Short answer: if your group is bigger than four, book two cabins instead of one big house. Clove Creek Cabin in Hunter, NY, and Blue Heron in Tannersville each sleep four in two bedrooms, and they are about 12 minutes apart. Together that is four bedrooms for up to eight people, two kitchens, two quiet corners for whoever needs an early night, and one shared plan for the days.
Group weekends with friends are having a moment in travel coverage this fall, and the logic holds in the Catskills too: a few couples or old friends, one long table, a hike in the morning and a fire at night. Here is how to split a group across our two cabins, a simple shared dinner plan and group-friendly fall things to do near Hunter and Tannersville.
Why two cabins work better than one
A single rental for eight to twelve people means one bathroom line, one thermostat argument and nowhere to go when someone wants quiet. Two cabins fix that without splitting the weekend. Each of ours has two bedrooms, one bath and its own kitchen, so every pair gets a real room with a door, and the group still meets for meals and outings.
How to split the group
Four couples (eight people): two couples per cabin. Put the early risers and hikers at Blue Heron, closer to Kaaterskill Falls and Tannersville’s Main Street, and the late-night fire crowd at Clove Creek, with its deck fire pit, hot tub and sauna.
Two families or two friend groups: one group per cabin is the cleanest split. Blue Heron takes pets, so the group with a dog gets that one.
Fewer than five? One cabin is plenty. Book Clove Creek or Blue Heron on its own.
A shared dinner plan that keeps it easy
Pick one cabin as the dinner house each night and swap on night two, so neither kitchen does all the work. Assign one dish per pair before you leave the city, so nobody arrives with four bags of chips and no dinner. A big pot of chili or stew on Friday night is forgiving if people show up at different times. Save Saturday for the long dinner, then everyone moves out to the fire.
Tannersville is a short walk from Blue Heron if you would rather eat out one night. Call ahead with a group of eight on a fall Saturday.
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Group fall things to do near Hunter and Tannersville
Kaaterskill Falls
From the Laurel House Road parking area, a firm gravel trail runs 0.3 mile to the observation platform over the falls, according to the DEC’s Kaaterskill Wild Forest page. That makes it an easy outing for a mixed group. The steeper 0.7-mile route to the lower pools is for the more sure-footed. Parking is banned in the Route 23A pull-offs from May through October, so use the marked DEC lots and carpool with one car per cabin.
Mountain Top Arboretum
The Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville is a public garden of native plants and cold-hardy trees. It is a calm walk for the morning after a late night. Check its site for current hours before you go.
Hunter Mountain and the town
Clove Creek is just outside Hunter. Our Hunter Mountain fall foliage guide covers the mountain and the town, and our top Catskills hikes for fall foliage views has longer options for the hikers in the group.
Farm stops and day trips
For a group with a car or two to spare, Kelder’s Farm is about an hour away, and our fun day trips in upstate NY for adults has more ideas.
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Affiliate link · rankings change oftenWhen to go
Peak color in the high Catskills is past for 2026, but the valleys held on through mid-October. See last weekend for Catskills color and Catskills peak foliage. Late fall weekends are quieter, cheaper to coordinate and better for long dinners. For what was on last weekend, see our Unplug This Weekend guide for October 17–18.
Book the two cabins
Clove Creek Cabin in Hunter, NY: two queen bedrooms, one bath, up to four guests, with an indoor fireplace, hot tub, sauna and fire pit. Check dates.
Blue Heron in Tannersville: two bedrooms, one bath, up to four guests, pet friendly, a short walk to town. Check dates.
Book the same nights at both, then send the group one message with both addresses. The cabins are about 12 minutes apart by car.
Juniper Ridge, our tiny cabin in Jefferson, Schoharie County, is coming soon. Join the Juniper Ridge list to hear when it opens.
FAQ
Are there Catskills cabins for groups of eight?
Yes. Book Clove Creek Cabin (Hunter, NY) and Blue Heron (Tannersville) for the same dates. Each sleeps four in two bedrooms, so together they take eight, and they are about 12 minutes apart.
How far apart are Clove Creek and Blue Heron?
About 12 minutes, or roughly 7.7 miles, by car.
Can we bring a dog?
Blue Heron is pet friendly. Check the Clove Creek listing for its current pet policy before you book.