Activities in Rockland, New York
- Fly fishing is a popular activity in Rockland, New York.fly fishing image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
Located in Southeastern New York, the town of Rockland sits surrounded by Catskill Park, a 286,000-acre forest preserve. Rockland encompasses a number of small villages and hamlets; however, the town's total population, as of 2009, is only 3,835. Nevertheless, Rockland attractions provide a variety of activity options, especially outdoor activities. - One of the most popular activities in Rockland, fishing attracts visitors from all over each year. In fact, the Rockland hamlet of Roscoe bears the nickname, "Trout Town USA," claiming to be the home of the invention of dry fly fishing. The area is home to a number of famous fishing areas, like Junction Pool and Willowemoc Creek, and the town is lined with fishing shops. The Beaverkill Campground, in Roscoe, provides camping space and access to the popular Beaverkill River, where anglers can catch brown trout and brook trout. And the Mongaup Pond Campground, in the Rockland hamlet of Livingston Manor, contains public restrooms, swimming areas, 163 trailer-and-tent sites and a 120-acre "pond," filled with brook trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, yellow bullhead, pumpkinseed, creek chub, chain pickerel and golden shiner. In addition to these local spots, Catskill Park contains a variety of other streams, lakes and ponds, filled with both naturally occurring and stocked fish.
- Hiking and biking are both quite popular activities in Rockland. And since the town sits at the edge of a giant forest preserve, Rockland abounds in hiking and mountain-biking opportunities. The Mongaup Pond Campground, alone, has an intricate system of hiking and biking trails, and park employees even lead seasonal nature hikes. Home of the Mountain Bike UCI 2010 World Cup, Catskill Park contains some of the most extensive and challenging trails in the state.
- Despite such a small population, Rockland is home to a surprisingly large number of entertainment events. During the summer, Livingston Manor hosts the Shandelee Music Festival, a classical-concert series that takes place outdoors, at sunset. In addition, the town hosts a large, fishing-themed festival, the Annual Summerfest, Angler's Market, and the Jubilee Festival. For the Fourth of July, Rockland's Independence Day Parade and Festival provides brings together entertainment, barbecue and fireworks. Fishing competitions, fairs and auction-dinners are also regular events in Rockland.
- Many visitors to Rockland find themselves exploring the different art galleries and museums in town. In fact, many of the buildings are historical exhibits, in and of themselves. Home to the Catskill Art Society, Livingston Manor, alone, hosts a number of art exhibits each month. Rockland is also home to the Roscoe O&W Railway Museum, Drawing Room Gallery and the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
