This area of the Catskills is not nearly as mountainous as the Great Northern or the Heart of the Heart Peaks but has its own special vibe with its heartbeat being in Livingston Manor and its quintessential quaint downtown dominated by a fair amount of restaurants and shops. Fly fishing along the deep-flowing creeks is very popular so if you’re looking to get your feet wet (literally) there are a lot of options for lessons in the area. The area also boasts a large concentration of microbreweries and distilleries with great tasting rooms and large lawns to enjoy the outdoors accompanied by some outstanding bevvies. Below you’ll find my complete guide to the area. Check out a 3-day long weekend itinerary here.

Where to Stay

**The Debruce**

**Livingston Manor, NY**

I've stayed at the DeBruce (owned by Foster Supply) twice now and it's a really great choice if you're looking to celebrate with a special stay. The food is fantastic and breakfasts and dinners are included in your stay. Foster Supply has been opening a lot of cute bed and breakfasts across Sullivan County so I definitely recommend checking out their site for other options for where to stay.

I’ve also had my eye on this lovely rental also called DeBruce Lodge managed by the Red Cottage Group which has a lot of lovely very instagrammable rentals for you to browse!

Where to Hike

The below recommendations require no technical knowledge, however, if you are going during the winter months please be prepared with the right footwear- bare boot is never recommended when there is snow or ice on the ground. Use spikes or snowshoes as needed. Don’t be a posthole! Your safety and everyone else’s should be top of mind!

Do not leave for your hike without the following
- Understanding your route
- Packed with provisions (at least 1L of water p.p. more in the summer months)
- Spikes or snowshoes for the winter months

When you get to the trailhead please register your group- understanding foot traffic helps secure more state funding to take care of the Catskills.
- and most importantly, LEAVE NO TRACE.