Palenville offers several distinct starting points for planning a trip: waterfalls and views in Kaaterskill Clove, hiking trails with their own markings, a horseback riding route and a golf course. If you are considering Palenville as an overnight destination, it helps to keep these topics separate. The routes differ not only in length, but also in whether they are open to hikers or described as a bridle trail.
Waterfalls and Views in Kaaterskill Clove
Kaaterskill Clove is a mountain gorge bordered by eastern Palenville and western Haines Falls. The Kaaterskill Clove Experience includes moderate hikes to waterfalls and mountain views. The landscape also has a cultural connection: the mountain gorge inspired the Hudson River School of Art. From the Kaaterskill Clove Lookout, views extend into Lower Kaaterskill Clove and across the Hudson Valley.
Buttermilk Falls is accessible via a 4.8-mile route from the Harding Road Parking Area on NYS Route 23A in Palenville. Before your visit, check the State Lands’ current visitor information about trails and access points.
The lengths of two different options offer a helpful comparison: the route to Buttermilk Falls is 4.8 miles long, while the Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail is 4.9 miles long. The numbers are close, but they describe different types of trails. The Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail is open to hikers and marked with red trail markers.
Hiking Trails and Access Points
The Harding Road Trail is a bridle trail that leads to the Harding Road Parking Area on NYS Route 23A in Palenville. The Whites Road Parking Lot is on Whites Road near Route 23A and provides access to the Harding Road Trail. The two places therefore serve different roles in navigation: the bridle trail leads to a parking area, while the parking lot on Whites Road provides access to the trail.
The Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail combines a marked hiking option with a connection to a historic trail. The route to Kaaterskill Clove Lookout follows much of this historic trail, which once led from Palenville to the Catskills’ mountain hotels. Its name recalls this former use; today, the trail is also open to hikers. Its red trail markers and 4.9-mile length help distinguish it from the bridle route on the Harding Road Trail.
The Long Path is also important on the Kaaterskill Clove Lookout route: there, it connects the hamlet of Palenville with North-South Lake State Campground. This is a different route connection from access to the Harding Road Trail or the route to Buttermilk Falls. So when comparing different trails, keep their stated destinations in mind.
Route 23A and Other Activities
Route 23A appears in two different route descriptions. The Grand Tour of the Catskills includes the section between Palenville and Haines Falls. The Rip Van Winkle Trail follows NYS Route 23A through Palenville to Haines Falls, then continues through Hunter, Tannersville, Prattsville and Stamford. These names therefore refer to different routes: one is part of the Grand Tour, while the other follows the road through several towns.
Golf is another activity in Palenville: Rip Van Winkle Country Club is a golf course with a 100-year history. Alongside the gorge, viewpoints and trails, it offers a separate sporting activity. When choosing Palenville as a destination, you can weigh whether waterfalls and hiking trails are the main focus of your stay, or whether golf is also of interest.
Discover more destinations: Prattsville, Greenville, Catskill, Windham, Athens, Acra, Cairo, Hunter.
Return to the main travel overview: Greene.
