The Catskill Creek drains the northern Catskill Mountains and enters the Hudson just south of the village, cutting a wide, slow-moving channel through low farmland before reaching the river. The confluence is one of the most scenic spots in the area — a broad wetland where herons and ospreys work the shallows, with the Catskill Mountains visible to the west.
The creek is popular with kayakers and canoeists, particularly in the calmer stretches through town. The walking path along its lower reach is an easy stroll from the village centre and gives you the Hudson River views that drew the landscape painters here in the first place. On a clear day the Olana hillside on the far bank is unmistakable.