Best resorts in the Catskills, New York: Top 12 places to relax in the mountains

Since the 1800s, the mountainous area in southeastern New York has been one of the favorite summer vacation destinations for Victorian-era Manhattanites who wanted to escape the sweltering heat and bustle of the city. Today, the Catskills are home to modern complexes, multi-storey casinos, ski lodges, water parks and attractions, and fantastic views. The region is still a popular choice for summer vacations or winter weekends, especially since you can get here from neighboring New York City by train or bus.

Whether you're planning a spa vacation with your friends, a family vacation near a water park, or a romantic getaway in a secluded spot, resorts in the Catskills can surprise even the most demanding travellers. The following selection of the most popular locations will help you quickly choose the perfect option for your upcoming adventure.

1. Shandaken Inn

Hidden from view in a quiet valley, one of the best Catskills ski resorts is located on 12 acres of countryside surrounded by lush forest and the lovely Esopus Creek, which attracts fly fishing enthusiasts.

The main building of Shandaken Inn was once a golf club dating back to the 1920s. In 2019, the resort reopened after extensive renovations to fully meet the needs of modern guests.

The rooms are decorated with handmade cottage-style furniture, oak wood floors, and designer wallpaper. Bathrooms are spacious with sets of fine toiletries and soft bathrobes. If you are looking for the most luxurious stay, choose a suite with a large seating area and a separate fireplace.

The following amenities are provided for guests:

• tennis court;
• outdoor swimming pool;
• fitness centre;
• an in-house restaurant serving American cuisine prepared with seasonal products of the highest quality (breakfast is included in the reservation price).

The Shandaken Inn is just a short drive from the many hiking trails of the protected forest.

2. Winter Clove Inn & Resort, Round Top

The Winter Clove Inn & Resort is a historic resort in the Catskills Mountains and a true oasis amid a picturesque landscape that awaits guests throughout the year. The 300-acre grounds are full of attractive gardens, manicured lawns, and all of this is close to unspoiled wilderness areas, including amazing waterfalls.

The complex operates on an all-inclusive basis, so guests can fully enjoy their vacation, forgetting about every day worries. The resort's facilities include the following:

• indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools;
• 9-hole golf course;
• an antique bowling alley;
• volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts;
• game room.

During the season, you can rent cross-country skiing equipment free of charge when it snows.

The complex offers a variety of accommodation options. A popular option is a spacious three-bedroom apartment located in a former outbuilding that once housed horse-drawn carriages. The room includes two bathrooms and a large living room.

3. Emerson Resort & Spa, Mount Tremper

This luxury resort in the Catskills, New York, is located in the heart of Catskill Park at the foot of Mount Tremper next to Esopus Creek. Emerson Resort & Spa is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Amenities and popular activities include:

• an award-winning spa;
• fitness centre with yoga classes;
• fly fishing in the Esopus Creek;
• biking and hiking trails;

• hairdresser;
• an outdoor swimming pool with a lounge area;
• several establishments, including an excellent restaurant and snack bar serving healthy meals and smoothies;
• shops for clothes, toys, souvenirs, etc;
• concierge services.

Guests can book a guided walk or go birdwatching. In particular, here you can spot great blue herons and white-headed eagles, having previously taken free binoculars at the reception. Another great place for birdwatching is the Ashokan Rail Trail.

The minimalistic but very comfortable rooms of the famous Catskills resorts are equipped with private balconies offering beautiful views. There are two options for accommodation: a country house or a modern hotel.

4. Mountain Brook Hotel, Tannersville

The four-star Mountain Brook, located next to the lively downtown of Tannersville in the northern part of the state of New York, the Catskills, stands out. The hotel is surrounded by mountainous terrain, offering comfortable conditions and a maximum sense of privacy.

The hotel provides accommodation in rooms decorated in the Adirondack style. The most popular are the spacious suites with double beds, living rooms, and large bathrooms with jacuzzis. The apartments are also equipped with furnished balconies or verandas.

The picturesque area is lined with meadows, and there are many places for active recreation nearby like cycling and hiking trails, golf courses,a centre with its many restaurants, shops, and cafes. The following amenities are available:

• an outdoor terrace with a fireplace, where you can roast s'mores, a typical American treat of marshmallows, cookies and chocolate, in the evening;
• a cozy common lounge area;
• a library with books available for rent.

The reservation price includes a free breakfast served on the veranda or in the common areas.

5. Beaverkill Valley Inn, Lew Beach

The endless sky dotted with stars, eagles soaring over open fields, amazing mountains and picturesque meadows: all this is about the unique natural environment where one of the best resorts in the Catskills is located. Nature lovers will be delighted with the 60-acre manicured grounds and 40 miles of private hiking trails.

The Beaverkill Valley Inn is also a gourmet delight as the hotel's excellent restaurant offers dishes prepared with produce from local farms and its own organic garden. The dinner menu changes daily to reflect seasonality.

The boutique hotel has only 19 rooms and first-class facilities, including:

• tennis court;
• children's play area and club;
• ice cream parlor;
• indoor basketball court;
• billiards and a ping-pong table;
• indoor swimming pool in a glass-roofed building dating back to the 1960s.

