"Hunter Mountain Vacation Rentals & Travel Guide
If you’re looking for an escape from NYC to the Catskill Mountains then you should consider vacationing at Hunter Mountain, NY. With the abundance of great things to do in the Catskills, heading to the highest peak in the county is one of the best options! There is an abundance of Hunter Mountain summer activities, winter activities, and plenty of vacation mountain rentals right around Hunter Mountain.
Hunter Mountain is nestled right into the towns of Hunter and Lexington in Greene County, New York. The Catskills are full of natural wonders such as the mountain range itself which is made up of 98 peaks! Alongside the beautiful peaks, there are waterfalls and scenic vistas.
If scenic views, adventure, and weekend getaways are your cup of tea then come vacation in Hunter Mountain!
All About the Catskills
One of the most interesting facts about the Catskill’s is that they technically aren’t mountains! Mountains are formed by tectonic plates pushing the Earth’s crust up from down below. The Catskills have formed a couple hundred thousand years ago at the base of a shallow inland sea.
The Catskills region is great during the warm summers, breathtaking autumns, playful winters, and thawing springs. There are adventures for families of all sizes and with kids of all ages!
There’s waterfalls, hiking trails, mountain biking, horseback riding, and fly fishing during the warmer months and there’s an abundance of skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling throughout the region! There are also tons of scenic drives and covered bridges to enjoy. All in all, the Catskills offer beautiful surroundings, adventurous things to do, breweries, wineries, cideries, and a long history of artistic endeavors (including Woodstock)!
Discover a deep history of the arts thriving in the Catskills. Between different writers, poets, musicians, and photographers are drawn to the natural beauty that the Catskills have to offer.
Best Places to Stay for Your Hunter Mountain Vacation
Hunter, NY: Nestled among the region's highest peaks, Hunter rests 30 minutes from the New York State Thruway. Along with Hunter Mountain, there’s Hunter Mountain Brewery and the New York Zipline Canopy Tours! View all Hunter Mountain Vacation Rentals
Jewett, NY: Is just a few minutes from Hunter Mountain, and it’s home to the West Kill Wilderness Trail which has 17 great hiking trails (with some waterfalls). Each hike offers variety, adventure, and fabulous views of the Catskills. View All Jewett Vacation Rentals
Windham, NY: Located only nine miles north of Hunter Mountain is Windham, NY. Windham is home to Windham Mountain, another great ski resort in the area, and it’s part of Windham Adventure Park and Windham Indoor Golf. View all Windham Vacation Rentals
The Best Things to Do at Hunter Mountain
Hunter Mountain Resort: Nestled into one portion of the entire Hunter Mountain rests the Hunter Mountain Resort which is made up of four mountain faces that offer a variety of terrain from easy to difficult terrain. With a 1,600 vertical drop and 13 lifts, 67 trails, and a mix of glades and terrain parks it's a great mountain for skiers and riders of all levels. They also have tubing, summer activities, and an aprés ski scene.
New York Zipline Canopy Tours: Zip Lining is one of the best things to do in Hunter, NY during the warmer months. It’s safe and a great adventure for the whole family. Plus, you’ll have easy access to hiking trails all over Hunter Mountain.
Hunter Mountain Fly Fishing School: Get your New York Fly Fishing License right in the shop and you’ll head to Schoharie Creek, Esopus, Bataviakill, Beaverkill, or the Delaware River for either a half-day or full-day of fly fishing. Even if you’re a master caster you can get your equipment and license in the shop and then hit the river. They offer great lessons and equipment!
Kaaterskill Falls: The falls are just a few miles away from Hunter Mountain and it’s an easy hike for the whole family! They also have more difficult climbs if you’re looking for some challenges before you reach the falls. The falls offer beautiful views! If hiking is your thing, make sure to head up to the Mountain Top Arboretum. Especially in the fall!
Wineries and Breweries: There is a mix of great wineries and breweries near Hunter Mountain. The Hudson-Chatham Winery has a beautiful tasting room, West Kill Brewing is known for its beers and views!
Things to Do Near Hunter Mountain
Catskill Beverage Trail: Take a day or two and explore the great breweries and wineries in the Catskills. Made up of 5 breweries the Catskill Beverage Trail is a great way to explore local craft beers and wines.
Horseback Riding: There are four ranches in the Catskills that offer horseback riding on scenic day trips, overnight camping trips, and they also have pony rides and hayrides for the little ones! Horseback is one of the best ways to see the Catskills!
Mountain Biking: Mountain Biking is great for thrill-seekers! With an abundance of mountain biking trails and the Windham Mountain Bike Park in
Windham, NY: There are great options for experienced mountain bikers or for untested beginners!
The Best Things to Do at Hunter Mountain in the Summer
Hunter Mountain Scenic Skyride: Another attraction at Hunter Mountain is one of the best things to do in the Catskills in the summer, which is the Scenic Skyride. A breathtaking 11-minute ride to the summit of Hunter Mountain offers views of the Northern Catskill Mountains, the Berkshires of Massachusetts, and the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Hudson-Athens Lighthouse: The lighthouse was built in 1874 and rests on the Hudson River. It was a functioning lighthouse until the 1960s, which is almost 100 years! They have tours held every second Saturday from July to October.
Zoom Flume Water Park: This water park is quite large, and you might not be able to fit everything into a single day. Between the Typhoon Twister, Water Wars, Riptide Cove Wade Pool, Body Slide Rides, a lazy river, a wild river and so much more you’ll be splashing around and having fun in the sun with the whole family.
