Mount Tremper — The Emerson Resort Weekend in the Phoenicia–Boiceville Saddle

## Mount Tremper, On the Saddle Mount Tremper is what's between Phoenicia and Boiceville on Rt 28 — a tiny hamlet with one major resort and one Guinness-record-holding tourist novelty. The hamlet itself is small enough that most weekenders driving through don't notice they passed it. The Emerson does the heavy lifting: a destination spa, three on-site restaurants, a small shop, and the largest kaleidoscope in the world mounted in a converted dairy silo on the property. For a weekend that wants a structured spa-and-trail rhythm without having to assemble it out of Phoenicia's scattered pieces, Mount Tremper is the answer. The Emerson is the kind of resort where the weekend can have a shape — spa morning, trail afternoon, dinner reservation — without you having to do the planning. ## Where to Buy No licensed dispensary in Mount Tremper itself. The closest options: - **[Wintergreen](/dispensary/wintergreen-000003)** in Tannersville (~25 minutes via Phoenicia and Rt 23A) - **[Bud's Dispensary](/dispensary/buds-dispensary-000018)** in Catskill (the town, ~45 minutes east via Rt 28 to Rt 23) - **[HERbal](/dispensary/herbal-woodstock-000017)** in Woodstock (~30 minutes south via Bearsville) For a structured Emerson weekend, the cleanest move is to stock from Woodstock on the way in (Rt 28 east from Kingston, divert to 212 for the Woodstock route, back to 28 toward Mount Tremper). The Stewart-Airport-to-Mount-Tremper drive routes naturally through Kingston where multiple licensed retailers exist. ## The Emerson Resort The Emerson splits across two main buildings on the Esopus Creek side of Rt 28. The main lodge runs the bulk of guest rooms and the destination spa. The Emerson Inn across the property runs more rustic-traditional lodging at lower price points. The spa is the headline — full menu of treatments, multiple-day spa packages, a quiet adult-only program that pulls guests through midweek as much as weekends. Three restaurants on property: a fine-dining room, a tavern, and a casual cafe space. The fine-dining option is real (booked solid on Saturday nights in foliage season), the tavern is the easier no-reservations option, and the cafe handles breakfasts and afternoon coffee. ## The Kaleidoscope There is, in fact, a kaleidoscope on the property. It's mounted inside a converted 1903 dairy silo, holds a Guinness record (60 feet tall), and is the kind of three-minute attraction that no one expects to be impressed by and most people are. Free for resort guests; small admission for outside visitors. Bring it up at dinner. ## Trails Out the Door Mount Tremper sits in the saddle between two major hike systems. **Tremper Mountain** (2,740′) is on the Catskills 3500 list at the smaller end of the list — a 6-mile round-trip with a fire tower at the top. The trailhead is 5 minutes from the Emerson. **Phoenicia-side hikes** (Mt Tremper, Slide Ledge approaches, Esopus Creek walks) are also reachable inside 15 minutes; Big Indian's Slide-Cornell-Wittenberg system is 25 minutes west on Rt 28. Adults 21+ on a hiking morning should remember the **state-owned-land cannabis rule** — Catskill Forest Preserve is state land, the trails fall under the prohibition, the consumption stays at the resort. Pre-roll on the patio of the room before walking out. ## The Esopus Creek The creek runs along the property. In summer it's tube-and-swim water, in fall it's foliage-frame walking, in spring it runs high from snowmelt. The creek-side path lets you walk a mile down the property before you need to turn around. A reliable post-spa decompression walk. ## The Weekend Template ### Friday Arrive after the late-afternoon spa break (4–5pm). Check in. Soak. Dinner at the tavern (no reservation) or the fine-dining room (booked ahead). Quiet evening on the room patio; cannabis-aware adults 21+ pre-roll where the resort allows (room patio, designated outdoor spaces — the resort's policy varies by season; ask at check-in). ### Saturday Spa morning (book the treatment ahead). Brunch at the cafe. Trail afternoon — Tremper fire-tower if you want a peak, Esopus walk if you want flat. Spa second slot or just the room for early evening. Dinner at the fine-dining room. Late stop at the kaleidoscope if you didn't already. ### Sunday Long breakfast. Optional second walk. Drive out via Phoenicia for one stop at the Phoenicia Diner or Sweet Sue's, then home. ## Why Mount Tremper Mount Tremper is the structured-spa-weekend answer in the central Catskills. The Emerson does enough of the work that the weekend can be aimed (spa, trail, dinner) rather than assembled. The cannabis logistics require planning — Woodstock or Tannersville, your call — but the rest of the weekend takes care of itself. And the kaleidoscope, somehow, is worth the stop. Every time.