Catskill Mountains, Catskill Park

Permit Information

Same NY DEC TRP system as Adirondacks. Small elopements (2 to 10 people, no setup) do not require a permit on DEC Forest Preserve trails. Groups of 20+ or formal ceremonies: $25 TRP application fee, submit 30 days in advance. Note: Minnewaska State Park Preserve (within the Catskills region) is managed by NY State Parks, not DEC, and requires separate photography permits. Kaaterskill Falls is very popular, weekday mornings recommended. North South Lake has a separate reservation system for shel…

Planning Your Day at Catskill Mountains, Catskill Park

One-Spot Day

Catskill one spot days work best at Kaaterskill Falls for the waterfall drama or an Escarpment Trail overlook for the Hudson Valley view. Both are short walks from parking, which keeps the day simple and lets you move between ceremony and portraits without a long drive.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

The Catskills cover a lot of ground but the drive times between zones stay under 90 minutes. A morning at Kaaterskill and an afternoon on the Escarpment is realistic, and the two landscapes feel genuinely different, vertical waterfall versus sweeping valley overlook.

A Note on Light

Kaaterskill Falls shoots best in overcast or early morning shade, direct sun blows out the water and the wet rocks. Escarpment overlooks face east, so sunrise is the golden window and sunset falls into shadow on the cliff face. Fall foliage peaks early to mid October, a week later than the Adirondacks.

Ceremony Spots at Catskill Mountains, Catskill Park

• Kaaterskill Falls — Two tiered 260 foot waterfall in a hemlock gorge, the tallest waterfall in New York State
• North South Lake, Escarpment Trail Overlook — Dramatic escarpment edge with sweeping Hudson Valley views stretching to the Berkshires