By Robin Catalano
Photo above courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House
Health-conscious visitors have flocked to the Berkshires for its fresh air, mountain views, and tranquil lakes for centuries. The region was barely a blip on the modern wellness map until the late 1980s, when giants like Kripalu, Canyon Ranch, and Cranwell (now Miraval) opened their doors.
The wellness scene has continued to flourish, with luxury juggernauts and pop-up retreats vying for health-minded travelers. Thanks to the profusion, locals don’t have to go far for a top-rate wellness getaway. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite properties within driving distance.
THE ICON
Mohonk Mountain House
New Paltz, NY | mohonk.com
Mohonk House, located in a grand Victorian castle, has four wellness weekends on its 2026 calendar, with an emphasis on nature immersion and spa treatments.
But just about any time of year, you can make a wellness retreat of your stay at the Hudson Valley icon. Start off with yoga class, then go forest bathing or hike one of 85 trails through the Shawangunks. There’s also boating, kayaking, and golf—or take a ramble through 40,000 tulips and other flowers in the property’s Victorian gardens.
As day wanes, head to the newly updated spa for a dip in either of the two pools or one of their new “sensory sanctuary” treatments, whose menu includes hydrating scalp massages and CBD-oil assisted foot and leg circulation sessions. We’ll be signing up for “Drenched in Petals and Pine,” a lovely sounding facial and hand-treatment, complete with dry brushing and massage.
In the evening, enjoy farm-to-table meals, take a leisurely soak in the heated outdoor mineral pool, and drift off to sleep in a lake- or mountain-view suite.
THE GREEN GODDESS
Omega
Rhinebeck, NY | eomega.org
Omega has a longstanding commitment to conservation and sustainability, which is obvious when strolling its 250 acres of gardens and green spaces. Although the nonprofit is only open from May 22 to October 25, it packs an educational wallop for sparking creativity, exploring spirituality, and cultivating well-being.
Instructors have included Brian Weiss, Elizabeth Gilbert, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Laura Lynne Jackson. Workshops and retreats range from reconnecting with our inner calling to sketching, journaling, healing breathwork, and meditation.
Among the 300 programs slated for 2026 are the martial-arts themed Way of the Sword, Aging Backwards for All Ages (promoting physical health through a proprietary fitness program), and Open Your World with Poetry (exploring the craft and language of the art form with Irish poet Pádraig Ó Tuama). Omega’s all-inclusive rates include a modest room or cabin; three farm-to-table meals per day; daily classes; access to the on-site library, gardens, and nature trail; and activities such as pickleball, tennis, basketball, and kayaking.
LODGE LUXE
Troutbeck
Amenia, NY | troutbeck.com
Shrouded within 250 acres of lush forest, Troutbeck is just five miles from Wassaic station, which services New York City via the Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem Line. Built in the 1700s, the property has served as a private estate, country inn, and tavern for artists, activists, naturalists, and politicians, including Teddy Roosevelt.
The current manor house was constructed in 1919 and extensively renovated in 2017. At the Wellness Barns, built in 2021, indulge in treatments like massages and facials featuring products from cult English brand Wildsmith. Or book sessions in acupuncture, infrared sauna, kinesoma (creative movement), forest bathing, sound healing, or astrology. Beyond the spa, you can hike, play tennis, and go river rafting.
Chef Vincent Gilberti’s menus highlight local products like winter chicory, black trumpet mushrooms, and Hudson Valley duck breast.
THE EDGY GETAWAY
Pocketbook Hudson
Hudson, NY | pocketbookhudson.com
Self-billed on its website as a “place to be,” this newcomer is an ambitious and art-filled 70,000-square-foot hotel in a historic 1885 textile factory. Ether, the hotel’s club space, reimagines a historic boiler room into a place for deep listening and next-level fitness sessions. Guests can join movement classes, sound baths, and sonic awareness workshops.
The Spa and Baths, opening this spring, will provide restorative treatments for face and body, inspired by global bathing traditions from Japanese Sento to Islamic hammam and Roman thermae.
THE FANCY PANTS
Belden House & Mews
Litchfield, CT | beldenhouse.com
This chic 31-room boutique hotel is set on a three-acre swath of land in tony Litchfield center. The property is spread over an 1888 mansion and its 1959 modernist addition, plus the historic brick Litchfield Firehouse. Rooms start at 400 square feet, with the three-bedroom Penthouse topping out at 2,100 square feet of cozy nooks, Frette-dressed beds, and views of the Litchfield Hills.
The new spa, Belden Bathhouse, is a design-forward oasis of glossy tiles in a palette of forest greens and warm woods. The menu is stacked with traditional body work and creative skin care treatments that incorporate Wildsmith products.
The house facial has breathwork and craniosacral holds; a body treatment for expecting mothers is called “New Life.” The spa also boasts a steam room, sauna, cold plunge, and soaking tub.
THE RUGGED REFUGE
Hinata Retreat
Charlemont | hinataretreat.com
The secluded and adults-only Hinata Retreat is the ultimate getaway. Burn some energy with off-site activities like mountain biking, ziplining, and white-water rafting. If you’re feeling less adventurous, meander around the retreat’s 750 acres.
Hinata, which means “facing the sun” in Japanese, has 30 private cabins, all of which have floor-to-ceiling windows on their eastern side. Their moody, minimalist designs include a kitchenette, sitting area with fireplace, and soaking tub. On the private deck, savor a nightcap by the fire pit, or relax in the hot tub.
Don’t skip the cocktails, both boozy and no-ABV, at Hinata’s new restaurant and lounge, The Perch. Drinks benefit from the zing of freshly squeezed juices, spices, and unexpected add-ons. Restaurateur Howard Wein’s spot is so good, you’ll probably want to plan your activities around your digestive activities. Bonus: Breakfast is delivered straight to your cabin door in the morning.
