Catskill Mountains Camp Fun: Hiking, Horseback Riding, and More at Your Own Pace, New York

The Trip

This lodge trip, set in the iconic Catskill Mountains in the Appalachian Mountain system, is designed to accommodate both novices and outdoor enthusiasts who will enjoy indoor comforts and splendid mountain surroundings in a cozy, retreat-like setting. You can choose activities that suit your interests and energy level and go at a pace that’s right for you. There’s no pressure to reach a particular destination, and you need not fear being able to keep up with the group. The leaders and guides are sensitive and attuned to people’s individual needs, and you can travel with a companion who prefers a different pace or who can assist and support you.

Please note: While we can accommodate modest physical and cognitive challenges, we cannot provide direct medical care or one-on-one support.

You’ll select from an array of summer camp-style activities, including guided hikes, horse riding with instruction, archery, an outdoor challenge course, and arts and crafts. We’ll visit a working farm, complete with friendly resident animals and a trusty sheep dog. Juicy berries might be ripe for picking, and if the harvest is good, we can try pressing fresh apple cider.

East Valley Ranch (EVR), our home for the week, is part of the Frost Valley Y Camp, whose headquarters and main facility are on a separate property several miles away. Horses are a special feature of EVR. The ranch’s experienced and passionate staff welcomes riders of all abilities and offers you a perfect opportunity to ride for the first time or get back in the saddle. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, you can simply interact with the horses, observe and take pictures, or do other activities.

In addition to our time on or near the ranch, we’ll have at least one excursion where we’ll carpool in participants’ vehicles to the Time and the Valleys Museum that shows the fascinating story of how the Catskills became the protected source for New York City’s water supply and how lives were changed forever as a result. While the dams and reservoirs constructed a century ago have provided a vital lifeline for millions of people, they also displaced thousands, caused injury and loss of life to many workers, flooded out farms and small communities, and left a lasting imprint on the local economy, culture and people.

Our schedule is subject to change, depending on weather, safety considerations and other circumstances. The leaders reserve the right to make changes as necessary, both before and during the trip. Please be aware that Sierra Club empowers the leader to exclude any individual from a trip activity if the leader feels there is a significant individual or group safety or health risk.

Approximate Daily Schedule

• 8:00 a.m.: Breakfast, with hot and cold buffet. Early risers can serve themselves coffee and tea at any time.
• Morning activities. During each activity time block, we’ll choose from the options offered. See the sample list below.
• Noon: Lunch, with salad bar and other dishes buffet style. On days we’ll be off site, we’ll take a packed lunch.
• Afternoon activities, or relax on your own
• 5:30 p.m.: Supper buffet.
• 7:00 p.m.: Evening program, followed by games or relaxing by the fire. The evening programs will include films and presentations about the Catskills.

Sample “Menu” of Activities

All instruction and equipment are provided by qualified Frost Valley staff.

• Hikes! Lodge staff will guide us on easy to moderate forest trails, help with tree identification and discuss forest management, land use and environmental challenges.

• Horses! Learn to groom, interact with, and mount and dismount safely. Ranch staff will provide riding instruction in an arena (communications, stopping, starting and steering), followed by guided riding on a forest trail. 

• Adventure course

• Arts and crafts (various: clay creations, tile decoupage, painting, nature journaling, string art)

• Archery

• Apple cider-making with a press

• Tour a working farm, meet the animals, pick ‘n eat ripe berries

• Paddle on small pond

Participants will drive or ride in carpools with other participants to our off-site excursions.

Included in the trip price are all activities, meals, and gratuities. You may want some extra money for optional expenses: to sample local treats, purchase from the museum or camp shop or small businesses in the area, or donate to support camperships or maintenance of the not-for-profit Y.

