Mornings in the Great Western Catskills begin with mist rising off the mountains, coffee on a cabin porch, and the sound of a nearby rushing creek. Here, weekends make you slow down naturally. Trade traffic for winding scenic roads, crowded itineraries for farmers’ markets and hiking trails, and hotel hallways for campfires beneath star-filled skies.
Whether you’re looking for a romantic cabin retreat, a family farmstay, or a tent site tucked beside a river, the Great Western Catskills offers a quieter side of the Catskills that feels both nostalgic and almost undiscovered.
Wake up in a hillside cabin near Margaretville with panoramic mountain views. Stay on a farm in Walton where you can hear cows in the pasture, and make breakfast with farm-fresh eggs in the morning. Pitch a tent beside the headwaters of the Delaware River near Hancock or Downsville.
Camping ranges from primitive backcountry-style escapes to family-friendly campgrounds with river access and room for fishing, kayaking, and stargazing. The dark night skies makes nighttime especially memorable, a reminder of just how far you are from the pace of everyday life.
Farmstays are equally special. Across the county, farms open their gates for seasonal events, tastings, tours, and overnight stays that connect visitors directly to the agricultural roots of the Catskills. It’s not uncommon to spend the afternoon meeting alpacas, browsing roadside farm stands, or visiting our region’s very own winery.
Summer Traditions & Small-Town Festivals
Summer in Delaware County is filled with traditions that feel delightfully timeless.
One of the most unique experiences is catching a vintage base ball game, played by 19th-century rules and customs. Players take the field in historic uniforms while spectators picnic nearby and cheer from the sidelines.
It is equal parts sport, living history, and summer nostalgia; the kind of event that makes you want to linger a little longer in town afterward for ice cream or a stroll down Main Street.
The summer festivals are another beloved local tradition, celebrating the region’s rich agricultural heritage. From the Meredith Dairy Festival to the Delaware County Fair in Walton, there are endless opportunities for family fun. Visitors can expect farm animals, local vendors, food, live music, demonstrations, and family-friendly activities that highlight the rural culture of the Great Western Catskills. It’s an authentic slice of Delaware County life and an ideal excuse for a scenic summer drive.
Throughout the season, travelers will also find art walks, outdoor concerts, county fairs, farmers’ markets, antique shops, and pop-up food events tucked into villages across the region. Small towns like Andes, Delhi, Hancock, Stamford, Hobart, Margaretville, and Roxbury each bring their own personality and rhythm to the season.
Easy Day Trip Ideas in the Great Western Catskills
One of the best parts of visiting Delaware County is how naturally a day unfolds here. Scenic drives connect mountain towns, hidden overlooks, riverside cafes, and local shops in ways that encourage wandering.
A Day in Andes
Eat: Breakfast at The Andes Diner
View: Drive the scenic backroads toward Pepacton Reservoir overlooks
Do: Stop by the Tremperskill Store, browse boutiques, vintage finds, and the Andes Farmers Market
Roxbury & Margaretville Escape
Eat: Grab pastries, pizza or a delicious sandwich at Tomato Tomahto
View: Visit the John Burroughs Lodge
Do: Explore galleries, shops, and performing arts venues in the villages
Kortright Countryside Loop
Eat: Stop in at First Bloom for everything from fresh bread to imported products.
View: Enjoy a drive through rolling hills, farmland and panoramic valley vistas
Do: Visit the nearby Hanford Mills Museum or catch a show at the West Kortright Centre
Hancock Headwaters Adventure
Eat: Classic fare at the Circle E Diner or try coffee and baked goods at allsorts
View: The West Branch of the Delaware River at sunset
Do: Fish, kayak, or float the river before ending the night around a campfire
Stay in Stamford
Eat: Coffee and snacks at Stamford Coffee
View: Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower
Do: Spend the afternoon exploring The Antique Knot or catch live music in the square Sundays at noon.
Make It Your Corner of the Catskills
The Great Western Catskills isn’t built around rushing from attraction to attraction. It’s a place for porch mornings, long scenic drives, farmers’ markets, swimming holes, and evenings spent under open skies. The experiences here feel grounded, local, and deeply connected to the landscape.
Visitors often arrive searching for a weekend away — and leave already planning a return trip in another season.
Maybe it’s the cabin tucked into the woods. Maybe it’s the vintage base ball game, the farm festival, or the mountain view you found by accident on a backroad drive. More likely, it’s the feeling that you discovered a corner of the Catskills that still knows how to slow down.
Images:
Photo by Savannah Vinson
Photo Courtesy of Bellfire in the Catskills
Dear Native Grapes by Jason Martin
Photo of Base Ball by Jason Martin