Region

Delaware County, New York

Go only with a car and 2+ nights; it is a rural base for reservoirs, trails and small villages, not a day-trip.

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Key facts · United States

Best months: May–Sep
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: US dollar (USD, $)
Language: English
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…

North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Delaware County is the quiet, low-density part of the Catskills: dairy farms, two New York City reservoirs and villages along NY 28 and NY 30. There is no passenger rail and no local bus network, so a car is required. Come for two or more nights to fish, hike, bike the rail trail or ski Plattekill; pass through in an afternoon and you will mostly see road.

Where to sleep

5 places in this region

Sleep base

DelhiGuide: planned
County seat and home to a SUNY college; central on NY 10 and NY 28, with the county's most services.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
MargaretvilleGuide: planned
NY 28 village with inns, shops and food; closest base to Pepacton Reservoir.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
StamfordGuide: planned
Northern village on NY 23; closest base to Plattekill Mountain and Mount Utsayantha.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

Day trip

WaltonGuide: planned
West Branch town on NY 10, near Cannonsville Reservoir and Bear Spring Mountain.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
HancockGuide: planned
Southern gateway on NY 17/I-86 where the Beaver Kill meets the East Branch.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights: One village base (Margaretville or Delhi) + one reservoir and one trail day
3 nights: Margaretville 2 + Stamford 1 for Plattekill or Mount Utsayantha
4 nights: Add a fishing or biking day on the Catskill Scenic Trail and a Hancock/Bear Spring day

Secondary and dirt roads were built for farms: steep, sharp and unlit. Some are not maintained in winter.
Cell coverage is patchy; an accident on a back road can mean a long wait for help.
Deer rifle season runs roughly a week before Thanksgiving to several weeks after; wear high-visibility clothing if hiking then.
NY 268 between Hancock and Cannonsville has been closed for months after major storms; check road status after heavy rain.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Cannonsville Reservoir	Walton	20 min	unknown	Free NYC DEP permit needed for boating and fishing; check before you drive.
Pepacton Reservoir	Margaretville	15 min	unknown	Access points along NY 30 between Margaretville and Downsville.
Plattekill Mountain	Stamford	40 min	unknown	The county's only downhill ski area; winter road conditions decide the drive.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA	Walton	25 min	unknown	About 7,000 acres on NY 206 between Walton and Downsville; hunting seasons apply.

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding or left-luggage network here; keep bags in the car and confirm late check-in with small inns.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
United States (country-wide)	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Delaware CountyCatskill valleys and ridges, 350–900 m	cold	cold	cool	ok	best	best	best	best	best	ok	cool	cold

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, grey

Delaware County: Summer days are mild and nights cool; winter brings snow and ice, and I-88 gets windy and icy. Fall colour peaks in early to mid-October, earlier than the coast.

May to early October is the reliable window for hiking, biking and fishing; January and February are for skiing and snowmobiling only.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
New York City	Margaretville / Delhi	Car via NY 17/I-86 or NY 28	~2 h 30 to 3 h	The most direct approach from the Hudson Valley is NY 28 from Kingston.
Binghamton	Sidney / Hancock	Car via I-88 or NY 17/I-86	~1 h	Binghamton has the nearest scheduled passenger airport; there is no passenger air service inside the county.
Kingston, NY	Arkville / Margaretville / Andes / Delhi	Adirondack Trailways bus on NY 28	~1 h 30 to 2 h	One of only two bus routes serving the county; a second route from Saugerties stops at Grand Gorge and Stamford.
Albany	Sidney / Stamford	Car via I-88 or NY 23	~1 h 30 to 2 h	I-88 is the usual approach from the Capital District.

Regional passes

Verdict first

New York City DEP access permit (reservoirs)

buy

Free permit required for unpowered boating and fishing on Cannonsville and Pepacton; apply before the trip.

New York State fishing licence

buy

Day or annual licences sold at local sporting-goods stores; out-of-state rates are higher.

New York State hunting licence

check

Needed for deer, small game and spring turkey; non-resident fees are higher. Check current DEC rules.

Catskill Scenic Trail

buy

Free to use: 42.6 km of old rail bed from Bloomville through Stamford to Grand Gorge and Roxbury for bikes, horses, hikers and, in winter, snowmobiles and skiers.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Diner and farm-stop meals	Villages along NY 28 and NY 17	Kitchens in small villages close early; eat before 20:00 or carry food.Kitchens in small villages close early; eat before 8:00 PM or carry food.
Local dairy and farm produce	Delaware County farm stands	Dairy farms are the county's economic backbone; stands are seasonal and cash-friendly.

Go next

Catskills

planned

Drive east on NY 28 or NY 30

The wider region; higher peaks and busier resort towns.

Greene County

planned

Drive east via NY 23 or NY 23A

Hunter and Tannersville ski country.

Ulster County

planned

Drive southeast via NY 28 to Kingston

Hudson Valley base with rail links to New York City.

Orange County

planned

Drive southeast via NY 17/I-86

On the way to the New York metro area.

Roxbury, New York

planned

Drive northeast on NY 30

Small village at the eastern end of the Catskill Scenic Trail.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 3 bases
Day trips: 4, 15 min to 40 min
Nights suggested: 2–4 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: May–Sep

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Explore Catskills Up to United States

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialDelaware County — official site
officialNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation — Bear Spring Mountain WMA
officialNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation — fishing licences
officialCatskill Scenic Trail
officialPlattekill Mountain
officialAdirondack Trailways
officialNew York State Parks — John Burroughs Memorial State Historic Site
secondaryWikivoyage: Delaware County (New York), revision 5226159 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about Delaware County, New York

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