Day 1: Arrival and Welcome

4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Arrive, settle in rooms. Please do not arrive before the appointed time, since the lodge will be turning over from a previous group and will not be ready to receive us. Time your arrival before nightfall, as driving on the winding mountain roads in the dark is very difficult. There are no streetlights, cell phone coverage is spotty, and there are few places to stop to ask for directions along the way.

Before supper, we’ll meet the lodge staff for a brief welcome and orientation.

5:30 p.m.: First group meal, a buffet supper in the dining area.

7:00 p.m.: Welcome meeting, introductions and orientation to the week. Chat, join in fun games or relax by the fire.

Day 2: At the ranch

Morning: Horse-riding arena instruction and trail ride, guided hike, or adventure course.

Afternoon: Farm and garden tour, arts and crafts.

Evening program: Catskills overview or conservation issues, games, relax by the fire.

Day 3: At or near the ranch

Morning: Horse-riding instruction, hike, or adventure course.

Afternoon: Hike, arts and crafts or adventure course.

Evening: Film or presentation on Catskills history or conservation topic, games or relax by the fire.

Day 4: Off-site museum visit and scenic stops
After breakfast, we’ll spend most of the day away from the ranch. We’ll drive by carpool in participants’ vehicles about thirty minutes to the Time and the Valleys Museum, to tour the grounds and exhibits chronicling the amazing story of construction of the dams, reservoirs and massive tunnels that have supplied New York City with excellent quality water since the early 1900s, after the New York State Legislature passed laws allowing the city to acquire land in the Catskills and build those dams and aqueducts. Our museum guides can tell us how their families were directly affected and how that history leaves a mark on local communities to this day.

Picnic lunch (packed “to go” from the ranch) at the museum.

As time permits, we’ll make stops at an eagle viewing site, the Neversink Reservoir dam, a local general store, and the Frost Valley Y Camp store.

Return to the ranch for an arts and crafts activity or rest before supper.

Evening: Film, games or stargazing and reading.

Day 5: At the ranch

Morning and afternoon: Hike, outdoor activity or arts and crafts.

Evening: Farewell supper, games, film and/or relax by the fire.

Day 6: Morning activity, depart after lunch

Morning: Breakfast, clear out rooms by 11 a.m. Your choice of hiking, arts and crafts or other activity.

Lunch – in the lodge or pack one to go

Depart by 1:00 p.m.

Getting There

East Valley Ranch is located at 21 Straus Lane, Claryville, NY 12725.

Note: We are staying at the East Valley Ranch, not the main Frost Valley Y camp. The ranch is on the other side of the mountains, about 15 miles away from the main Y camp property. So use the address and directions for the ranch, not Frost Valley Y.

Download the East Valley Facility Map 

Approximate distances and driving times:

• From New York City (midtown Manhattan and three major airports): 130 miles, 2.5 hours

• From Boston: 240 miles, 4.3 hours

• From Albany: 100 miles, 2 hours

Download Printable Map Directions

The trip leader will send any updated driving directions and arrival instructions.

There is no convenient public transport to the ranch. However, the leader will facilitate communications among confirmed participants who many want to travel together. Once you arrive, aside from carpooling during our offsite excursions less than 20 miles away, you do not need a car. There are no shops or amenities in the immediate area.

Accommodations and Food

The East Valley Ranch is set in a peaceful, picturesque valley on a lovely, secluded stretch of the Neversink River. The lodge, a newly renovated bed and breakfast-style house located 14 miles from Frost Valley YMCA’s main camp, provides a private and intimate retreat setting for our exclusive use during our stay.

The ranch includes a 26-stall horse barn and extensive grounds and trails. The main house is fully weatherized and features a spacious living room, family-style dining area, meeting rooms, fireplaces, wraparound deck, sunroom, and an arts and crafts building a short distance away. We’ll stay in nicely appointed guest rooms with no more than two people in each. All rooms have their own bathrooms, either attached or just across the hallway. Upon request, we should be able to place couples in rooms with shared double beds and others traveling together in the same room with separate beds. All rooms have lovely views of the sky, ranch property, hills and trees, and some look out over a flowing creek. Pillows, bedding and towels are provided. You’ll need to bring only personal toiletries.

