Ulster County Voyage Tips and guide

Ulster County is in New York's Catskills region.

Map of Ulster County

• 41.716944-74.3933331 Ellenville
• 41.7744-74.29752 Kerhonkson
• 41.925-743 Kingston
• 41.75-74.08334 New Paltz
• 41.631944-73.9841675 Marlborough and Milton
• 42.07759-73.952916 Saugerties
• 42.042778-74.11757 Woodstock

Ulster County is located in the humid continental climate zone and has cold, snowy winters, and hot, wet summers; the county experiences four distinct seasons. Snowfall is significant. Ulster County is close enough to the Atlantic coast to receive heavy snow from Nor'easters and the county occasionally receives Alberta clippers. Winters can be very cold with fluctuating conditions. Summers in Ulster County can contain stretches of excessive heat and humidity.

• Ulster County website

• Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, Newburgh/New Windsor, +1 845 564-2100. The closest major airport. Allegiant Air, American Eagle, and JetBlue operate flights from Florida and Philadelphia (Mar 2021). A bus connection to Ulster County may be available with Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT).
• Westchester County Airport, 240 Airport Road, White Plains, +1 914-995-4860 (airlines). Several counties away, but an alternative to the congestion of the 3 major international airports around New York City. Rental cars available.
• Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport: Livery cars offer service to and from 3 major international airports. Amtrak offer rail links to Rhinebeck, across the river from Kingston.

Common access routes are:

From north and south: I-87 (New York State Thruway) Exits 18 (New Paltz) & 19 (Kingston).

From west: NY-52 from Liberty and NY-28 from Margaretville.

From east: NY-199 across the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge from Red Hook and NY-44/55 across the Mid-Hudson Bridge from Poughkeepsie

There is no direct rail service to Ulster County, but a UCAT bus (bicycles carried) connects Rosendale, New Paltz, and Highland to the Poughkeepsie train station, served by Metro-North and Amtrak, across the river in Dutchess County. The bus schedule coordinates with specific Metro-North arrivals from and departures to New York City.

• Shortline-Coach USA, toll-free: +1-800-631-8405. Shortline Bus Line-Coach USA offers three bus trips daily between New York City and some mountain towns in Ulster County, such as Ellenville, Kerhonkson, and Monticello. Other ground transportation will be needed once inside the county. 
• Pine Hill Trailways, New Paltz, toll-free: +1-800-776-7548. Trailways offers several bus trips daily between New York City or Albany and New Paltz or Kingston. Ground transportation will be needed from the bus terminal to your final destination. A connection may be available with Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT). 

In most cases, a car is necessary to get around Ulster County. However, there is limited bus service, operated by UCAT, from Kingston to outlying areas. Taxis can be summoned by phone in all towns.

• Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT), ☏ +1 845 340-3333. UCAT offers bus service inside Ulster County, and connects the larger towns and villages within the County. Check the website for the exact schedule and details. 

• Minnewaska State Park Reserve, 5281 Route 44-55, ☏ +1 845 255-0753. The State Park Reserve includes birds of forest habitat including breeding northern saw-whet owl, black-and-white warbler, black-throated blue warbler, Canada warbler, eastern wood-pewee, northern flicker and scarlet tanager; and breeding shrub/scrub species eastern towhee, field sparrow, gray catbird, indigo bunting and prairie warbler. Species at risk include a pair of peregrine falcons (endangered) that nest on the cliff face. 

Belleayre Mountain is a state-run ski resort in the heart of the Catskills. Wide array of trails, and compared to the other large mountains in the region (e.g. Windham, Hunter), Belleayre is less expensive.

Some of the best climbs and hikes in the northeast are at the Shawangunk Mountains, also known as the "Gunks". You can get a day pass from Mohonk Preserve to access their private acreage near New Paltz, or visit nearby Minnewaska State Park Preserve.

Visit the Kingston farmers market every Sa 10AM-2PM Wall Street Kingston from the end of May until the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Annual and seasonal, a grower-producer market. Also consider stopping at one of several seasonal road-side farm stands, or some villages' smaller farmers markets.

Local festivals are also worth visiting. The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in Saugerties and the Ulster County Fair are must-attend if you are visiting at the right time.

Live music can be readily found in many restaurants, bars, and cafes. However, some excellent venues for live music are The Falcon in Marlboro, and the Bearsville Theater and The Colony in Woodstock.

You could also choose to volunteer at a soup kitchen. Homelessness and poverty in the Hudson Valley is under-discussed, but rising home prices have made living difficult for many residents. The Queens Galley soup kitchen at 254 Washington Ave, Kingston is the only soup kitchen in Ulster County to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Volunteers are welcome 7:15AM-7PM and can call ahead to arrange their schedule at ☏ +1-845-338-3468.

Ulster County's cuisine benefits from being one of America's oldest fruit-producing regions, its proximity to the Culinary Institute of America, and waves of Hispanic and Caribbean immigration. The history of fruit cultivation runs deep—Apples such as the Esopus Spitzenberg and Jonathan were first grown in Ulster County, and southern town Marlboro is home to Benmarl Winery, which has been growing grapes since at least 1878, making it the oldest continuously operating vineyard in the US. Additionally, Jamaican and Latin American migrant laborers have been traveling to and making their homes in Ulster County for decades, augmenting older groups of Italian and Dutch families to produce a global culinary landscape.

Visitors to Ulster County would do well to visit some of its many wineries, cider houses, distilleries, and breweries; enjoy fall fruits from local farm-stands and pick-your-own orchards; or eat at one of hundreds of excellent locally-owned restaurants. See individual city pages for detailed listings.

Call ☏ 911 for any emergencies. Visitors participating in outdoors activities should be aware of how to contact local park rangers or resort staff.

Road hazards include many deer and wet/snowy roads, especially in rural areas. Take caution.

Wildfires are rare but do happen. Be aware of potential burn bans in effect during summer months.

Storms often include high winds and can feature a lot of rain or snow. Be aware of potential flooding, road closures, and power outages during summer or winter storms.

Crime rates in Ulster County are relatively low, and locals are generally friendly and helpful, particularly in smaller towns. However, always practice situational awareness, particularly at night in unfamiliar areas.

Cellular signal is spotty west of the Thruway but can be found around some of the larger towns and generally outside of the Catskill Park region.

Area Code is 845

In addition to relatively nearby New York City, there are other places in Upstate New York that are worth visiting. As a part of the overall Hudson Valley region, destinations near Ulster County include Albany and the Capital District due north; Poughkeepsie, Beacon, and other places in Dutchess County due east; Newburgh and the rest of Orange County (New York) due south; and the rest of the Catskills due west.