United States · Regional guides
Catskills
A fall foliage day trip in New York’s Catskills: breakfast in New Paltz, the top of Kaaterskill Falls and the Belleayre gondola.
Know before you go
Best time & quick facts
- Best time
- Late September to mid-October for fall foliage; summer for hiking and swimming holes
- Time zones
- Eastern (ET)
- Budget
- $150–$300 USD/day (estimate)
- Getting around
- A car is essential; trailheads and towns are spread out. On peak foliage weekends, expect slow traffic on Route 23A and full trailhead lots by mid-morning.
Get oriented
The overview
I went to the Catskills in fall 2026 for the foliage: breakfast in New Paltz, a hike to the top of Kaaterskill Falls, and the gondola at Belleayre Mountain while the Fall Festival was on. Kaaterskill Falls was the highlight. On peak weekends, start early and park only in the official lots, as roadside parking on Route 23A is banned from May through October.
The whole day, with parking tips and gondola prices, is in my Catskills fall foliage day trip.
Explore Catskills
Guides & stories
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Highlights
- The view from the top of Kaaterskill Falls in peak foliage
- Breakfast at Little Loaf Bakeshop in New Paltz
- The Catskill Thunder Gondola at Belleayre during the Fall Festival
Weather in Catskills
The Catskills have a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and mild summers, cooler than the Hudson Valley below. Approximate monthly averages for the mountain towns; higher elevations are colder.
Best time to visit: Late September to mid-October for fall foliage.
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
Map of Catskills
Places from this trip — tap a pin for details