Oh hello there, fellow bargain-hunting adventurer! Remember that time I drove three hours into the Catskills, armed with nothing but an outdated guidebook and unrealistic expectations? Let’s just say I ended up eating gas station nachos while staring at overpriced antique shops in towns swarming with city folks taking selfies with $12 lattes. Not exactly the authentic mountain escape I’d envisioned.
But then I discovered Delaware County – the Catskills’ shy, underappreciated middle child that’s somehow escaped the influencer invasion. After five visits exploring its backroads and chatting with locals who initially suspected I was scouting locations for yet another brewery (fair assumption), I’ve compiled this guide to the county’s most affordable hidden treasures. Turns out, the best Catskills experiences aren’t on those “Top 10” lists – they’re down winding dirt roads where your cell service conveniently disappears and your adventure truly begins.
Waterfall Chasing: Delaware County’s Best-Kept Swimming Holes
Last July, I found myself drenched in sweat, questioning my life choices while hiking what a local had described as a “little path” to a swimming hole. Forty minutes and one minor emotional breakdown later, I emerged through the trees to find… absolute paradise. And not another soul in sight. I may have done a victory dance that scared several squirrels.
The Catskills region boasts over 30 notable waterfalls, but the gems in Delaware County remain blissfully uncrowded. Skip the Instagram-famous Kaaterskill Falls (where you’ll share your “wilderness experience” with approximately 300 strangers and their selfie sticks) and head instead to Tompkins Falls near Walton. This cascading beauty features multiple swimming pools of varying depths and precisely zero entrance fees. The best part? I counted just three other visitors during peak summer hours – and two were local dogs.
For families, Mine Kill Falls in North Blenheim offers an easier access point with picnic facilities that won’t cost you a penny. Pro tip: pack a cooler with local Delhi-made sandwiches from Good Cheap Food ($8-10) instead of paying tourist prices at more popular stops. Your wallet will thank you, and so will your taste buds.
Before you head out on your waterfall adventure, let’s talk about keeping your precious gear (and snacks!) bone dry. That magical mist and those slippery rocks are no joke! After trying a few, my top pick for an all-around fantastic waterproof hiking backpack is the Osprey Talon 22 (for men) / Tempest 20 (for women). While it’s highly water-resistant on its own, pair it with its integrated raincover (or grab Osprey’s ultra-light one separately), and it’s a fortress. It’s super comfortable, has great organization, and Osprey’s warranty is legendary
Budget-Friendly Lodging: Where to Stay Without Selling a Kidney
True story: My first Catskills accommodation search nearly sent me into cardiac arrest. $400 for a “rustic” cabin with questionable plumbing and the promise of “authentic nature sounds” (aka mice in the walls)? Hard pass.
Delaware County offers the most affordable Catskills accommodations without sacrificing that coveted mountain charm. Skip the overpriced glamping sites and consider the Hollow Hill Farm Stay near Hamden. This working farm offers basic but comfortable rooms from $85/night (practically free by Catskills standards), plus you’ll wake up to farm-fresh eggs and conversations with actual farmers, not Instagram influencers pretending to milk cows for their stories.
For the ultimate budget hack, the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Walton allows camping for under $30/night during non-event periods. Is it glamorous? Not remotely. Will you have authentic experiences with multi-generation local families who know where to find the best fishing spots and which mushrooms won’t send you to the emergency room? Absolutely.
If you’re traveling with friends, check out Airbnb options in Andes or Bovina – deliberately search 5+ miles outside town centers for dramatically lower prices. My group found a charming farmhouse with mountain views for $150/night that would’ve easily fetched $500 closer to more famous Catskills towns. The owner even left us fresh-baked bread that I still dream about.
For first-time campers, I swear by this 4-season tent from GEERTOP. It’s weathered Catskills thunderstorms that had me convinced I’d wake up in Oz
Living History: Experience 19th-Century Catskills Life (Without Dysentery)
Let me let you in on a little secret: time travel exists in Delaware County. I accidentally discovered it after taking a wrong turn on a backroad near Stamford last fall.
While tourists flock to colonial reenactments in more famous counties, Delaware County offers immersive historical experiences that fly completely under the radar. The Hanford Mills Museum isn’t just another dusty collection of antiques – it’s a fully operational 19th-century water-powered mill where you can literally roll up your sleeves and participate in seasonal activities that haven’t changed in 150 years. For just $9 admission (seriously), I learned to make maple syrup the old-fashioned way, operating equipment that predates electricity. The staff won’t even judge you when you inevitably ask if you can drink the syrup straight from the evaporator. (They’ve heard it before.)
