[Updated Sept. 16, 2022] Kick off your trip with a cocktail or meal on Canal Street and you’ll immediately see for yourself the many things to do in Ellenville, NY. Canal Street is the village’s small but incredibly scenic main thoroughfare. Gift shops and antique stores line the street, and restaurants serving local and international fare beckon with every few steps.
And then there’s the scenery.
Sitting low in the Rondout Valley, at the base of both the Catskill Mountains and the Shawangunk Ridge, Ellenville is surrounded by rising hills that, during our short weekend trip in October, were ablaze with fall colors. Just adjacent to downtown Ellenville, the great outdoors calls with endless opportunities.
A weekend in Ellenville, NY is a perfect quick getaway. Located in Ulster County, it’s just 95 miles from New York City and 80 miles from Albany. Anyone looking for some space to roam and explore nature in its various forms will appreciate the many hikes, whose difficulty levels range from short and easy to longer and more difficult.
Matt and I experienced autumn in Ellenville on a spectacular peak fall foliage weekend in October of 2020. Our goal, as it had been throughout the long months since COVID-19 had hit, was to take advantage of as much time outdoors as we could. We found that there isn’t much that’s better than fall foliage in the Catskills!
Hint: If you’re tracking the progression of Ulster County fall foliage to determine the best time to go, I recommend keeping an eye on the official I Love New York Fall Foliage Report.
Here are some things to do in Ellenville, NY for one perfect weekend.
Hike the Trails at Sam’s Point Preserve
[Update as of 09/16/22]: The most important thing to know when planning a trip to Sam’s Point is that parking reservations are now required on weekends and holidays from May 1-October 31.
Several natural elements come together to make Sam’s Point the special place that it is. Part of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, it’s located at the highest point of the Shawangunk Ridge. Hiking to the stunning views at the overlook is only 1.2 miles roundtrip—a breeze for hikers of all skill levels.
Since the number of visitors is controlled by the small parking lot, the trails don’t seem extremely overcrowded, although you’re not likely to get a photo on the overlook that doesn’t have hikers milling around in search of their own best photo ops.
If you’re looking for a way to enjoy fall in Ellenville, NY, it doesn’t get much more scenic than Sam’s Point!
Important Information for Your Sam’s Point Hike
[Update as of 09/16/22]: The most important thing to know when planning a trip to Sam’s Point is that parking reservations are now required on weekends and holidays from May 1-October 31.
We arrived on a peak fall foliage day at 8:45 a.m. and pulled up behind an already long line of cars. Popularity-wise, Sam’s Point is up there with Kaaterskill Falls, meaning it’s very popular, especially deep into the autumn season.
However, that’s not to say you should avoid it. Just get an early start and be prepared for crowds.
If you arrive, like we did, with the morning rush and need to use the restroom, expect to wait in line for a few minutes. There are only two bathrooms and the line can crawl quite slowly. A park ranger was walking up and down the lines, though, offering trail maps and answering questions.
There’s also a nice Welcome Center with maps, water for purchase, brochures, and a few interesting exhibits about the history of Sam’s Point.
Our first stop was Sam’s Point Overlook. We reached it in under 20 minutes from the parking lot, and after getting our fill of the sweeping fall views, we picked up the Loop Road trail. This is an easy 3-mile route that took us around Lake Maratanza, which is known as one of the five Sky Lakes in the Shawangunks.
Because I find ruins along hiking trails to be fascinating, another thing I loved about this Sam’s Point hike was seeing the dilapidated berry pickers’ shacks, where, up until the 1960s, communities made a living picking huckleberries and blueberries.
The tiny cabins are in extreme disrepair, and rusty bed frames and other household objects sit in piles in the middle of the woods. It’s eerie and yet leaves a lot to the imagination.
The Loop Road trail is three miles in length. It remains easy the entire way, with very little elevation.
Be sure to check the website before you go for an updated list of closed trails. Sam’s Point trails are generally open from 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., though hours change seasonally.
If you have the chance to hike here, I do recommend it. The relatively easy trails, scenic views, cool mountain air, and brilliant fall foliage made our Sam’s Point hike a memorable one!
Browse Around Town for an Afternoon
After hiking Sam’s Point, we were mildly sunburned, starving, and eager to check out the village of Ellenville.
A lot of restaurants and cafes on Canal Street still had their tables set up outside, perfect for grabbing a bite or a coffee and taking in the downtown views. There are also plenty of antique shops and boutiques to browse an afternoon away.
We spent some time window-shopping and then ordered lunch to-go from Sammy Brown’s Walk Away Café. We ate on picnic tables at nearby Berme Park Road, enjoying the contrast of the soft blue sky against the yellow-orange leaves rising up the Shawangunk Ridge.
