Your Catskill Mountains CME conference.

The Catskills after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM local time. For an easy afternoon near Woodstock, choose one outing: browse Tinker Street, visit the Woodstock Artists Association & Museum, or walk the sculpture park at Opus 40. Save a hike such as Overlook Mountain for a day with nothing else planned, because the state describes its trail as a steady, nonstop climb.

Travel, lodging and any admission or parking charges are arranged separately. Your conference is built around your specialty and interests; the mountains are the setting you choose for it.

Woodstock’s arts and shops

New York’s tourism site describes Tinker Street as all about shopping, with everything from rugs and furniture to clothing, plus pottery and local home goods. The Woodstock Artists Association & Museum at 28 Tinker Street is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1919, with contemporary galleries and a permanent collection. Its listing shows it open Thursday through Sunday, so check its days against your plans.

Opus 40 is described as a 6.5-acre bluestone sculpture built from an abandoned reclaimed quarry, a walkable sculpture park with meadows, forest trails and historic buildings. Byrdcliffe is a center for the arts with exhibitions, live music and workshops, and the Bearsville Theater and the Woodstock Playhouse host performances. Check what is on when you plan.

Trails above the village

The Overlook Mountain spur trail follows an old carriage road past the ruins of the unfinished Overlook Mountain House, reaching a fire tower at 3,140 feet. The state lists it as 2.4 miles one way with about 1,370 feet of climbing. The views through the trees are available in most seasons except summer, when foliage blocks them. For a shorter walk, the Meads Meadow loops off Macdaniel Road are described as short, family-friendly hikes.

Giant Ledge, in the Slide Mountain Wilderness, is 2.7 miles round trip with about 1,000 feet of ascent and views of several of the tallest Catskill peaks. At North-South Lake, the walk to the Catskill Mountain House site is about half a mile with 80 feet of ascent, and the state says you can see five states on a clear day. Take care on ledges and drop-offs, and watch for snakes on the paths.

Kaaterskill Falls

The state describes Kaaterskill Falls, at 260 feet, as the highest waterfall in New York. From the Laurel House Road parking area, a firm gravel trail of 0.3 miles leads to an observation platform with views of the falls and the valley below. A steeper 0.7-mile trail continues to the pools at the base.

Park only in designated state lots, because parking is prohibited at all Route 23A pull-offs in Kaaterskill Clove from May through October, and vehicles are ticketed and towed. The state also warns of possible flash floods, asks visitors to stay on the trail, and says climbing the falls is dangerous.

Mountain towns and the skyride

The Great Northern Catskills tourism office describes Tannersville, Hunter and Windham as mountain towns where you can stop, in a region with five of the Catskills’ ten highest peaks. Hunter Mountain runs a scenic skyride to the summit in summer and fall, and in winter offers skiing and snowboarding. Route 23A through Kaaterskill Clove runs from Palenville to Tannersville and is promoted as a fall drive.

Hunter Mountain’s winter terrain covers 67 trails on 320 skiable acres, served by 13 lifts, with four terrain parks and a tubing area. The region also lists Windham Mountain Club as a ski resort, and both resorts offer lessons. The tourism office describes Hunter as a four-season destination about two hours from New York City.

River towns and the Valley

The Great Northern Catskills divides its area into Mountain, Valley and River regions. It lists Catskill among the historic river towns and calls the River region the cultural center of the area, mentioning Thomas Cole’s porch and the Hudson River Skywalk. Choose the river side if you want historic towns and cultural sites rather than ski slopes.

At North-South Lake, easy trails lead to Artist’s Rock and Sunset Rock, and the tourism office describes golden shorelines and mountaintop views in fall. The region also promotes farm-to-table dining, craft breweries, markets and spa retreats, and some Woodstock restaurants have outdoor patios in warm weather.

When to visit the Catskills

Fall color appears on the highest peaks in mid-September and moves downslope through October, so you can chase it for weeks as it travels from summit to valley. Winter conditions usually run from December through March, with the deepest snow in January and February. The tourism office advises checking snow reports and trail access, since conditions vary.

Getting to the Catskills and your study setting

Albany International Airport is at 737 Albany Shaker Road in Albany, where Interstates 90 and 87 meet. Its website lists car rentals, rideshare, a taxi company, local and long-distance buses, hotel shuttles and a shuttle service that must be booked at least 24 hours ahead. The Great Northern Catskills describes the region as two hours from New York City.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.