In winter, there is a skating rink on the territory, and cross-country skis can be rented. During the season, you can watch birds, have a picnic, and, of course, go fishing on a private section of the Beaverkill River.

6. DeBruce, Livingston Estate

This luxurious, contemporary Catskills vacation resort is set amidst an idyllic natural environment providing a tranquil, private retreat. The DeBruce is located in the beautiful Willowemoc Creek, occupying a restored historic building dating from the early 20th century.

The intimate hotel has only 14 rooms but offers amenities typical of large resorts. The rooms are luxuriously decorated, including Italian linens and soft as down duvets. The suites offer magnificent views of the valley or mountains.

This Catskill Mountains resort offers all-inclusive stays that include breakfast and dinner. The following facilities are available for guests:

• outdoor swimming pool;
• shared lounge areas with views of the picturesque Willowemoc;
• private access to the river, where you can go fishing in summer;
• spa centre;
• private hiking trail, etc.

DeBruce has a fine restaurant that serves farm-to-table cuisine. The menu changes depending on the season, and products grown in the region and in the hotel's own garden are used for cooking.

7. Urban Cowboy Lodge, Big Indian

The Urban Cowboy Lodge resort reflects the trend of recent years towards the revival of the region. The trendy modern hotel is spread over 68 acres along the Esopus Creek. The resort is perfect for both family vacations and young couples looking for solitude and romance.

Urban Cowboy Lodge features an eclectic, bold décor that stands out against the typical cottages of the region. The apartments offer consistently beautiful mountain views, and the rooms are located in five new buildings.

We recommend visiting the Public House hotel restaurant, which uses local farm products. The famous Peekamoose, which specializes in fine American cuisine, is also nearby.

8. Scribners Catskill Lodge, Hunter

The classic Catskills holiday resort is a relic of the Borscht Belt of the 1960s, but modernized and completely updated to meet the needs of guests.

Scribner's Catskill Lodge offers accommodation in spacious, bright rooms with private balconies offering magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. Some apartments are even equipped with fireplaces, adding a hundred points to coziness at once! Bathrooms are decorated with terracotta tiles and include Italian-style rain showers.

The main facilities and services available to guests of the three-star resort include

• outdoor swimming pool;
• fitness centre with yoga classes;
• special events, such as an autumn food festival or summer bonfires;
• guided walks;
• food trucks.

The cozy hotel restaurant serves delicious dishes prepared with local ingredients grown in the nearby Hudson Valley and the Catskills. The panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows offer amazing views of Hunter Mountain, and if the weather permits, we recommend choosing a table on the cedar veranda.

This Catskills Mountain resort is well-located and is only a ten-minute drive from the Kaaterskill Fall Trail and other hiking trails.

9. Dylan Hotel, Woodstock

This three-star Catskills resort is located in one of the most famous small towns in the state, Woodstock. The Dylan is the perfect place to stay if you plan to get to know the center of art and culture.

The rooms at the Dylan are as creative as Woodstock itself. For example, one of the newly renovated suites is named after the famous music legends of the 1960s. The room rate includes breakfast.

Amenities available to hotel guests:

• a library with records, games and books;
• a spacious seating area;
• outdoor swimming pool;
• access to a nearby fitness centre.

In addition, the hotel has an excellent restaurant specializing in Mexican cuisine.

10. Callicoon Hills

Recently renovated and updated, this resort in the Catskill Mountains, New York, is a modern variation of a classic vacation with everything you need for a relaxing stay and recuperation.

Callicoon Hills is located in a beautiful valley near the town of Callicoon. The complex has 65 rooms in five different buildings, one of which is a restored 1900s guesthouse with a wonderful coffee shop inside. The apartments are decorated in an eclectic style with custom-made furniture.

Amenities include an outdoor seating area next to the outdoor swimming pool, which is a restaurant that uses products from local farmers and artisanal suppliers.

11. Roxbury, Contemporary Catskill Lodge

This Catskills resort area is full of various hotels offering a high level of service, including the Roxbury, Contemporary Catskill Lodging. This complex will be an ideal choice for families as it offers a lot of entertainment and modern amenities.

The three-star resort features themed rooms. All apartments are uniquely decorated, with a kitchenette and a large bathroom. A three-bedroom cottage is popular with families or companies. A separate room includes an open-air shower, a fully equipped kitchen, a large furnished outdoor lounge area, and a large number of unusual decorative elements and artefacts. A continental breakfast is included in the room rate.

Guests have access to the Roxbury at Stratton Falls spa centre, as well as an outdoor swimming pool located two miles from the resort.

12. Kenoza Hall, Kenoza Lake

This elegant resort in the Catskills, New York, is located in its western part. Kenoza Hall is an idyllic location among the picturesque wooded hills, offering magnificent views of the lake. The resort is also a 15-minute drive from the historic city of Callicoon, which is definitely worth a visit.

The main building, Kenoza Hall, is a former historic boarding house built in the late 1800s. The rooms feature custom-made furniture, decorated with Victorian-style wallpaper that blends harmoniously with the hardwood floors and original architecture.

The hotel has only eight rooms, all of which offer views of Kenoza Lake or the pretty garden. Among the facilities available to guests are a swimming pool with a lounge area, a gourmet restaurant, and a full-service spa. Hikers will enjoy the hiking trails. Yoga and meditation classes are also available.