While each season in the Catskill Mountains brings its own set of wonders, fall attractions like the autumn leaves, pumpkin patches and local cideries make the season an especially popular time to explore the region.
If you are looking for a fall experience for the whole family, there are plenty of local farms where kids can choose a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch, explore corn mazes and pet some farm animals.
Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
1316 County Highway 26, Fly Creek
607-358-5748
flycreekvalleycornmaze.com
The Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch is located on a fifthgeneration dairy farm in Fly Creek. The farm offers a corn
maze, a “little bean” maze for younger children and a variety of pumpkins to take home. If you are lucky enough to choose the right path, the corn maze is approximately half a mile long, and it usually takes people 30–40 minutes to find their way out.
The farm is open every weekend in September and October, and they offer moonlight mazes Oct. 2 and 16 at 7 p.m.
as well as haunted mazes Oct. 22 and 30 at 7 p.m. The maze costs $6 per person and is free for children 3 years old and younger. Moonlight and haunted mazes at $10 per person. The farm also welcomes leashed dogs that are friendly with both people and
other dogs.
Cunningham Family Farms
233 Hurd and Parks Road, Swan Lake
845-583-4083
cunninghamfamilyfarms.com
Located in Bethel, Cunningham Family Farms offers the complete fall experience with hayrides, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch and a harvest market. Kids can also challenge themselves on the obstacle course, explore the barnyard play area and pan for treasure at the Lost Irishman’s Mine.
The farm has been owned by the Cunningham family since 1866 but was only recently transformed into the family destination that it is today. The farm is open each weekend through the end of October from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for guests over the age of 13 is $8, for kids aged 6–12 years is $6 and children 5 years of age and younger are admitted for free.
Cullen Pumpkin Farm
587 Cullen Road, Richfield Springs
315-867-3878
cullenpumpkinfarm.com
Cullen Pumpkin Farm is a family-run farm in Richfield Springs where guests can bring home a variety of pumpkins and gourds, explore the corn maze and tour the farm with a wagon ride. On the weekends kids can also take a ride on the Pumpkin Express which travels around the play area.
The farm is open every day 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and has events scheduled on weekends throughout the season, including a visit from Rolling Meadows Clydesdales on Oct. 6 and the Utica Zoomobile on Oct. 11 which will feature animals from the Utica Zoo. There is no admission cost to enjoy the farm and activities like the corn maze or the Pumpkin Express. Families can preserve the memories they make at Cullen Pumpkin Farm at the various photo opportunities around the farm.
Local farm stands and markets are filled with fresh produce in the fall, or people can get more involved by picking their own at orchards. Apple orchards often allow people to pick their own fruit, and also may sell products like apple cider, cider donuts or caramel apples.
Terrace Mountain Orchard
158 Apple Blossom Lane, Schoharie
518-295-7755
terracemountainorchard.com
At Terrace Mountain Orchard in Schoharie, visitors can choose to pick their own apples from the farm’s 50-acre apple orchard or to buy apples from their Apple Barn. The orchard features Gala, Ginger Gold, McIntosh and Honeycrisp apples. The Apple Barn also offers other local produce, baked goods, apple cider and cider donuts made fresh daily. On weekends, the farm also offers free wagon tours of the farm.
Fromer Market Gardens
6120 Main Street, Tannersville
518-589-5050
fromermarketgardens.com
Located in Tannersville, Fromer Market Gardens is the perfect destination for anyone looking to buy a variety of fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheese and maple syrup. The market features 15 local vendors and is open yearround each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
RevSpirits
1283 State Route 10, Jefferson
607-437-2054
revspirits.com
RevSpirits, short for “revolutionary spirits,” uses raw local honey to create drinks with a unique Catskill flavor. Their drinks include Honey Moon, their honey mead; Thirteenth Moon, a cognac; and Conundrum, a rum-like drink. The company is owned by two long-time beekeepers and a bourbon connoisseur who combined their passions to make RevSpirits. The group has a farm stand in Jefferson where people can sample and purchase drinks each Saturday through Oct. 11. The company website also features cocktail recipes for each of the spirits.
Westwind Orchard & Cidery
215 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord
845-626-0659
westwindorchard.com
Westwind Orchard, Accord, is an apple orchard that uses its fruit to make ciders, jams and vinegars. Westwind’s cidery is inspired by European ciders using apples like McIntosh and Stayman apples. The cidery offers 11 styles of cider which are all unfiltered and contain no added sulfites or sugars. Westwind is open Thursday–Sunday for food and drinks.
Callicoon Brewing Company
15 Upper Main Street Callicoon
845-887-5500
callicoonbrewing.com
Callicoon Brewing Company is found in the Olympia Hotel in Callicoon, overlooking the Delaware River. The brewery features a variety of its own craft beers along with other local beers, a full bar and bottled commercial drinks. The pub also offers American cuisine like Rueben sandwiches, burgers and ribs to go along with their beers. Callicoon Brewing Company is open every day and has weekly events like live music and trivia which can be found on the brewery’s Facebook page.
The Catskills are known for its beautiful scenery all year round, but these views are especially striking in the fall when the mountains are dressed in bright yellows, oranges and reds. There are plenty of hikes that offer picturesque views of the mountains, but there are other sightseeing options for people who are looking for a more relaxing fall experience.
Delaware & Ulster Railroad
43510 State Highway 28, Arkville
800-225-4132
durr.org
The Delaware & Ulster Railroad was originally founded in 1866 and was known as “the only all-rail route to the Catskill Mountains.” Now the railroad offers scenic train rides through the Catskills, based out of Arkville. The track follows the east branch of the Delaware River, doing 2.5-hour round trips to Roxbury and 1.15-hour round trips to Halcottsville. The railroad also holds special events like a train robbery performance and rides with Santa in December. Adult tickets are $18, senior citizen tickets for people over the age of 62 are $15, children’s tickets are $12 and children 3 years of age or younger ride for free.
Rail Explorers
70 Lower High St, Phoenicia
877-833-8588
railexplorers.net
Rail Explorers is a national organization that uses existing railroad tracks to create its Rail Explorer tours on rail bikes. The Catskills location is based in Phoenicia and uses the historic Ulster & Delaware Railroad which runs along the Esopus Creek. The rail bikes, known as “explorers,” are pedal-powered vehicles that move along railroad tracks and feature electric pedal assistance. The Catskill tour is an 8-mile round trip that takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete. The explorer bikes come in tandem explorers for two people at $45 per person and in quad explorers for four people at $40 per person.
