Originally published on The Poughkeepsie Journal by Skip Doyle
Oct. 19, 2014
Catskill is a noble town. From the Catskill Mountains to its watershed and Catskill Creek, which flow into the Hudson River. Its industry has evolved along that creek from mill town to marinas. In its art, from the early 1800s origin of the Hudson River School to the contemporary cat sculptures that line the businesses of Main Street.
Hometown to Uncle Sam, Catskill is all-American, and it is the literary abode of Rip Van Winkle. Among this abundance of culture and history are its outdoor sites, which beckon visitors to walk and experience nature with all their senses.
RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary — co-owned and co-managed by Scenic Hudson and New York Audubon — is foremost among the nature sites at Catskill’s shoreline. It is the Hudson River's largest forested tidal swamp protecting 500 acres of biodiversity. From the parking lot on Dubois Road off West Main Street, it is a half-mile walk along the sanctuary’s wide, gravel path to the three-story observation deck. From this elevated vantage point, the variety of vegetation and wildlife is evident, and colors of autumn are laid out in a 3-D living landscape work of art. The gravel path ends at RamsHorn Creek where the Audubon Society offers paddle tours of the creek and swamp (for reservations contact lfederman@audubon.org). From here, three trails — red, white, blue — circle a mile and a half of the woodland. Relatively flat, this is a excellent place for children to hone their budding hiking skills using the blazed trails to discover whether they can circumnavigate each of the three trails, and then to see if they can link them together to plot the perimeter of the preserve.
In the village, Catskill Point is a restorative place to sit and watch the variety of boats plying the Hudson River come in and out of Catskill Creek. For those that have boats of their own, Dutchman’s Landing has both a ramp for powerboats and a dock for paddlers. Additionally, there are grills, a playing field, a playground and even a snack bar to fully enjoy an afternoon at the river’s edge. Leading from the park, for those who want to venture into the nearby woods, is a short walking trail.
Besides a number of delis and upscale restaurants in the village, the Creekside Restaurant at Hop-o-nose Marina on West Main Street is pleasant for casual outdoor dining. As an indoor venue, La Conca d’Oro on Main Street offers a hearty meal.
While in Catskill, visit Cedar Grove, home of the founder of the Hudson River School of Art, Thomas Cole. This site is worthwhile to experience for its architecture, art, history, and simply to stroll its gardened grounds.
Maps and more information are available on www.scenichudson.org/parks/ramshornlivingston, NY.Audubon.org, and WelcomeToCatskill.com.
With all these destinations clustered within a mile of each other, this collection of strolls and dining is a pleasant day trip.
Skip Doyle is a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Adirondack Mountain Club. “Valley Explorer” is a regular column in My Valley by outdoor enthusiasts.
