Short answer: yes, this weekend (October 17–18) is still worth the drive, but drive low. The I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for October 14–20 says the Catskills are mostly at peak, with Hunter, Windham, Delhi and Forestburgh among the biggest changes. NEWS10’s week 5 foliage report adds the catch: the highest terrain is already past peak. The color now sits in the valleys and on the lower slopes, such as Durham to Cairo in Greene County, which it puts at 85% to peak.
NEWS10 also expects wind over the next few days to bring leaves down through the weekend. That makes October 17–18 the last good weekend for Catskills color this year, not the first of several. Below: where the reports say peak is, three lower-elevation drives within about 45 minutes of our cabins, and what else is on this weekend.
This is a this-weekend update. For how peak works, how to read the reports and where to base yourself, start with our earlier guides: Catskills peak foliage, let the leaf report lead and planning fall foliage by town base.
Where’s peak this weekend
| Area | What the reports say | Source | From Clove Creek (Hunter, NY) | From Blue Heron (Tannersville) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham to Cairo, Greene County (Route 145) | 85% to peak; mostly yellow and orange, some red | NEWS10 | ~48 min | ~30 min (Cairo) |
| Delhi, Delaware County | 75% to peak; red, orange, yellow, purple. Also named by I LOVE NY | NEWS10, I LOVE NY | ~1 h 17 min | ~1 h 25 min |
| Hunter and Windham | Named among the Catskills’ biggest changes this week | I LOVE NY | Hunter: you’re there. Windham ~28 min | Windham ~25 min |
| Highest Catskills terrain | Past peak | NEWS10 | – | – |
| Mid-to-upper Hudson Valley (toward Catskill) | Near peak to peak | I LOVE NY | ~39 min (Catskill) | ~28 min (Catskill) |
The summits had their turn. This weekend belongs to the valleys.
Three lower-elevation drives near the cabins
1. Cairo to Durham on Route 145
This is where NEWS10 found the best color in Greene County: 85% to peak, mostly yellow and orange with pockets of red. Cairo is about 30 minutes from Blue Heron and about 42 minutes from Clove Creek. The run from Cairo to Durham is about 12 miles, or 19 minutes without stops, through farm country well below the high peaks. Go late morning, once the sun is on the hillsides, and stop for lunch in Cairo on the way back.
2. Down through Kaaterskill Clove to Palenville (Route 23A)
Route 23A drops from Tannersville to Palenville, about 13 minutes from Blue Heron and about 24 from Clove Creek. You pass from the high ground to the valley floor, so you see past-peak ridges up top and fuller color on the way down. Parking along 23A and in the clove pull-offs is banned May through October, and cars are ticketed and towed. Use the marked lots in the Town of Hunter advisory, and drive it in daylight.
3. Sunday: the long way to Delhi
If you have a full day, Delhi in Delaware County is 75% to peak, according to NEWS10, with reds, oranges, yellows and purples, and I LOVE NY names it as well. It is the longest drive here, about 1 hour 17 minutes from Clove Creek, so treat the drive as the outing and head home before dark.
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The summits are past peak, but the color across the valley is not. Binoculars bring the far hillside close from a pull-off you’re allowed to use.
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Prefer to walk? Our top Catskills hikes for fall foliage views are already written up. This weekend, pick the lower trails and skip the summits. Closer to Clove Creek, our Hunter Mountain fall foliage guide covers the SkyRide and the town.
What else is on this weekend
Hunter Mountain closes its fall festival with the Costume Takeover on Saturday (11 to 6) and Sunday (11 to 5), about 11 minutes from Clove Creek. Kingston restages the Burning of Kingston, and the Sheep and Wool Festival fills the Rhinebeck fairgrounds. Hours, admission and drive times for all of it are in our Unplug This Weekend guide for October 17–18. Kelder’s Farm, about an hour away, is open through November 1.
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Coffee for the Route 145 drive, cider for the deck after dark. A good flask keeps both hot all day.
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Where to stay for the last weekend of color
Clove Creek Cabin in Hunter, NY, sleeps up to four guests in two bedrooms. It has an indoor fireplace, a hot tub, a sauna and a Solo Stove fire pit, which is how a cold October evening should end. Check dates for Clove Creek on Airbnb.
Blue Heron in Tannersville, about 12 minutes from Clove Creek, is the closer base for the Kaaterskill Clove and Cairo drives. It is a quieter two-bedroom for up to four guests, a short walk from Tannersville’s restaurants, and it takes pets. Check dates for Blue Heron on Airbnb.
Juniper Ridge, our tiny cabin in Jefferson, Schoharie County, is coming soon. Join the Juniper Ridge list to hear when it opens.
FAQ
Is it too late to see fall foliage in the Catskills?
Not this weekend. The I LOVE NY report for October 14–20, 2026, says the Catskills are mostly at peak. NEWS10 says the highest terrain is past peak, so look in the valleys and on lower roads, such as Durham to Cairo in Greene County (85% to peak) and Delhi (75%). Wind could bring leaves down quickly, so after this weekend expect thinning color.
Where can I find the latest Catskills foliage report?
The I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report is updated every Wednesday afternoon from more than 100 volunteer observers. It is also available by phone at 800-225-5697. NEWS10 in Albany publishes a weekly report that covers Greene and Delaware counties.