Best Swimming Holes in the Catskills
16 natural swimming holes · 2026 guide
Two hours from New York City, the Catskills' creeks and swimming holes are the city's summer escape valve. Peekamoose Blue Hole's famous turquoise water now requires a permit in season — a sign of how beloved these spots are. Go on weekdays, arrive early, and pack out everything you pack in.
Top swimming holes
- Lake Minnewaska
Minnewaska State Park Preserve has two designated swimming beaches: a pebble-surface beach on cliff-ringed Lake Minnewaska and a rock-surface beach on Lake Awosting.
- Lake Superior State Park
Lake Superior State Park in Bethel, operated by Sullivan County with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, has a sandy beach with a roped, lifeguarded swimming area.
- Peekamoose Blue Hole
The Rondout Creek's famous Blue Hole is a deep, startlingly blue pool beneath Peekamoose Mountain in the Sundown Wild Forest.
- Vernooy Kill Falls
Vernooy Kill drops about 60 feet in four stages into a series of pools, reached by a roughly 3.6-mile round-trip hike in the Sundown Wild Forest.
- Beaverkill Campground & Day Use Area
DEC’s Beaverkill Campground near Roscoe has a swimming beach where swimming is available when a lifeguard is on duty, per the Catskills Visitor Center.
- Belleayre Beach
Belleayre Beach at 33 Friendship Manor Road is a mountain swim beach at the Belleayre ski area in Pine Hill.
- Big Deep
Woodland Valley Creek's Big Deep is a deep, cliff-ringed swimming hole beloved by Catskills locals.
- Delaware River (Callicoon)
The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River at Callicoon offers public river access where swimming, tubing, and fishing are available from NPS-managed access sites.
- Delaware River (Narrowsburg)
At Narrowsburg the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River provides public access points for swimming and paddling along one of the cleanest free-flowing rivers in…
- Esopus Creek (Phoenicia)
The Esopus Creek around Phoenicia has roadside pull-offs where people swim and tube in its clear mountain water, including a deeper area near the bridge by Sleepy Hollow…
- Lake Awosting (Minnewaska State Park)
Lake Awosting’s designated swim beach is a rock-surface beach inside Minnewaska State Park Preserve, reached by hiking or biking 3 to 5 miles from the main park.
- Little Pond
Little Pond’s DEC campground beach offers swimming when a lifeguard is on duty, per the Catskills Visitor Center’s list of state campground beaches.
- Mongaup Pond
Mongaup Pond Campground’s swimming beach offers swimming only when a lifeguard is on duty, per the Catskills Visitor Center.
- Neversink River
The Neversink River Unique Area gives public access to one of New York’s most pristine rivers, where informal swimming holes exist along its course.
- North-South Lake
North Lake Beach in the North & South Lake Campground offers a mountain-ringed swimming beach in the Catskills, with public bathrooms and changing facilities.
- Willowemoc Creek
Willowemoc Creek near Roscoe is a celebrated 27-mile trout stream where a state-owned rest area off Route 17 gives public access to the water.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to swim in the Catskills?
Late June through early September. Catskill creeks run high and cold with snowmelt into June; by July the pools settle into perfect swimming shape.
Do Catskill swimming holes require reservations or permits?
The famous Peekamoose Blue Hole requires a free day-use permit in season. Most other Catskill spots are free and first-come — but arrive before 10am on summer weekends.
Are Catskill swimming holes crowded?
The famous ones, absolutely — they're two hours from 8 million people. Weekday mornings are the move. Lesser-known creek pools in Delaware and Sullivan counties stay quiet.
⚠️ Verify before you go. Conditions, fees, reservations, and access can change — confirm details with the official link before visiting. Last verified: September 2026