): $20

• Seniors (65+): $15

• Juniors/teens (7–19): $15

• Youth (4–6): $5

• Children 3 and under: free with a paid adult ticket

• Military: $10 (verified through ID.me)

• Fall hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 AM–5 PM, from September 7 through October 11, 2026 (last ride up 4:45 PM, last ride down 5 PM). The 2026 gondola season has now ended, so check Belleayre for next year’s dates.

• How to buy: online through Belleayre, or at the Guest Services ticket location inside the Discovery Lodge.

• Season passholders: 2026/27 winter season passholders ride free during normal hours, but not during special events like the Fall Festival.

• Fall Festival 2026: October 3–4 and 10–11, 10 AM–5 PM. Festival admission and parking are free; gondola tickets are separate. A $50 VIP package included a gondola ride.

• Weather: the gondola can close at any time for weather.

Is it worth it? For the ride and views, it’s an easy add-on if you’re nearby. If you’re choosing just one, I’d put Kaaterskill Falls first. Time your visit for festival weekends to get more out of the trip.

Tips for a Catskills fall day trip

• Start early, and put Kaaterskill Falls first if you can, before the lots fill.

• You’ll need a car. If you need a rental, I compare prices on Rentcars.

• Wear shoes with grip: rocks near the creek and trails get slippery with wet leaves.

• Check hours for every stop before you leave. The bakery is closed Wednesdays and the gondola runs weekends only in fall.

• Bring layers: it’s noticeably cooler up in the mountains than in the valley.

No car? See the fall colors from the Hudson

If driving into the Catskills on a peak weekend sounds like too much, a fall foliage cruise up the Hudson River from New York City is a car-free alternative:

Final thoughts

For a single fall day, this route gave me the best of the Catskills: a good breakfast in New Paltz, the views from the top of Kaaterskill Falls, and a festival to end the day. Kaaterskill Falls was the highlight. The Belleayre gondola was a bit of a letdown on its own, so I’d plan it around the Fall Festival. And whatever you do on a peak weekend, start early and park only in the official lots.

FAQ

Where do you park for Kaaterskill Falls?

At the DEC lots on Laurel House Road (closest to the top of the falls), Scutt Road, or the South Lake area. Parking on Route 23A is prohibited from May through October.

How long is the walk to the top of Kaaterskill Falls?

About 0.3 miles from the Laurel House Road lot to the viewing platform, on a gravel trail with little elevation change, according to the NYS DEC.

When is peak foliage in the Catskills?

Usually around early to mid-October, depending on the year and elevation. Check a current foliage report before you go.

How much is the Belleayre gondola?

In 2026 it was $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and teens and $5 for ages 4–6 (as of October 2026, check before you go).

Is there anything to do at the top of the Belleayre gondola?

In my experience, not much beyond the views. Belleayre says you can walk, picnic or hike back down. Festival weekends add more to do at the base.