This article originally appeared in Lonely Planet.
Craggy cliffs cut by rivers, filled with old-growth forests, and flowing with waterfalls. These are the Catskills: a wild refuge two hours north of New York city where urbanites escape the hustle-bustle to explore the sublime.
The rolling plateaus of the Catskills offer a dynamic line-up of trails fit for all levels of fitness so it's no surprise that hiking is one of the top things to do here. Snap pictures of the state's tallest cataracts, try your luck on the East Coast's most daunting paths or glide along paved roads to see why millions of travelers fall in love with this region every year.