Ditch Your Phone And Get Out(side). No Matter The Weather, There’s Plenty To Do Outdoors In Upstate NY
In Upstate New York, we live our lives outside. And we don’t let the weather hold us back. In fact, we laugh at the weather.
Rain? Grab an umbrella and go looking for rainbows–or salamanders. Snow? Snowmen, snow angels and snowshoeing. The sun? We live for the long days of summer sun. No matter what it’s doing outside, there's plenty for families to do away from the pull of TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
In Upstate NY and Schoharie County, there’s no reason to stay inside—even in winter weather like this.
New York State’s outdoor enthusiasts have created the Get Offline, Get Outside Challenge, 50 kid-focused activities to pick and choose from all across Upstate New York, from the Catskills to the Adirondacks, from Albany to Niagara Falls. Find the complete list of possibilities.
To help, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite local spots to Get Offline, Get Outside. Are you up to the challenge? If so, read on.
New York State’s outdoor enthusiasts have created a list of family-friendly activities to get families off their phones. Here are our Schoharie County-area picks.
Learn to fish. Best bet(s):
Looking Glass Pond, and Mallet Pond, both in Fulton. Ice fishing is also permitted at both places.
Want to learn about winter fishing? DEC has a video and more here. Make sure to get a license if you’re 16 or older.
Go fish. Upstate New York and Schoharie County are rich with on-the-water possibilities.
Pitch a tent. Best bet(s):
Max Shaul State Park in Fultonham — 30 wooded tent and trailer sites with a nature and hiking trail and playing fields. Or…even your backyard.
New to camping? Check out DEC’s free First Time Camper Program. Many DEC Campgrounds also include Day Use Areas with picnic spots and grills. Find a Day Use Area location wherever you are.
Can you identify 3 animals by their tracks? Or 4 birds by their vocalizations? 5 trees? 6 wildflowers? Best bet for all four:
Landis Arboretum in Esperance — 15 miles of trails and hundreds of acres of open space open dawn to dusk for hiking, walking, cross-country skiing and biking. (There’s even a Bluebird Trail.)
Check out your local library or bookstore for field guides and books. Some recommendations include:
Tracking & the Art of Seeing by Paul Rezendes
A Beginner’s Guide to Recognizing Trees of the Northeast by Mark Mikolas
Field Guide to Wildflowers: Northeastern and North-Central North America: Peterson Field Guide by Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret McKenny
With a field guide, it’s easy to ID our feathered friends (like these tree swallows, checking out nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum, the perfect spot for almost everything on the Get Out list.
Go for a bike ride. Best bet(s):
Not gonna lie, the Empire State Trail — 750-miles of mostly paved, beginner-friendly access that crosses Upstate New York, from Buffalo to Albany. Pick it up in Canajoharie, Fort Plain, or Amsterdam.
Looking for something a little more rural? Check out the Catskill Rail Trail, 26 miles on a former railroad line you can pick up in Stamford that winds on the backside of farm fields and along the Delaware River. Both trails are also open to hiking, horses, and snowmobiling.
Try a new hiking trail or nature walk. Best bet(s):
Vroman’s Nose in Middleburgh for a killer view of the Schoharie Valley (and where Revolutionary War hero Tim Murphy made his historic leap), and the year-old Settles Mountain Nature Preserve in Cobleskill.
The 358-mile Long Trail, which gets its start at the George Washington Bridge in New York City also runs through the Schoharie Valley.
Use the DEC info Locator to find more trails or visit the NYS Birding Trail map for more ideas on great places for nature walks.
Take the dogs, take the kids, take a hike. Better yet, bring your bike.
Find a fossil. Best bet:
Exposed road cuts and stream beds. And right under your feet. You can get help identifying your fossil find here: Fossil ID.
And if you really want to see fossils, check out some of the world’s oldest fossils from Gilboa's Devonian Forest at the Gilboa Museum and outside the Town Hall.
Try archery. Or hunting. Learn about hunter safety. Best bet for advice–or a mentor:
The Schoharie County Conservation Association is there to help. (The SCCA can also connect you with hiking and snowmobiling clubs and you can sign up for their free newsletter.)
Learn how to use a compass and map. Best bet:
Anywhere. Even inside.
Check out these How to Use a Compass tips from the American Hiking Society.
Watch this How to Read a Topographic Map video by the Appalachian Trail Club.
Review L ost in the Woods tips for staying safe when finding your way.
Check out DEC’s compilation of maps you can download or print.
Mine Kill State Park is one of Upstate NY’s most popular spots—and it’s right here in Schoharie County. Photo credit NYSDEC.
And finally… Identify 3 constellations in the night sky. Best bet:
Anywhere away from lights. It might just be your own backyard.
Helpful books:
Night Sky: A Field Guide to the Constellations by Jonathan Poppele
Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. Davis
The Stars: A New Way to See Them by H. A. Rey
There are plenty more ideas for kid- and family outdoor fun at www.dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/get-offline-get-outside and no better place to try them out than Upstate NY and Schoharie County. Get Offline. Get Outside.
