Best Hikes in New York: An Ultimate Guide
Before we get into the best hikes in New York, I have to be brutally honest with you, I don’t remember my first hike, and growing up I wasn’t even the “active type”. On the contrary, I loved to eat sweets and hated all kinds of sports. When I was 8, my older sister played club soccer and I was their unofficial, official manager who sorted out their paperwork.
To think an 8-year-old didn’t want to run around kicking a ball was beside me, but I got somewhat fit through dancing. I’ll admit I was dainty. I mean lazy also. When you ask a 5-year-old what the highlight of their Disney trip is, you don’t think kids would answer, “being pushed around in the carriage”. Now you know the type of kid I was. So now let’s envision this girl going on a hike or anything outdoorsy in the slightest, yeah I would rather not have that embedded in my head either. No wonder I don’t remember, I probably forced it out of my memory! So how did I end up where I am now? The answer is simple actually, going to school in a little town called New Paltz.
Best Hikes in New York: 40min – 1hr Drive Hikes from NYC
Let’s face it, not everyone can dedicate a 2 hour car ride. I don’t care what the place is, sometimes you just want to get out of the city and not have to spend a fortune on gas and tolls. Here are three of the best hikes in new york that you’ll recommend to EVERYONE! Trust me there are a few more on the list for me to try, but until I get out there and hike it myself, I don’t know if it would be something I would recommend so hang tight, and let’s get to hiking these three amazing mountains and then when you finished those you can bug me to write a review on the others that I had in mind.
1. Palisades State Park
This is a fun family hike that everyone can enjoy! What’s the best part of it, is that’s only a 40-minute drive north of The Brooklyn Bridge! My family loves going here, because of its close proximity. This is a part of our annual Father’s Day Hike and we love how convenient it is. I don’t remember exactly which hike we did, but there are a few trails to choose from. My family and I hiked the White Shore and Long Path Loop Trail and it was pretty hard not going to lie. My dad at the time recently got knee surgery and my little sister was six at the time they were both super strong for sticking through it and did not complain one bit!
2. Harriman State Park
I went on this hike over the summer with two of my sisters and it was so much fun. It was only a roughly hour drive from where we lived so it was for sure a keep in our eyes. If you are from NYC or the surrounding area, I would highly recommend this post just for the sole reason that it is near home. We went when there was a slight chance of rain and it ended up drizzling a bit! The hike wasn’t too long and the views were pretty fun! We ended up finding a cool swimming hole that I don’t think we are allowed to swim in so please do it at your own risk!
Are you looking to take your hiking game to the next level? Trust me, I was wary too at first but if you have gone hiking at least three times, I am telling you investing in a pair of hiking boots is SOO WORTH IT!! I bought these over a year ago and fell in love. In short, they doubled up as hiking and snow boots that are durable, comfortable, sturdy, and waterproof that is perfect for any muddy hike and snowball fight, hey they’re even good in a rainstorm for that matter! Curious to get the whole review? Check it out here and trust me, you will be in for a long one because they’re just that good!
3. Mount Tammy
Talk about the bike hikes in New York! This is a great hike with a beautiful view of the Delaware Water Gap! The hike is pretty short if you start directly out of the parking lot, but if you want to have a longer hike, take the Dunnfield Path and you even find some amazing swimming holes. It’s only an hour from NYC so what are you waiting for? I would probably start the Dunnfield path because you would get a better view of the mountain without the shaded spot! Ultimately it ended up being a longer hike and I got lost at some point (surprise haha) so just make sure that you download the trail map beforehand so that you can see it without needing service!
Best Hikes in New York: 2 Hour Drive from NYC
So now we are cutting into the 2-hour driving mark which means that in order to have a successful hiking day, it’s recommended to wake up early and be at the mountains by 8:00/9 depending on when the parking lots are open. For me, I have always experienced better hikes when we leave really early because that way when you get home, you still have time to relax and settle down before eating dinner and later getting some of the best sleep of your life! As we cut into the 2-hour drive mark, you also find the better hiking options, in my opinion, but I’ll let you be the judge of that!
4. Overlook Mountain
This is the first hike that I remember going on when I started college here at SUNY New Paltz and it’s a keeper. You get to enjoy an 8-mile hike (there and back) in the heart of Woodstock with great views overlooking the Hudson Valley. While you’re on this hike, you get to see an abandoned luxury hotel and free parking, what’s not to like!