Chase Waterfalls in Ellenville
I wanted to see some of the area’s famous waterfalls without taking away too much hiking time, so we focused on the ones close to Ellenville, though there are loads of them a little further out.
If you have time to visit only one waterfall, I recommend the three-tiered Hanging Rock Falls. After parking at a pull-off on Ulster Heights Road, there’s a 10-15 minute downhill hike to the Hanging Rock waterfalls. It’s not too difficult and it’s completely worth the effort.
We also visited Fantinekill Falls which I would rate as having the most interesting location, since you actually have to drive through Fantinekill Cemetery to reach them.
The falls are made up of small but pretty cascades and are in a fairly rustic setting. This is no great gushing waterfall so don’t expect to be wowed, but the rustic setting at the edge of a cemetery makes it an interesting stop.
Viewing the area waterfalls, especially when they were surrounded by brilliant fall colors, was yet another wonderful way to get the most out of autumn in Ellenville, NY.
Go Hiking in Berme Road Park
Want to do more hiking in Ellenville, NY? This one can be quick and easy. We did it on our final morning in town.
After a fabulous and hearty breakfast at Cohen’s Bakery, we headed to Berme Road Park to hike up the Smiley Carriage trail, though at 7.4 miles round-trip, we only hiked a small portion of it before turning around.
The trail is moderate in difficulty and left us with enough energy to make our two-hour drive back to New York City.
Where We Stayed: Honor’s Haven in Ellenville
While I love the many quirky Catskills hotels, we opted for big resort-style accommodations during our weekend in Ellenville. A few things led us to choose Honor’s Haven Retreat and Conference Center, but mainly, we wanted to stick close to the village, pay within our budget, and stay only one night.
Over a peak autumn weekend, the latter two are difficult to accomplish. And the sheer number of rooms available at Honor’s Haven also meant I could book something at the last minute, assuring the weather would be on our side on the weekend we wanted to go.
Honor’s Haven Retreat and Conference Center is only two miles from downtown Ellenville. It’s located on spacious grounds with a lake and hiking trails that lead to a waterfall. The window in our corner room looked out onto spectacular fall foliage, and the day was so clear that we saw lots of hang gliders rising above the peaks in the distance.
Note: Ellenville is a popular hang gliding destination, with several schools offering lessons and training packages, and while we did not partake, we enjoyed catching glimpses of them during our stay at Honor’s Haven.
During our stay, the hotel was observing tight COVID-19 safety protocols, including taking our temperature at the guard station entrance. Some amenities were not available, though the indoor pool and jacuzzi were open and—on our visit—sparkling clean and empty of other guests.
I received an email the day before my arrival telling me what health and safety steps to expect, and upon our arrival every staff member we encountered was kind and helpful.
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Restaurants in Ellenville, NY
Restaurants on Canal Street and nearby can get extremely busy on peak fall weekends so I recommend booking reservations ahead of time whenever possible. The good news is that there are loads of great Ellenville restaurants to try. Here are some popular ones.
- Gaby’s Café – A lively spot that serves incredible margaritas and fantastic Mexican fare.
- Tony & Nick’s Italian Kitchen – Classic Italian dishes and charming Old World décor.
- Aroma Thyme – Award-winning farm-to-table restaurant with an inviting outdoor garden warmed by heat lamps.
- Sook House Restaurant – Korean and Japanese cuisine, plus private karaoke rooms.
- Sammy Brown’s Walk Away Cafe – Their menu is loaded with inexpensive, fresh, made-to-order salads and sandwiches.
- Marbella – Formerly Trattoria Marbella, now simply Marbella, a lovely tapas and wine bar.
- Cohen’s Bakery – An 80-year old cafe whose claim to fame is their massive loaves of Raisin Pumpernickel bread.
On weekends beginning in May, a portion of Canal Street is closed off in order to make way for outdoor restaurant seating, a seasonal event known as Ellenville StrEATS.
How to Get to Ellenville, NY
The village of Ellenville is a rural area so a car will afford visitors the most freedom. There are CoachUSA buses that leave from Port Authority and arrive in Ellenville. Amtrak trains stop in Poughkeepsie and Albany, though you’d need to rent a car to get the rest of the way. Metro-North trains run from Grand Central in New York City to Poughkeepsie.
Approximate driving distances and times from major cities:
- New Paltz: 25 miles. 30 minutes.
- Poughkeepsie: 35 miles, 50 minutes.
- Albany: 85 miles. 1 hour, 45 minutes.
- New York: 95 miles. 2 hours.
- Philadelphia: 175 miles. 3.5 hours.
- Boston: 230 miles. 4 hours.
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