The East Valley Lodge kitchen is known for its wellness cuisine and can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and most other dietary needs. Of course, we invite you to enjoy the meals prepared for us, but if for medical, religious or other reasons, you prefer to provide some of your own foods, you are also welcome to do so. You should procure them before arrival, as there are no shops close by. We’ll have access to a shared refrigerator and shelf space to store labeled personal items. Please discuss with the trip leader any questions or concerns about food requirements.

All tableware is provided for our meals in the dining area. On days we’ll be away at lunchtime, the kitchen staff will prepare “to go” lunches. In keeping with Leave No Trace principles, to reduce waste from single use disposable items, we ask participants to bring their own refillable water bottles and lunch kits (reusable containers, utensils, cloth napkins) to use at those times.

Tea, coffee, juice and snacks are available for us to enjoy at any time.

Health and Safety
Health and safety are of paramount importance. Note that the Sierra Club leader and our guides have the final say regarding individual and group safety, and participants are expected to follow their direction. Your trip leaders have Wilderness First Aid certification and carry a first aid kit. You should also carry your own personal basic first aid kit and any medications in a waterproof container. Anyone with serious medical conditions, limited mobility, cardiac or respiratory problems, asthma, diabetes or who needs to carry an EpiPen or special medications must notify the leader and may be asked to submit clearance from your health care provider.

On hikes, stay within sight or hearing range of the person in front and behind you. During any activity, always inform the leader or guide if you need to separate from the group for any reason. Save us all any worry and time looking for you!

Transmissible Illness
Take every reasonable measure to stay healthy in the weeks leading up to the trip, during your transit and in any crowded public spaces. As a precaution, we recommend using approved masks (N95 or KN95) when warranted. In the event a participant contracts a transmissible illness, we will do our best to isolate that person.

Hygiene
Personal hygiene and handwashing are essential. Always take appropriate measures (wash hands, use utensils, do not touch items directly) when preparing or handling food. Carry sanitizing liquid/gel or wipes to use when soap and water are not available.

Trip Difficulty

The trip pace is relaxed, and the activities range from easy to moderate. This is a great opportunity to try new things such as hiking on forest trails, horseback riding, an adventure course, or even finding your inner artist with different arts and crafts.

You can choose a level of exertion that suits you from among the activity options. The easier walks and hikes are one to two hours on mostly level terrain. The longer hikes are two to three hours, with some inclines, rocks and roots and small stream crossings. 

The leaders are attuned to individual differences, and the ranch staff and guides are experienced in working with guests of all ages and abilities and pride themselves on encouraging and supporting people as they take on new challenges. So while you’ll be able to take full advantage of the activities if you are reasonably fit, have good balance and can mount and dismount a horse with minimal assistance, do not let any limitations or trepidation deter you.

Please discuss with the trip leader any questions or concerns about your readiness for the activities described or anything that would affect your and others’ participation and enjoyment.

Equipment and Clothing

Well before the trip date, the leader will send information to confirmed participants about how to prepare as well as a packing list and further instructions.

The lodge provides needed equipment such as helmets for horse riding and safety gear for the adventure course. You may bring your own hiking poles, or we can fashion sturdy walking sticks from the abundant branches in the forest.

Clothing: You’ll need casual, comfortable clothing adequate for fall weather conditions, rain or shine; sturdy (and broken in!) hiking boots; sneakers or indoor shoes; long-sleeved tops and pants for protection from sun and insects and layers to adjust for variable temperatures.

Essentials: Daypack, reusable water bottles, container(s) to carry packed lunches and snacks, full rain suit (jacket, pants, and hat), headlamp or flashlight, sunhat, sunglasses, warm hat, and gloves, extra warm layers, watertight bags or an inexpensive alternative: heavy duty trash bags to line or cover your daypack.

