SPRING
When the buds are ready to burst forth with new life and in the distance you hear the songs of the returning birds in harmony with the croaking frogs, you know spring has returned to the Catskill Mountains. What a glorious time to spend with nature.
The streams are swelled with new life and rushing past us with greater speed, and from the forest floor a little head of "Jack-in-the Pulpit" peeks out from the now, old fallen leaves that will feed the new growth. The light green fiddlehead fern that is still curled tightly stands out from the soft pink carpet formed by the thousands of little May flowers.
The lawn is no longer brown, but a verden carpet.
The windows of the Sundown Country Retreat will be opened to greet the sweet smell of spring.
It is spring with so many things to do!
...and places to see.
HIKING
(for more tips on
hiking click here)
Less than two miles up the road from the Sundown Country Retreat is Slide Mountain Wilderness that encompasses over 47,500 acres and is the largest and most popular wilderness area in the Catskills. There are extensive foot trails, which provide access to the remote interior, often climbing over lofty peaks with spectacular views. Slide Mountain is the highest peak in the Catskills and it was the first mountain to be included in the "Forever Wild" Catskill Forest Preserve.
This is rugged, mountainous terrain that includes Wittenberg, Cornell, Panther, Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday, Peekamoose, Table and Slide Mountains. Elevations range from 1,100 to 4,180 feet.
The spring is a great time for a hike into the wilderness.
FISHING
SEASON -April 1st
The Rondout Creek that borders the backyard of the Sundown Country Retreat is one of the Catskill Mountain streams that offers some of the finest trout fishing in the Northeast. We have thousands of miles of beautiful, quiet and well-stocked trout streams. Most permanent streams in the higher elevations boast of their natural trout populations.
Brook trout, descendents of the original wild populations, are still widely distributed. These brightly colored natives are found in the smaller, higher elevation streams. Brookies are generally the most obliging of all trout to take on a hook.
Rainbows are found irregularly throughout the mountains. They are dominant in some of the larger waters including Catskill and Esopus Creeks. Rainbows tend to be the most acrobatic of the three trout species on the end of a line and they provide colorful diversity to Catskill fishing.
Brown trout are the mainstay of the Catskill trout. Their extensive distribution, potential for large size and a well-founded reputation as a challenging adversary have given the brown top-billing with most of today's anglers.
HORSEBACK
RIDING
There are stables nearby that will take you back to nature while you are horseback riding on old Indian paths and turn of the century logging trails. There are also pony rides and a petting zoo at Saddle Up in Phoenicia. ((845)688-7336)
MOUNTAIN
CLIMBING
Minnewaska is just a half hour away from the Sundown Country Retreat, and is famous for mountain climbers. If you have never attempted this before and think you would want to add it to your repertoire there are several schools that will provide you with training before you begin your adventure. Griphead Wall Rox - 5251 Route 212 - Mount Tremper, 12457 - (845)688-7157, Mountain Adventures - Main Street - Phoenicia, 12464 - (845)688-5243 and Sundance Academy of Survival - Route 214 - Phoenicia, 12464 - (845)688-5640 - Basic through expert instruction for repelling. Learn on a 60 foot tower. Equipment is provided. Open all year, mostly on weekends with classes beginning at 10am. Courses by appointment.
A
DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY
There are a number of beautiful roads throughout the Catskills. If you like to site see, pack a picnic lunch and from the moment your journey begins until you return back to the Sundown Country Retreat, make sure you have your camera ready and make sure you have a lot of film, or extra batteries for the digital. Every mile will bring new visions of nature that are beyond words!
Surrounded by mountains and the rushing waters of the Rondout that borders the Sundown Country Retreat, is the Peekamoose Road. It takes you trough another world - the world of nature. Make a lefft out of the Sundown Country Retreat and you are on your way. You will pass the magnificent Bridal Veil and Buttermilk Water Falls where you can pause and take a short walk to the falls. When you emerge from the forest you will be greeted by the Esopus Creek off State Route 28 - once known as the Onteora Trail that leads you to the turn off for Phoenicia. Mountain surrounded, Phoenicia is at the southern portal of the picturesque Stony Clove and next to Woodland Valley.
The Stony Clove is worth a trip. To explore the awesome depths of this cleft the west, turn north on Route 214. For several miles the road borders the Bush Kill. You may picnic at the Devil's Tombstone maintained by the DEC. Beyond the Clove's northern portal, the road joins Route 23A for Tannersville and Haines Falls on the east, Hunter, Lexington and Prattsville on the west.
A mile beyond Phoenicia, from Route 28, there's a road turning left into the Woodland Valley. Follow it for five miles to its end and you will find a region of rare natural charm. The Woodland Creek flows beside the road, and all about is the forest with mountains rising aloft. At the end of the Valley is a public picnic area. From this point the ascents to the Slide Mountain Trails are found. Of Woodland Valley, John Burroughs wrote: "Of all the retreats I have found among the Catskills there is no other that possesses quite so many charms for me as this Valley. It is so wild, so quiet and has such superb mountain views."
Returning to the Onteora Trail, turn west. At the village of Allaben you'll see the waters gushing from the mouth of the Shandaken Tunnel. This tunnel was the engineering feat of the 1920's as it passes underground for 18 miles, in some places it is over 1000 feet deep, to the Schoharie Reservoir at Gilboa.
Several miles west of the tunnel you will find the scenic Deep Notch drive over Route 42. Pass along Bushnellsville Creek and the lovely West Kill under the brow of Halcott Mountain on the left and Balsam Mountain on the right, each towering over 3,000 feet above. At Lexington, connection is made with Route 23 A for Prattsville to the left and Hunter to the right. From Prattsville you can continue to the Schoharie Reservoir at Gilboa and see the origin of the waters at Allaben.
