The
Catskill Mountains, also known as
the Catskills, are a large area in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of
New York. They are located approximately north-northwest of
New York City and southwest of
Albany, starting just west of the
Hudson River. The Catskills occupy much or all of five
counties (
Delaware,
Greene,
Schoharie,
Sullivan, and
Ulster), with some areas falling into the boundaries of southwestern
Albany, eastern
Broome, northwestern
Orange, and southern
Otsego counties. Foothills are also found in southeastern
Chenango, southern
Montgomery, northern
Otsego, and western
Schenectady counties. As a cultural and geographic region, the Catskills are generally defined as those areas close to or within the borders of the
Catskill Park, a
forest preserve protected from many forms of development under New York state law.