Things to Do in Tannersville, NY 2023

Head to any of upstate New York’s quaint towns and you’ll be met by inviting locals and gorgeous natural elements that would excite even the most devoted city-slickers. This quaint ski town offers quiet fall and spring seasons, but winter months are overflowing with trendy tourists. Summer is also popular time to visit, when it feels like every inch of New York City has made its way up to the mountains.

Here are our favorite things to do in Tannersville, NY.

Where is Tannersville, NY?

Tannersville, New York is about two hours north of Manhattan and slightly west. It sits inland from the Hudson River at the very top of the Catskill Mountains. While it’s just a few miles north of popular spots like Woodstock, NY, it sits at a much higher elevation.

The main part of downtown sits about about 1,900 feet above sea level, though individual homes and private roads may be significantly above that number. This makes The Tannersville-Hunter area, a collection of a few small villages, one of the best ski regions in the greater New York Metropolitan area.

Hunter Mountain, just about a mile from the edge of Tannersville, is also the largest ski mountain within a quick, few-hour drive of New York City. It makes the nearby Poconos and Berskshires ski setups look casual by comparison, and has a far more Colorado-like feeling.

Things to do Tannersville, NY

Make the most of the snow

A high elevation and unique collection of weather currents makes Tannersville one of the best little ski towns in the east. That’s right—it’s ranked above loads of Vermont towns and sits head and shoulders above Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Jersey ski towns. One reason why? Hunter Mountain.

Near Route 23 in Tannersville, NY Bryce Gruber

Hunter offers an impressive 1,600-foot vertical drop that other mountains can’t compete with and extensive snowmaking facilities. It was the first New York ski destination to make its own snow, actually, and the first in the entire WORLD to offer 100% snow coverage on a mountain.

The resort also offers lessons for all ages, snow tubing and even zip lining in the summer.

Visit Rip Van Winkle Lake & Park

Heading to Rip Van Winkle Lake is one of the best free things to do in Tannersville, NY and it’s good for the whole family. In warm weather, make the most of the free, public sandy beach that sees dozens of kids each day during the summer. You’re welcome to swim in the fresh water or just have fun building sand castles. Just make sure you rinse off after—there’s plenty of natural aquatic life and sea moss gel in there!

Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville, NY Bryce Gruber

Nearby picnic tables and a boathouse cafe make it a cute spot for casual dates and meetups with friends. Pack your own lunch, order there or bring fare from one of the several cute eateries in town. The main drag is a short bike ride or adventurous walk away, so you don’t even need a car.

Parents and kids alike love the oversized, updated playground just steps from the lake. It’s loaded with swings, climbing gear and even outdoor musical instruments that encourage creativity at every age and stage.

Bring your swim gear, but leave the white bathing suit at home—the lake tends to kick up a fair amount of sediment.

Forage for mushrooms and wild edibles

Did you know that foraging for organic wild edibles is one of the most popular things to do in Tannersville, NY? It’s true, and offers four seasons of accessibility. Mushroom hunters, top chefs and health nuts flock from far and wide to check out the area’s wild ramps, morels, witches butter, birch polypores and more.

Wild golden chanterelles found in May off Route 23 in Tannersville, NY Bryce Gruber

These can all be found throughout Greene County, but Tannersville is an especially good spot to forage thanks to the unique elevation. The town also boasts access to nearby rivers, lakes, waterfalls and streams and relatively low population density. Basically, it’s a forager’s wildest dream up here and the shroomin’ is extra good.

Visit the popular eateries and coffee shops

Whether you’re just off the slopes or love discovering a new spot to hang out, there are plenty of options in town. In fact, sipping coffee on a saloon-style wooden porch is one of the most relaxing things to do in Tannersville, NY and a popular one at that. The entire downtown area is made up of old western-style buildings that make you feel like you’re about to watch a mountain rodeo go down.

Head to Maggie’s Krooked Cafe on the main strip for a strong local drip coffee (no caffeine gummies necessary!) and fresh juice. Or head to the very trendy Bear & Fox Provisions that feels like you stepped into a real life Schitt’s Creek Rose Apothecary scene. But really.

Check out religiously diverse communities

Did you know Tannersville, NY is home to literally dozens of religious groups? For such a tiny town in the middle of seemingly nowhere, it manages to attract a full spectrum of faiths. In the summer, a large population of Hasidic (or Haredi) Jewish people flock to Tannersville from Brooklyn, Queens and Lakewood, New Jersey. In fact, Tannersville’s appeal to the religious Jewish community is so strong that an all-kosher resort, The Melour, recently opened near the center of town.

There are several Orthodox shuls in Tannersville as well as dozens of home-spun minyans that can be found throughout the area. Simply put, there’s no shortage of Kedem Cream Concord wine if you’re looking to head to the area for shabbat or a holiday.

Tannersville also has several churches of different styles and denominations, and most people are surprised to know that just on the outskirts of town is one of the world’s largest Bruderhof establishments. While this faith’s followers may look like Pennsylvania Amish, they’re actually a distinct stream of Anabaptism that was founded in Germany. Their Catskills settlement houses hundreds and looks like an impressive resort-style hotel, though it’s really a communal living arrangement with amazing mountain views.

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