The Catskill Mountains are located in New York State, approximately 100 miles northwest of New York City. Encompassing six and a half counties, and over 6,000 square miles of mountains, forests, rivers, and farmland, the Catskills are often referred to as America's First Wilderness because scholars trace the beginnings of the environmental conservation movement to this beautiful area. With almost three dozen mountain peaks over 3,500 feet in elevation and six major river systems, the Catskills are an ecological resource of significant importance.

Pure air and water, rich farmland, parks and forests, clear-flowing streams, cascading waterfalls, grand panoramic views, and historic villages characterize the Catskills. Long renowned as a prime vacation destination, the Catskills offer a variety of recreational opportunities including hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, camping, biking, rock and ice climbing, canoeing, fishing, hunting, bird-watching, or just plain rubber-necking.

The Catskills embrace over 700,000 acres of parkland contained in the State-designated Catskill Park, over a quarter of a million acres of which are designated as forever wild forest which make up the Catskill Forest Preserve.

The Catskill Park was established by the NYS Legislature in 1904, and encompasses an area of Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties in which state-owned or acquired lands were classified as forever wild Forest Preserve. The Catskill Park is a checkerboard of public and privately-owned lands. While the percentages change when the State acquires new land, the ratio of private to public is about two to one -- the state owns over one-third of the land within the park boundaries, and the balance is privately owned. These State-owned lands within the "blue line" boundary of the Catskill Park are designated as the Catskill Forest Preserve, and the New York State Constitution requires that these lands be forever kept as wild forest.

Over the century since it was first established, the Catskill Forest Preserve has grown from its original 33,894 acres to its current total of over 287,000 acres, and now constitutes over 40 percent of the total area of the Catskill Park. The Forest Preserve encompasses the highest mountains in the Catskills, including many of the 35 peaks over 3,500 feet in elevation. The State of New York continues to acquire land within the Catskill Park to add to its Forest Preserve holdings, with the goal of preserving lands of critical ecological importance to the Catskill Mountain region. As part of the Center's Land Protection Program, the Center purchases, holds, and conveys key parcels to the State for inclusion in the Catskill Forest Preserve.

2004 marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Catskill Park. To celebrate this occasion, a Catskill Park Centennial Committee has formed and scheduled events to help celebrate this special year. To learn more visit their web site The Catskill Park Centennial