The Best Things to Do at Hunter Mountain in the Fall
Leaf-Peeping Hotspots: During the autumn, the Catskills completely change colors from vibrant greens to bright reds, oranges, and yellows that will truly take your breath away. Hannacroix Creek Preserve, Catskill Mountain House, and the Hudson River School of Art Trail are all gorgeous places to see the leaves. There’s a reason that the Catskills have been a hotspot for artists, writers, poets, and musicians for many years!
Scenic Hikes: A mountainous area such as the Catskills means that there’s an abundance of beautiful hiking trails! Pratt Rock is a quick steep hike with one of the earliest Civil War monuments in the nation. North Point and North Mountain Ledge to Stoppel Point is a nice long hike, at 9.5-mile round trip. Huckleberry Point is about a medium length hike at 4.6 miles. All 3 hikes offer great scenic views of the foliage and a mix of other outdoor activities.
More Autumn Activities: The Catskills have great apple orchards and pumpkin patches, motorcycling and driving tours along scenic routes, kayaking and boating on the Hudson River, and of course golfing! You can make your whole trip a dream fall vacation with crisp air and beautiful foliage!
The Best Things to Do at Hunter Mountain in the Winter
Skiing and Riding: Of course, when you add winter to mountainous areas then you get skiing and snowboarding! Whether it’s alpine or cross-country skiing there is plenty of fun to be had! Between Windham Mountain and Hunter Mountain, you get the best downhill skiing that New York has to offer.
Outdoor Activities Galore: If skiing and riding isn’t your thing then try ice skating, snowshoeing, zip-lining, hiking, snow tubing, and of course ice fishing! No matter what, if it’s winter you can find a fun activity to do outdoors here in upstate New York.
Indoor Winter Activities: If outdoor activities aren't your favorite thing then stick to the indoors! Snuggle up by the fire, go out to eat at some of our many delicious restaurants, taverns, breweries, and wineries here in the Catskills!
Annual Events
Trailblazer Music Festival: If country music is your jam then make sure to head to the Hunter Mountain Resort for this annual music festival! Every June, enjoy 3 days of great country music in their outdoor venue.
TAP NY at Hunter Mountain: Tap NY at Hunter Mountain Resort is the largest single-state craft beer event in the nation. You can sample up to 400 types of craft beers from over 120 New York State breweries.
Hunter Mountain Oktoberfest: From the end of September to the Middle of October enjoy four weekends of Bavarian Festivities! Each weekend has a different focus from ciders to the Das Laufwerk Eurocar Rally.
Explore Your Perfect Vacation Rental in Hunter, NY
From large lodges that can sleep more than 20 people, to a cozy 2 bedroom apartment within walking distance of Hunter Mountain, you can find the vacation rental perfect for your New York weekend getaway!
Whether you’re a large group of various families or a smaller group that’s just made up of a family or two, there are plenty of great vacation rentals in the Hunter Mountain area that will give you access to all of the fun that the Catskills has to offer!
Getting to the Catskills
By Plane: The nearest airport to the Catskills is the Albany (ALB) Airport. It’s only about 40 miles away. Some others, yet further ones, are the Newburgh (SWF), Hartford (BDL), White Plains (HPN), New York La Guardia (LGA) (that one’s the furthest at 104 miles from the Catskills). Once there you can hop on a variety of busses, trains, or just rent a car!
By Train: Metro-North and Amtrak offer many stops along the Hudson River from different starting points… but once you get off the train you’ll need to rent a car or Uber/Lyft to your final destination.
By Bus: Buses are sometimes capable of getting you to your more specific destination. Adirondack/Pine Hill Trailways service Palenville, Hunter, Tannersville, and Windham as well as some other stops in the Catskills.
By Car: Truly, the best way to get around smaller towns is always going to be a car. The Catskills are easily accessible from all around (including Boston, NYC, PA, northern New York, and even Canada)! It’s recommended to have a car so that you can explore at your own free will but it is not a necessity.
Travel Within the Catskills
Ridesharing (Uber/Lyft): Uber and Lyft are both available throughout the Catskills. They’re great if you take busses and trains to get to the further points, and then letting the rideshare get you to your exact destination. Of course, you can also just use rideshare 100% but you’ll save money by splitting it up between different forms of transportation. It’s the easiest way to get around without your own car in the Catskills!
Taxis: Of course you can always call for a taxi! There are several taxi companies along the Hudson that can help you get from destination to destination.
Shuttles: There are shuttles to and from different ski resorts! They’ll have room for all of your gear and your party with short rides to different popular ski destinations within the Catskills.
Hunter Mountain FAQ
- When is the best time to visit Hunter Mountain?
The best time to visit Hunter Mountain for nice weather would be between May and July. If you’re looking for winter sports then head down in January/February, and for Autumn the ideal time is early-to-mid October. Peak leaf-peeping season can hit at different times but that’s typically the safe time to go!
- Is there a peak/offseason?
The peak season is July - October. Summer is full of beautiful warm weather and has great adventures. October is prime time for leaf-peeping.
- Are there pet-friendly rentals in Hunter Mountain?
There are various properties in the region that are pet-friendly! Make sure to add it to your search when exploring Pet-friendly vacation rentals .
- How far is Hunter Mountain from NYC?
Hunter Mountain is only about 2 and a half hours from NYC. You can get there by car, bus or train!
- Is Hunter Mountain good for beginners?
Yes! It has a large section of the mountain reserved specifically for beginners. It does not have a magic carpet but it puts your right onto a regular lift which is a great way to get that out of the way early!
- Is it better to stay at a Hunter Mountain Hotel or a Hunter Mountain Vacation Rental?
It always depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking to camp out and make yourself at home, possibly with a large group, then a vacation rental is the way to go! If you’re traveling just for a day or two and there’s only one or two of you, especially if you’re planning on eating out and traveling light, then a hotel is your best bet!
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