Turning right to Hunter you will find yourself on Route 23 A, also known as the Rip Van Winkle Trail. The Schoharie Creek winds along next to the road. Through Tannersville you'll come to Haines Falls and just past this old village the road will begin a sharp descent. To the right is a parking area. Park your car and follow the signs to Kaaterskill Falls.
If you turn left toward Prattsville, you will find the junction of Route 23 about 10 miles further. Turn Right onto Route 23 and follow the old Mohican Trail along the Batavia Kill. Pass Red Falls, a crashing red waterfall, and continue to Windham. Windham is a picturesque little town, best known for the ski center located there, and continue driving to East Windham for a spectacular view towards New England.
If you continue straight to Prattsville past the junction of Route 23, you will immediately find a parking area for Pratt's Rock. Mr. Pratt was a bit of an eccentric who buried his horses and dogs here, with inscribed tombstones. Zaddock Pratt House. horses and dogs here, with inscribed tombstones. Zaddock Pratt House.
If you head off to Gilboa, the Schoharie Reservoir and Gilboa Dam are north of the Catskill Park, a few miles from Prattsville. Contractors excavating for the Dam unearthed a prehistoric fossil forest, the oldest known in the world. Hundreds of stumps and branches having fernlike foliage were disclosed. These tree ferns were the ancestors of our trees of today. Geologists believe that this forest grew in the Devonian period of the earth's formation about two hundred and fifty million years ago. Specimens have been donated to natural history museums throughout the world.
Gilboa Dam impounds 20 billion gallons of water from Schoharie Creek, reversing its flow northward toward the Mohawk River and sending it south through the tunnel at Allaben. Roads leading to Gilboa include Routes 23 to Route 30 in Grand Gorge. Turn right at the sign for Gilboa and travel several miles to the parking area overlooking the Gilboa Dam.
Back to the Onteora Trail, the road climbs beyond Shandaken up the Esopus Valley until you see a sign on the left pointing to Big Indian
Turning here for side trip into the heart of nature, you enter a region of real natural charm. The Esopus rushes beside the road. Above, Belleayre, Eagle and Big Indian Mountains tower on the west, Panther on the east, each well over 3000 feet and ahead is the towering height of Slide Mountain at 4,204'. Continue south for as long as you like, but stop to take a look at the well-known Frost Valley YMCA. Continuing on you will come to the hamlet of Claryville where you can stop at the Country Store for a cup of coffee or a snack, or you can turn right and continue to the end of the road. Make a left into Grahamsville, another small hamlet where you can stop for a bite to eat in the litlle market. If you continue on that road for three quarters of a mile, then turn to the left at the end of the Rondout Reservoir you are on your way home - back to the Sundown Country Retreat. Don't forget to stop at the designated Eagle Watch where you may still see an eagle or two perched in a tree.
Or you could continue on the Onteora Trail instead of heading out toward Big Indian. The highway ascends to Pine Hill. Beyond this little village, the climb ends at Highmount, at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center. From Highmount the grades are downward. Through Fleischmann's and Arkville to Margaretville, the Bush Kill flows beside the way. At Margaretville the East Branch of the Delaware River is joined. This busy town is an important crossroads. One of the most charming roads in the Catskills, Route 30 leads north from Margaretville along the East Branch of the Delaware River past Halcottville, through Roxbury to Grand Gorge.
A mile north of the pretty town of Roxbury, Hardscrabble Road diverges westward and climbs over the shoulder of Old Clump Mountain to Woodchuck Lodge, the birthplace of one of America's greatest naturalists, John Burrougs.. A footpath leads from the parking area to a huge sandstone boulder. Burroughs spent house sitting on this rock, gazing at an amphitheater of mountains. Burroughs is buried near this rock.
No matter where you travel, whenever you decide to turn around and go back home to the Sundown Country Retreat, it is a beautiful scenic drive and less than an hour drive in no traffic!
STOCKWOOD REN FAIRE - Kingston, NY
Held the first weekend in May is a glimpse into the past. There is entertainment all day from the Jesters, the Jousters, the Magicians, to the Temple Belly Dancers and more.
If you are planning to attend this faire start planning now by designing a Renaissance character and costume that will portray you for the weekend. Although it is not necessary to "dress" for the occasion, it adds to the fun!
GREAT
KITE FLIGHT
An annual event that is held at Sullivan County Community College in May. Bring a kite and fly away. An art show also is scheduled at the college during this event. Call 845-434-5750 for more information.
HUDSON RIVER CRUISES -
Journey
into a special time and place, to the land Washington Irving described as where
the "lordly Hudson" meets the noble heights of the Catskill mountains.
Share with the beauty that beguiled settlers into falling in love with the
Hudson River Valley and to bravely defend their precious new home.
View first hand, the shoreline that has remained virtually unchanged since the Seventeenth century. Your experienced guide will point out millionaires' sumptuous estates, picturesque lighthouses and quaint sleepy villages surrounded by the natural beauty of vineyards, orchards and scenic preservation sites.
These are just a few suggestions that we expounded upon. The Catkills offers a diverse and numerous list of activities, opportunities and affordable ideas that will enhance "your retreat". We have provided some links for you on our LINKS TO CATSKILL HAPPENINGS. You may also wish to check out the Chamber of Commerce for Ulster, Sullivan and Greene Counties. Be sure to bookmark this site as we are not linked back from most of the other sites. THANK YOU!