5. Peekamoose Mountain
Another great but treacherous hike, we have Peekamoose Mountain, a staggering 20 miles hike with breathtaking views. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to the top because it was so hard! This mountain is very steep, but an added benefit is that you’re in the shade the entire time. We went in the summertime so the flies were crazy, so definitely pack some bug spray just in case. Another positive is that we were allowed to bring a dog! He always gets so upset when we leave, so this was the perfect compromise, he just had to work a little bit! There is also a really cool swimming hole nearby that’s worth checking out. Make sure you get a permit in advance and just remember that parking is free!
6. Lemon Squeeze
So this was one of my favorite hikes because it’s at the iconic Mohonk Mountain House. If you’re a fan of Stephen King’s, “The Shining”, you’re in for a surprise because he got his inspiration from the very own Mountain House! Exciting right? Look around the hotel and you’ll find its eerie ambiance similar to the movie itself. But back to the hike. This is a more difficult hike with views from the Skytower. It’s a 7.9-mile hike that also incorporates some rock scrambling! Enjoy breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley. Trust me on this one, YOU HAVE TO DO IT. I have already gone twice and I cannot wait to continue the tradition with my New Paltz pals! Price: $15 per person
Did you know that six states can be seen at the top of the Sky Top Tower on a clear day?
Here they are: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Courtesy of Mr. Local History
Best Hikes In New York: 7-12 Minnewaska State Park
So if you don’t want to pay Mohonk prices, Minnewaska is your place to go. For only $10 parking per car, you get access to over 35 hikes. Make sure you get here early if you are going on Weekends because it gets super crowded. The parking lot opens at 9, but at 8:30, there’s already a line wrapped around the interstate. These are some of my favorite hikes from Minnewaska, and a must-see for all!
7.Awosting Falls Trail (Minnewaska State Park)
A light 1.4 mile hike leads you to this precious gem! Swipe the photo to see the Awosting Falls viewpoint turn from its classic Summer green into the break-taking Fall foliage!
8. Mossy Glen Trail (Minnewaska State Park)
A relaxing 1.7 mile hike with beautiful views of the Hudson Valley. If you’re lucky, you might even see hawks flying above looking for prey!
9. Castle Point Trail (Minnewaska State Park)
One of the guides actually recommended this hike to us. I really wanted to go to Gertrude’s Nose so badly, but he said this trail was way better and now I know why!
10. High Peters Kill (Minnewaska State Park)
A scenic hike through the Hudson Valley that will leave you wanting more. On the other side of Mossy Glen, you get great views of those hungry hawks!
11. Bonticou Craig
So I went night hiking here and it was one of the coolest experiences ever. We each got headlights from the Outing Club at my university and then went stargazing. I have never seen as many stars as I did that night in my life. With all of the light pollution in the city, it is truly impossible to see the stars well. This was my first rock scramble and helped me fall in love with hiking! The second time I went here, it was for sunrise and we got to spend a beautiful morning watching the sun hit the leaves that were just beginning to change its leaves!
12. Gertrude’s Nose
To preface this, I did not have the best experience, but this is one of the best hikes in New York (As recommended on all of Google). In fact, I got hurt on this hike and wanted to stress that if it’s raining do not go hiking, and if you choose to still go, take precautions and wear spikes.
Another thing to keep in mind is to always bring a first aid kit for circumstances where you end up like me and slip and get a huge gash in your knee. I think this was a sign because I had been trying to find this hike for some time now and the first time I got lost and even when I went this time, I was lost again. In my mind, since I am very superstitious & maybe it’s my fault for not seeing the signs. Other than that, we saw some amazing views and got a great glimpse of the fall foliage.
2.5 Hour Drive
So now you’re at the 2.5-hour drive mark and to me, this is where you get more local options. Skip the tourist traps and hike like a local with these two awesome trails!
Best Hikes In New York | 13-16: The Catskills
13. Artist’s Rock
This was such an easy hike that took my friend and I less than an hour to get to the top which is why it’s on my list for the best hikes in New York. It’s a hidden gem in the Catskills with a fantastic view, I mean look at these photos! Artists Rock was a pretty short hike, so we decided to go all the way up to the top of Newman’s Ledge. Parking is $10. It’s not a loop hike so pretty much that means when you are finished and reach the top of the mountain, you descend the same way you came from and go back the same way you came from as well!
