Palenville: Hiking Trails, Views, and Catskills History

Kaaterskill Clove is bounded by Palenville to the east and Haines Falls to the west. The Kaaterskill Clove Experience includes moderate hikes to waterfalls and mountain views. The town and the named trails offer different focuses for planning your trip: from hiking and viewpoints to Route 23A and golf.

Hiking Trails and Waterfalls

The Whites Road Parking Lot on Whites Road, near Route 23A, provides access to the Harding Road Trail. This is an equestrian trail that leads to the Harding Road Parking Area on NYS Route 23A in Palenville. From there, Buttermilk Falls can be reached via a 4.8-mile route. The two parking areas are therefore associated with different trail connections: the Whites Road Parking Lot provides access to the Harding Road Trail, while the route to Buttermilk Falls starts at the Harding Road Parking Area.

The Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail is 4.9 miles long, open to hikers, and marked with red trail markers. Its name identifies it as an equestrian trail that is also open to hikers. The 4.9-mile length refers to this trail; by contrast, the 4.8 miles describe the route from the Harding Road Parking Area to Buttermilk Falls. The figures are close, but refer to different trail details.

Views and Historic Trails

The route to Kaaterskill Clove Lookout follows the historic Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail for much of the way. It once led from Palenville to the mountain hotels of the Catskills. From the lookout, views extend into Lower Kaaterskill Clove and across the Hudson Valley. Along the Kaaterskill Clove Lookout route, the Long Path connects the hamlet of Palenville with the North-South Lake State Campground. This route brings together a viewpoint, a historic trail route, and a connection between Palenville and the campground.

Kaaterskill Clove itself also has a cultural connection: the mountain gorge inspired the Hudson River School of Art. Together with views of the clove and the Hudson Valley, this connection makes the landscape a subject that cannot be described solely in terms of trail lengths. Those interested in the connection between nature and art history will find it directly linked to the mountain gorge here.

Route 23A and Golf in Palenville

For the Grand Tour of the Catskills, Route 23A is part of the section between Palenville and Haines Falls. The Rip Van Winkle Trail runs along NYS Route 23A through Palenville to Haines Falls, then continues through Hunter, Tannersville, Prattsville, and Stamford. Both route descriptions mention Route 23A and Haines Falls, but differ in the scope they describe: the Grand Tour covers the section between the two towns, while the Rip Van Winkle Trail passes through several other named towns.

Golf is another option besides hiking and road routes. The Rip Van Winkle Country Club in Palenville is a golf course with a 100-year history that challenges and delights golfers. If you are looking for hotels in Palenville, it helps to first identify your travel interests: the trail information and lookout are for hiking and views, Route 23A is a road route, and the country club is for golf.

Discover more destinations: Coxsackie, Athens, Prattsville, Greenville, Acra, Catskill, Hensonville, Hunter

For the broader travel guide: Greene.