For the ultimate throwback experience, book the 1850s Homesteader Workshop offered monthly at the Delaware County Historical Association. For $40 (roughly the cost of one trendy cocktail in more popular Catskills destinations), you’ll spend a full day learning forgotten skills like candle making, open-hearth cooking, and textile production. I proudly/awkwardly used my handmade beeswax candles for months afterward – they smelled vaguely of failure but burned for hours.
The unexpected bonus? These historical sites are staffed by local history enthusiasts who share stories passed down through generations of mountain families – tales you won’t find in any guidebook. Just avoid mentioning you’re from the city until after they’ve warmed up to you. Trust me on this one.
Foraging Adventures: Edible Treasures of the Catskills Forest
Confession time: I once spent $28 on a “wild mushroom medley” at a fancy Catskills restaurant, only to later discover I was literally surrounded by free gourmet fungi on every hiking trail. The irony was not delicious.
Delaware County’s forests are a literal grocery store if you know what you’re looking for – and more importantly, what might kill you. Skip the overpriced farmers markets and join one of the under-the-radar foraging workshops offered by Catskill Fungi in Margaretville. For $65, you’ll spend half a day with mycology experts who’ll teach you to confidently identify safe edible mushrooms like chicken of the woods (which genuinely tastes like chicken) and avoid their toxic doppelgängers.
During my workshop, I collected enough chanterelles in two hours to make meals for a week – that’s easily $100+ worth of gourmet mushrooms that were just hanging out in the forest, waiting for someone who wouldn’t mistake them for their poisonous cousins. The guides also share sustainable harvesting practices that ensure you’re not destroying the ecosystem while filling your basket.
Not into fungi? The Wild Food Walk offered monthly by the Catskill Forest Association introduces you to dozens of edible plants that colonist settlers and indigenous people relied on for centuries. I can now confidently identify five types of wild berries and three edible flowers that make me feel like a woodland survivalist despite my embarrassing dependence on GPS to find my way back to the car.
Pro tip: Bring a small notebook to record identification tips and take photos of everything before you eat it. Some look-alikes are stomach-pump worthy, and cell service for emergency Googling is notoriously spotty.
Yurt Life: Glamping with Mountain Views (Without Mountain Prices)
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been quoted astronomical prices for “glamping” experiences that were essentially just tents with fairy lights and a composting toilet. $350 per night to sleep in a canvas structure? I’ll pass, thanks.
Delaware County offers the most affordable authentic glamping experiences in the Catskills, with options that won’t require a second mortgage. Stone Mountain Farm near Hancock offers yurt accommodations starting at $95/night – complete with wood stoves, actual beds, and panoramic mountain views that would cost triple in more discovered parts of the Catskills.
During my stay, I woke to mist rising from the valley below my yurt, deer grazing in the neighboring meadow, and absolute silence except for birdsong. The owners are working farmers, not hospitality professionals, which means fewer curated “experiences” but more authentic ones. When I mentioned interest in local food, the farmer casually handed me fresh eggs still warm from the chicken and pointed me toward wild raspberry bushes behind the property.
For something truly unique, book the converted shepherd’s wagon at Turquoise Barn in Bloomville. At $110/night, you’ll sleep in a handcrafted wooden wagon that feels like something straight out of a fairytale, complete with a small deck for stargazing. The owners are transplants from Brooklyn who actually know how to make decent coffee (a surprisingly rare find in rural areas) but have embraced country living with admirable commitment.
The secret advantage of these properties? They’re perfectly positioned for Delaware County adventures while being completely overlooked by the masses heading to more famous destinations. You’ll have prime access to swimming holes and hiking trails that remain blissfully crowd-free.
Before booking your glamping adventure, grab this portable solar charger. When I stayed in that shepherd’s wagon, this little device was the only thing keeping my phone alive for those crucial sunset photos. It’s compact enough for backpacking but powerful enough to charge multiple devices. Use my link for free shipping and a waterproof case!
Conclusion:
There you have it, my budget-conscious explorer – the real Delaware County, where your wallet can relax almost as much as you will. While the Instagram crowds continue their pilgrimage to the same three overexposed viewpoints, you’ll be swimming in isolated waterfalls, channeling your inner 1850s homesteader, foraging gourmet mushrooms, and sleeping in dreamy yurts that cost less than a mediocre hotel room.
The true magic of the Catskills isn’t found in luxury glamping sites or curated experiences – it’s in these authentic corners where life moves to a different rhythm and your dollar stretches remarkably further. Delaware County offers that increasingly rare travel commodity: genuine experiences that haven’t been packaged and priced for social media consumption.
So pack that cooler, grab those hiking boots (and maybe a field guide to edible fungi), and set your GPS for the less-traveled roads of Delaware County. The mountains are calling, and for once, they’re not asking for your entire paycheck in return.
Happy adventuring!