14. Hunter Mountain
Just to start this off, I was so shocked to see Hunter Mountain during the Summer. I usually ski around these mountains and I was like “WHAT, THERE’S NO SNOW?”. It felt like a huge culture shock for me! I went on a mini backpacking trip with my good friend Allie throughout the Catskills so this was just one portion of the hike that we did but we managed to do a few trails that were so fun!! This was such a fun hike to go on and to sit on the ski lift in the summer blew me away! Without boring you too much, let’s give it up for Hunter Mountain and the infamous Devil’s Path hiking trail that we did!
15. Indian Head in the Catskills
I am going to be 1000% percent honest (always be honest LOL), I have no recollection of what hike this was but all I know was that we could not finish it was because it was that hard. I mean to start things off, the Catskills are NO JOKE. This isn’t Minnewaska anymore. I am telling you, once you go past the 2.5 hour hike, it’s no longer the cute touristy hikes that you go just to take a picture. No man, this is the real thing!!
16. Kaaterskill Falls
Now this hike in the Catskills is SUPER touristy, but it’s also BREATHTAKING. I went twice already and got to see the beautiful fall foliage which I never shut up about. There are beautiful trails nearby that cater to different levels of difficulty. When I went, there were lots of families and kids proving it’s not as difficult as the rest of the trails are in the Catskills.
17. Bash Bish / Sunset Rock
Breathtaking views of the waterfalls, I mean so beautiful beyond words. Yes, the water is just as blue and clear as in the photo. The walk to the waterfall was really short, so we decided to do another hike to see a better view from the top of the mountain.
Best Hikes in New York: 3.5+ Hour Drive: Adirondacks
Hikes like these require you to leave at the buttcrack of dawn, but also to consider staying for the weekend! Check out my post on how to spend the best weekend in the Adirondacks! https://thebrooklyniteabroad.com/upstate-getaway-adirondack-mountains/
Mount Phelps
If you’re like me and love to hike and take in some fresh air in the mountains, then you have to visit this mountain. This has recently become one of my favorite hikes for its difficult terrain and rewarding views. It might be lower on the list of the best hikes in New York, but that’s because I can’t put all my top ones at the beginning. True blog supporters will come across this one and enjoy everything it has to offer. To preface, these are not easy hikes. If you are unsure of which hikes to do at your level, they have a guest center right by the parking lot where you can ask the workers and get their expert opinion.
Tips for Hiking Mount Phelps
It’s recommended to bring headlamps if you’re starting your hike late in the day and check for the weather since you might have to bring a rain jacket. We didn’t prep too much so thankfully we got some neat stuff at the store, but overall we did remember food and water which is the most important part! Staying hydrated and fed is key to surviving the long hikes.
I’d recommend saving the hike you’d want to climb on All Trails, the hiking app that I swear by for getting recommendations and directions to the mountain. If you subscribe to their monthly service, you can download offline maps which could really save you from getting lost. Another hack is to leave the window open so that even if you don’t have service the map still works! I’d do a test try before just to make sure, but it worked for me & really saved us so much time.
Our Story
While hiking, every mile felt like 5,000 so I mean it when I say bring lots of snacks & water. As anticipated, the views are to die for. Be careful of the cliffs. If you stand too close, you might slip and it’s not worth your life for an Instagram photo.
Based on our experience, we ended up starting our hike really late (around 1pm)- please do not do this! I almost had a heart attack hiking in *almost* pitch black (thanks to my handy headlamp) for AN HOUR!! I never walked that fast. Let’s just say getting home and taking a nice hot shower was so REWARDING!! Cannot express enough how much our clothes smelt from the rain, but hey, we have some crazy memories to add to the book!
Indian Head
If you’re in the market to stay an extra day, then you have to try this hike. It’s one of those bucket list excursions that’ll really make you have such a great appreciation for the outdoors & nature. In true Brooklynite Abroad fashion, we started the hike a little later than expected & it turned out to be amazing since we got to see the views just before sundown. The reservation system was all booked up but we still managed to get in thanks to a couple who were members of the ADK mountain club. The hike wasn’t too hard. I’d just be careful that you don’t get lost since the tree markings aren’t always super visible.
So There You Have It!
Here’s your ultimate guide to the best hikes in New York. I must say, after going to school here for over 3 years, hiking has been one of the best experiences. I have learned so much about myself. From pushing my limits to feeding my passions for the outdoors and travel. If you are new to hiking and want to get more experience, this is the guide for you because trust me, at one point I was in the same position as you guys.
Being more experienced I can tell you that it’s a great feeling to have gone on these experiences and to see these amazing sights. I want you guys to do the same thing! Get to know more about your New York State and share this link with your friends to get the most of your hiking experience. Comment below if you have done any of these before!
what do you think?