Hunter & Windham, NY
Catskills
Chairlift rides to a Catskills summit, a native-plant garden and a famous waterfall
Hunter and Windham are neighboring ski towns in the northern Catskills that also work in warmer seasons. A scenic chairlift ride up Hunter Mountain gives you summit views without a hike, Windham Mountain offers a similar summer SkyRide, and Mountain Top Arboretum near Tannersville is a calm garden stop. Winter is for skiing, and this guide focuses on the other seasons.
About 2.75 hrs from Stamford · about 2.5 hrs from White Plains (estimates, confirm with your map app)
Why Grandparents Love It
The chairlift gives you the summit view without a hike
The arboretum is a quiet, walkable garden near the main road
The area has a real inn-and-diner feel rather than a big resort feel
The Hunter Mountain Scenic Skyride is a six-passenger chairlift to the 3,200-foot summit
Windham Mountain's SkyRide runs to the summit for a picnic or a bike ride in the warm months
Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville is a 200-acre public garden of native plants
Kaaterskill Falls is the tallest double-tiered waterfall in New York
Top Free Pick
Mountain Top Arboretum
A 200-acre public garden at 4 Maude Adams Road in Tannersville, dedicated to native plant communities of the northeastern United States and a collection of cold-hardy trees. Its website lists a donation-based admission model, so check it for current details.
Top Activities (4)
Hunter Mountain Scenic Skyride
All agesA six-passenger chairlift to the 3,200-foot summit, a ride of about 11 minutes each way, with views over the Great Northern Catskills and access to the summit fire tower.
Grandparent note: It runs weather permitting and on a seasonal schedule, with limited days in summer and fall. Check Hunter Mountain's website for the current schedule before you drive.
Windham Mountain SkyRide
All agesIn the warm months, a SkyRide takes visitors to the summit of Windham Mountain for a picnic or a bike ride.
Grandparent note: Confirm summer operation on the resort website, since it varies by season.
Mountain Top Arboretum
All agesA public garden and trail network of native plants in the Catskills. Gardens and trails are listed as open dawn to dusk year round, with an education center open on a more limited schedule.
Grandparent note: Check mtarboretum.org for the current hours and for restroom and trail information.
Kaaterskill Falls
Ages 8+ and steady walkersThe tallest double-tiered waterfall in New York. The hike is about one mile round trip, but it is steep and rocky in places.
Grandparent note: Not a casual stroll. The trail is steep and rocky in places, so this one is for grandparents who hike. Skip it if you have any mobility concerns.
Where to Stay
Scribner's Catskill Lodge (Hunter)
Lodge · Check the website for current rates
A 38-room lodge in a 1966 building renovated in 2016, with a restaurant on site
Albergo Allegria (Windham)
Bed and breakfast inn · Check the website for current rates
A Queen Anne style inn in Windham with 21 rooms, a quieter option than a big resort
Where to Eat
Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Cafe (Tannersville)
Check the restaurant website for the current menuCafe
Serving lunch and dinner in the Catskills since 1971, with a porch, a large beer selection and a cheese shop
Hunter Mountain Brewery
Check the restaurant website for the current menuBrewery restaurant
On Route 23A in Hunter, with a full menu alongside its beers
Grandparent Tips
Check Hunter Mountain's website for the Skyride schedule, because it runs on selected days only
Skip Kaaterskill Falls unless everyone is comfortable on steep, rocky ground
Fall foliage weekends are the busiest, so book rooms early
Mountain Top Arboretum is an easy fallback on a day with poor mountain views
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 — Summit and Garden
Morning: Hunter Mountain Scenic Skyride
Lunch: Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Cafe
Afternoon: Mountain Top Arboretum
Printable PDF Guide
A 2–5 page travel guide for Hunter & Windham — formatted for printing or saving to your phone.
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