Narrowsburg is the Catskills river town that NYC people quietly discovered ten years ago. About 45 minutes from the cabin, on the New York side of the Upper Delaware. A walkable Main Street, a riverside theater, a restaurant scene that punches well above its 400-person population, and one of the best stretches of the Delaware for tubing and kayaking, ten minutes south at Skinners Falls. If you want a day that feels like the Catskills proper without driving to Roscoe, this is the trip.
The town, in 90 seconds.
Population around 400 in the hamlet. The town of Tusten, which contains Narrowsburg, runs about 1,400. The name comes from the river: this is the narrowest, deepest point on the Delaware, about 113 feet at the bottom. The town grew up around the rail line and lumber industry in the 1800s and got rediscovered by Brooklyn weekenders in the 2010s. The walkable Main Street is the result of that second wave: art galleries, a vintage movie theater, three real restaurants, and a small but reliable shopping stretch. None of it is bigger than it needs to be.
From the cabin, take 191 north into Hancock, then NY-97 south along the river. About 45 minutes. The drive itself is part of the appeal: the road tracks the Delaware the whole way and the river views are constant.
Where to eat in Narrowsburg.
- The Heron, 40 Main Street, is the headline restaurant. Chef-owned, seasonal menu, river deck in summer. The kind of place that shows up on Brooklyn weekenders' Instagram. Reservations required Friday and Saturday, recommended any other night. The best meal within 45 minutes.
- The Laundrette, 20 5th Street, is a wood-fired sourdough pizza spot with Delaware River views from the deck. Order the margherita and a salad and you're done. Family-friendly, walk-in friendly.
- The Tusten Cup, 8 Main Street, is the morning anchor. Breakfast staples, real coffee, the front-porch seat is the one to grab.
- 2 Queens Coffee, on Kirks Road just off Main, for afternoon coffee and pastries.
- The Narrowsburg Inn & Grille, the historic inn on Main, has a tavern that serves a working pub menu. Less buzzy than The Heron, more reliable for a casual dinner.
The river, and Skinners Falls.
Ten minutes south of Narrowsburg, the Delaware turns at Skinners Falls, which is the most famous Class II rapid on the Upper Delaware. Not a waterfall, despite the name. A long shallow rapid that's popular for tubing, rafting, and kayaking from June through September.
Lander's River Trips, headquartered in Narrowsburg, is the operator most people use. They rent tubes, rafts, canoes, and kayaks with shuttle service back to your car. Half-day trips, full-day trips, multi-day camp-and-paddle options. Best on a hot summer weekday; weekends get crowded at the launch sites.
For winter, the same stretch of river is one of the better spots in the Northeast for bald eagle watching. The Delaware has a resident eagle population that grows in winter when birds come down from Canada. The bridge in Narrowsburg has decent viewing; Skinners Falls is better.
Arts and the Tusten Theatre, the cultural side.
The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance runs out of Narrowsburg and produces a full calendar of theater, music, film, and visual art at the Tusten Theatre, a restored 1928 movie house on Main Street. Worth checking the calendar before you visit: there's almost always something on Friday or Saturday night.
The big calendar event is the Big Eddy Film Festival every September, which has been running for over twenty years and brings in real independent films. Tickets are easy to get and the weekend overlaps nicely with the start of fall color.
Mildred's Lane, an art community just outside town, hosts occasional open houses, art shows, and bonfires. Their schedule is irregular but worth a look.
Drive times from Narrowsburg.
- To the cabin: 45 minutes
- To Hancock, NY: 25 minutes (north on 97)
- To Callicoon, NY: 15 minutes (north on 97)
- To Bethel Woods: 25 minutes
- To NYC: 2.5 hours
For the broader area, the Callicoon guide covers the next river town up. The Bethel Woods guide is 25 minutes inland.
Where to stay.
If you're reading this and not yet booked, here's the quick pitch: the better stay for couples and small groups is a private cabin on a quiet lake within an hour of here. Three bedrooms, private dock, paddle boards, a kayak, a row boat, and a fire pit. About 3 hours from NYC. 4.86 stars on Airbnb, Guest Favorite. See it on Airbnb, or check availability and ask a question first.
