Dog-Friendly Lodging in the Catskills: Properties That Accept Dogs

Rural properties with land often suit dogs best. Near Livingston Manor, Antrim Streamside has 250 acres of woodland trails and a quarter mile of Willowemoc frontage, and some of its units take up to 2 dogs, and Arnold House, on Shandelee Road, welcomes dogs and has hiking trails, a pool and The Tavern. On the upper Delaware, Stickett Inn in Barryville sets aside a 2-bedroom cottage for guests with children or pets.

The trade-off with rural properties is distance: they are usually farther from town centers and restaurants, which matters on a longer stay.

Several inns and resorts take dogs in some rooms or buildings. Emerson Resort & Spa in Mount Tremper welcomes dogs and has a fenced dog park and walking trails to the Esopus Creek, Phoenicia Lodge, steps from the Esopus, has dog-friendly cabins, and Wylder Windham has a dog run on its 20 acres.

The design hotels that get most of the Catskills' press coverage vary: some take dogs in some or all rooms, and others, such as The Woodstock Way Hotel, do not take pets. Style and price are not a reliable guide, so check each property directly.

The Catskill Forest Preserve allows dogs on most hiking trails, including the Escarpment Trail, the Devil's Path and the DEC's other trails across the range, and dogs should be leashed in campgrounds and other developed areas. Creeks along many trails give dogs a chance to cool off. The DEC publishes trail rules and seasonal restrictions on its website.

Easier walks include the Windham Path in Windham and the trails around North-South Lake near Haines Falls. The Devil's Path and the higher trails in the central Catskills are steep and rocky and suit dogs used to long hikes.

Summer is the busiest time for travelers with dogs in the Catskills, when every trail is open and there is water along the way. July and August heat can make midday hikes hard on dogs, especially on exposed ridges, so early-morning and evening walks are safer. Fall foliage season brings cooler temperatures that most dogs handle better.

Winter and early spring take more preparation. The higher trails are icy and snow-packed from December through March, and dogs without paw protection can struggle on ice. Unpaved roads to rural properties can be muddy in April, and some smaller inns limit pets in winter, so confirm in advance for an off-season trip.