DELHI — A new kind of map will guide visitors through the Catskills this spring — one marked not by peaks and trails, but by shelves and stories.
The first Catskills Book Trail, an independent bookstore crawl spanning from Woodstock to Walton, will launch April 25, inviting readers to travel between 13 locally owned shops across the region. Timed to coincide with Independent Bookstore Day, the trail blends tourism with a celebration of small businesses often at the center of their communities.
Participants can pick up a “passport” at any of the participating bookstores or select sponsor locations, collecting stamps at each stop. Those who visit at least 12 stores will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a $25 gift card to every shop on the trail.
The event will open with bookstore-specific programming, including giveaways and promotions, with some locations offering the chance to win a year’s supply of audiobooks. The trail continues through Mother’s Day on May 10, a stretch organizers say is designed to encourage a slower, scenic exploration of the region.
The participating bookstores reflect the diversity of the Catskills’ literary culture — from the rare and antiquarian to the communal and contemporary.
In Hobart, often referred to as a “book village,” several shops anchor the trail, including Blenheim Hill Books, Creative Corner Books and Wm. H. Adams’ Antiquarian Books, known for its three floors of used and rare titles.
Elsewhere, stores like The Golden Notebook, a longtime fixture of the region’s literary scene, and The Lost Bookshop offer more contemporary selections, while Diamond Hollow Books focuses on art, architecture and the natural world.
In Stamford, LionEyesBooks curates titles centered on philosophy and the arts, and in Roscoe, The Hound Books emphasizes independent voices and vintage finds.
The trail also includes hybrid spaces like The Common Good, which combines books with food and gathering space, and family-oriented stops such as Ratty Books, known for children’s programming and events.
For one day only, a mobile children’s bookstore, The Dragon Wagon, will appear in Walton, offering free books to young readers.
Organizers say the goal is not only to drive foot traffic, but to connect readers with the independent shops that continue to shape the cultural identity of the Catskills.
Full details, including hours and a trail map, are available at catskillsbooktrail.com
