A good rule of thumb when choosing your ultimate road trip destination: go somewhere locals say, “I can’t imagine my life anywhere else” and “I fell in love with this community on day one.”
That place is Narrowsburg — a riverfront hamlet nestled in the foothills of New York’s Catskill Mountains.
Just 2.5 hours from NYC, Narrowsburg is the kind of place where an outdoor enthusiast, foodie, history buff and treasure hunter can check every box on their bucket list within a short wander from anywhere in town.
Go float. Go Climb. Go Wild.
Ask anyone about the best part of Narrowsburg and the answer comes fast: The River. Settled on the lush banks of the Delaware, you can glimpse its famous Big Eddy from both the brewery and coffee shop windows. Whether you’re fishing, floating or taking in the view from a ridge above, life slows here to the pace of a soft summer current.
3 Outdoor Adventures Worth Getting Dirty For
1. Go For a Float: At nearby Lou’s Tubes, $6 gets you a full-day tube rental to drift the friendly rapids of Skinners Falls or meander downstream and daydream. Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals (plus guided rafting and fishing trips) are available through Lander’s River Trips.
“Within minutes of downtown Narrowsburg, you feel miles away from it and continents away from the buzz of any city. There is nothing quite like the Delaware River Valley and the rich woods that surround it.” — Tim Hoffman, Co-Owner, Bridge & Main
2. Bag a Peak: Spend a few hours or a full afternoon on the Tusten Mountain Trail, a dog-friendly pathway through the historic remnants of early settlements and out to sweeping views of the Catskill Mountains and Delaware River Valley. In winter, bring snowshoes or skis and head to nearby Holiday Mountain.
“On a bluebird summer day, there isn’t a place in the world I’d rather be than Skinners Falls. You really need to see it to believe it; one of those places where you think, ‘am I actually allowed to be here?'” — Julia Santo, Owner, Narrowsburg Proper & Proper To Go
3. Just Ramble: Narrowsburg was made for strolling. The De Mauro Trail winds through Historic Main Street before connecting to the River Flats Trail along the Delaware, both lined with informational signs and mileage markers. Cap your walk with a view of Big Eddy from the Observation Deck on Main Street.
Plates & Pints & Places to Rest
Narrowsburg may have just over 500 year-round residents, but these culture-loving locals have roots in France, Portugal and eclectic corners of the world — and yes, they brought their love of food and hospitality with them.
Where Locals & Visitors Become Neighbors
1. 2 Queens Coffee: No Narrowsburg morning is complete without a stop at 2 Queens Coffee. This sun-drenched, color-splashed slice of Catskill life is pure joy from the moment you walk in with the aroma of fresh-roasted gourmet beans and floral teas cultivated with herbs from local bees and an atmosphere that wraps around you like a warm mug.
“2 Queens is a place of absolute joy and unapologetic color where even the walls have wit. Irresistible in-house roasted coffee, herb-pollinated teas, and the most welcoming atmosphere you’ll find upstate.” — Charles Wilkin, Co-Owner, 2 Queens Coffee
2. Narrowsburg Proper & Proper To Go: The Catskills were made for hunkering in at a rustic cabin for a few days. But to do it right, you’ll need supplies. Narrowsburg Proper carries an expansive craft beer selection, NA and THC products and plenty of fun finds for people and their pups. Next door, Proper To Go offers gourmet sandwiches and ready-made meals that make dining in or on the trail easy and delicious.
3. Bridge & Main: Newly opened on Main Street, Bridge & Main is a lunch, brunch, dinner and drinks spot where you might just order every app on the menu and call it a meal. Because honestly? That’s a win. So are the chef-crafted entrées and specialty cocktails. Try the Bee’s Knees.
4. Blue Fox Motel: To call the Blue Fox simply a motel would be like calling NYC just a city. This gem of Upstate New York brings a rustic boutique sensibility to the Catskills hospitality experience — pool, pickleball, a bar by both and a world-class restaurant helmed by Jorge Neves, who grew up among the wine country of Portugal, built a food culture in Manhattan and brought it all to Narrowsburg in 2020.
“Blue Fox is a reflection of the Narrowsburg community, a place where locals and visitors come together to relax, laugh, and make memories. When thousands of acres of fun are at your doorstep, we made our little entryway match the neighborhood where the only traffic is deer.” — Meg Sullivan, Co-Owner, Blue Fox Motel
Art Walks & History Talks
Narrowsburg’s character lives in the balance of its progressive community spirit and its rich colonial past. Here, a historic fort is an interactive story, art comes alive through plein air painters and film festivals and every shop is a gallery in its own Catskill way.
4 Places to Wander & Wonder
1. Fort Delaware Museum: Step back to 1754, when the Delaware Company Pioneers were settling in the Upper Delaware Valley. This hands-on museum transforms visitors into wilderness settlers, with a working blacksmith shop, lumber mill, candle-making shed and other authentic period exhibits.
“Experiencing the history of Narrowsburg is much like experiencing the Catskills themselves — slower, at your own pace. Fort Delaware allows for independent discovery. It’s a symbiotic relationship with a place that continues to give.” — John Conway, President, The Delaware Company
2. Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct: It’s not the Brooklyn Bridge, but it was designed by the same visionary who built it. John A. Roebling’s suspension bridge spanning the Delaware remains the oldest existing wire suspension bridge in the United States. A stunning piece of American history.
3. Upper Delaware Scenic Byway: This scenic drive is beautiful in every season but fall turns transcendent. The valley erupts in deep oranges, yellows and reds. By car, motorcycle or bicycle, rolling among the treetops is one of those experiences that stays with you.
4. Delaware Valley Arts Alliance: The cultural anchor of Narrowsburg since 1976, the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance has been cultivating exhibitions, celebrations and arts festivals for decades. Events like the Big Eddy Film Fest and Riverfest are must-do moments for locals and visitors alike.
“The reason Charles and I moved to Narrowsburg is 100% the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. It created a life and vibrance that has only grown — and continues to get better every year.” — Martin Higgins, Co-Owner, 2 Queens Coffee
Dream It & Do It
Stop clicking. Start living.
Reading about Narrowsburg’s postcard-perfect Main Street isn’t the same as stepping into a shop and discovering hand-crafted treasures. Scrolling images of Big Eddy will never feel like floating in it. Browsing menus from afar will never taste like a Bridge & Main appetizer when you’re actually there.
Pack your bag with intention. Unpack it with wonder.
Start your Sullivan Catskills story today.
And don’t worry if you miss something the first time around. Narrowsburg is the kind of place where people look after each other — visitors included. Just ask Charles, Meg or Martin. They were visitors once, too. Now they can’t imagine their lives happening anywhere but here.