About this Tour

The Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway tour follows the historic and beautiful New York Route 28 Scenic Byway. As drivers take in sweeping mountain views and charming small towns, the tour serenades them with stories of the Catskill region's history, landscape, and culture, told by the people who call it home.

The Catskill Park, which stretches over 700,000 acres of public and private land, is home to 300 miles of hiking trails, world-class trout streams, and four major ski centers. In addition, there are towns and villages full of artisan shops, farm-to-table restaurants, historical sites, and cultural attractions.

The tour invites visitors to interact with the region more profoundly and get off the beaten track with audio guides that know the area inside and out.

Listeners are introduced to Big Indian Mountain and the Legend of Winnisook: Big Indian's namesake, as told by MaryLou Stapleton, whose family has deep roots in the Big Indian Oliverea Valley. The history of farming in the Catskills is told by Burr Hubbell, including a stop at Hubbell Farm, where the Hubbells have worked the land since the American Revolution.

At one of the stops on the tour, our Catskill Interpretive Center in Mount Tremper, NY, you'll find local maps, visitor information, and friendly staff and volunteers ready to answer your questions or help you plan your next Catskills adventure.

Other sites on the tour include Askokan Reservoir, Empire State Railway Museum, and areas in the Big Indian Wilderness.

The stories of the citizens and settlers of the Catskills illustrate the uniqueness of the region.

The tour demonstrates how visitors and locals alike can enjoy the Catskills. It tells listeners of good places to fish, hike, and even paddle.

This audio tour allows listeners to hear the stories of the Catskills as they travel at the pace of their own curiosity. Depending on how many stops you take, the tour should be about one hour driving on the corridor of State Route 28, known as the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway.

Tour Sponsors

This tour is presented by the Catskill Center, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and enriching the economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of the Catskills. Since 1969, the Catskill Center has led the effort to protect more than 700,000 acres of the Catskill Park and Catskill Forest Preserve. Its mission is to protect and foster the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskill region.

Find More Tours Near You

If you are interested in more audio tours in the region, check out Gateway to the Catskills. To find more tours throughout New York State or wherever your travels may take you visit TravelStorys.com. Every place has a story.