Optional: Gaiters, hiking poles, binoculars, camera, indoor slippers.

A few sources for affordable outdoor clothing and gear (new and pre-owned):

• Patagonia Worn Wear: https://wornwear.patagonia.com/

• REI Outlet: https://www.rei.com/rei-garage

• Mountain Warehouse: https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/us/

• Geartrade https://www.geartrade.com/

Local weather in Claryville, NY: http://nysmesonet.org/mesonow#network=nysm&stid=clar

Average daily temperatures in the fall range from the low 30s to the 60s Fahrenheit (0 to 20 Celsius). Early mornings and nights can be cold, especially if it is wet and windy. It can rain at any time, and while rare, there could be an early snow.

References

• Van Valkenburgh, Norman and Christopher Olney, The Catskill Park: Inside the Blue Line. Published on the 100th anniversary of Catskill Park, this book celebrates the Park's diverse natural and cultural features and explores its interesting history as well as its potential for the future. Black Dome Press www.blackdomepress.com.

• Olney, Christopher, The Catskill Park Centennial Celebrating 100 Years in 2004. Many refer to the Catskill Mountains as "America's First Wilderness" because its location upstream of old New Amsterdam put it in the path of Europeans settling the Hudson Valley during the 1600s. As novelist Wallace Stegner stated so eloquently, "Wilderness was the challenge against which our character as a people was formed," and this was as true for the Catskills as it was for any place in North America.

• Van Valkenburgh, Norm, History of the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve. The history behind the creation, purpose, and evolution of the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve is not fully understood by many. To learn the context of how Catskill Park and Forest Preserve came to be, one has to look at what was going on in the Adirondacks and the State Capitol during the 1700s and 1800s. 

• The Catskill Park History, from an Ulster County Perspective. Borrowed freely from Norm Van Valkenburgh's History of the Catskill Forest Preserve), edited by Helen K. Chase. Ulster County, and particularly one resident, had a significant role in the creation of the Forest Preserve within the Catskills.

• Time and the Valleys Museum www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org

• Catskills Watershed Information https://catskillsvisitorcenter.org/catskills-watershed-resources/

• Catskills Borscht Belt Museum https://www.borschtbeltmuseum.org

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Borscht Belt resort era, and celebrating its history as a refuge from bigotry, the cradle of stand-up comedy and a cultural catalyst that left deep imprints on America.

Conservation

The people of New York State and the Catskill area and the region’s visitors benefit from over a century of public land acquisition by the state government. They have preserved and protected open space resources and outdoor recreation opportunities on thousands of acres that remain open for public access.

In 1885, the NY State legislature established the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve. From the beginning, this land was protected by the State constitution as 'Forever Wild,' never to be subjected to development or extraction of natural resources. In 1904 Catskill Park was designated, marked with a boundary (or 'blue line') around the Forest Preserve and private land. Over the years the Forest Preserve and the Catskill Park grew, and the Park now comprises approximately 700,000 acres, about half of which is public land. 

Hiking opportunities abound in the Catskill Park. There are approximately 300 miles of marked, maintained hiking trails on public Forest Preserve land. Stewardship and development of these trails are shared by the New York State Forest Rangers and local chapters of hiking clubs such as the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference and the Adirondack Mountain Club.

The Catskill Park, like Adirondack Park, is unique because it encompasses a checkerboard of public and private land. As such, it faces challenges from development, climate change, and population pressures while demonstrating how nature, even wilderness, and human society can coexist in a landscape.

We will learn about the area’s natural and human history, including about indigenous peoples and the impacts of human development. We'll also learn about ecology, local habitats and biodiversity, current conservation concerns and efforts to restore, protect, and preserve its ecological, historical and cultural riches. We strive to follow Leave No Trace principles and encourage participants to share information about environmental issues in their localities.