Enjoy gently sloped mountains, serene trout streams, famous Woodstock, hiking, spectacular mountain views, and a festive Alpine air during winter.

Kingston, NY route mapThe Catskill Mountains have been renowned in paintings for their gentle slopes and serene trout streams. The drive begins just west of Kingston on Route 28. Travel 6 miles down this heavily commercialized place to Route 375 until you reach the very famous artist town of Woodstock, made famous by the 1969 music festival that actually was held 50 miles southwest.

Return to Route 28 and pass along  the Ashokan Reservoir and the Kenozia Lake, part of New York City’s water supply system. Route 28 follows parts of Esopus Creek, a Hudson River tributary and home to a variety of wildlife. A right turn off Route 28, near the township of Shandaken, will put you on Route 42 and take you to the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, near the town of Pine Hill. This is a state-run facility that is open to hikers in the off-season (lifts operate in the winter) and provides spectacular mountain views from the base lodge at 2,541 feet. Get an even better view with a  stroll to the 3,375-foot summit of Belleayre Mountain.  Finish the drive with a right turn onto Route 30 at Margaretville. Here lies a bridge, which crosses the East Branch of the Delaware River, a parent stream of the great river that runs in Delaware Bay some 200-miles to the south. The fall foliage of this drive hits the highest point in mid-October, and the small towns take on a festive Alpine air during the winter months.

Starting Point:
Kingston, NY

Distance of Drive:
43 Miles

Must Eat:
Ship to Shore Seafood
15 West Strand St., Kingston, NY 12401
Phone: 845-334-8887
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Best seafood around

Best Time of Year for Drive:
Fall and winter

Points of Interest on Drive:
The Catskill Mountains
Kenozia Lake
Woodstock
Belleayre Mountain
Esopus Creek
Ashokan Reservoir

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Filed under: Best Road Trips