萝莉射区

New York City doesn鈥檛 exactly conjure up images of roaming wildlife and deciduous forests, but while the boroughs鈥� streets lead to skyscrapers and bodegas, their surrounding trails connect to a multitude of landscapes.

Many scenic trails crop up within or ; the Long Island Railroad links with the Greenbelt Trail, while the Hudson Line brings visitors to Westchester鈥檚 . The best hikes, however, tend to surface farther in NYC鈥檚 outskirts. Collectively, the Catskills, Poconos and sections of the Appalachian Trail (AT) encourage New Yorkers to trade their office shoes for hiking boots.

These various geographies also lend themselves to a deeper range of hikes, which encompass everything from mountain summits to the world鈥檚 longest elevated pedestrian bridge. New Yorkers often seek outdoor experiences come summer, though leaf-peeping season draws crowds Upstate 鈥� and out of the state 鈥� every October. That鈥檚 not to imply the trails hibernate in the winter, either, as snow transforms select hiking havens into winter sports hubs.

Below, you鈥檒l find an assortment of trails far greener than Central Park, so you don鈥檛 have to choose between New York City and nature. 

1. Pochuck Valley to Pinwheel Vista: Stairway to Heaven, NJ

Best for a taste of the Appalachian Trail
Distance: 7.3 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Travel time to NYC: 1 hour, 20 minutes drive or 1陆-丑辞耻谤 bus to Warwick, NY, plus 10-minute drive

The AT鈥檚 starts on a boardwalk, where you鈥檒l stroll through a marshy area, lush with singing warblers and wind-blown cattails. Because boardwalks cover the trail鈥檚 first, mostly flat section, you can always cut your hike short for great accessibility. 

Traverse deeper into the Pochuck Valley, and eventually reach a suspension bridge 鈥� a unique photo opp 鈥� and an open field where cows frequently roam and graze on tall grass. Just beyond the animals is the trail's most challenging leg: the Stairway to Heaven. It starts with a rocky scramble 鈥� and more than 800 feet of elevation over the first mile and a half 鈥� before ending with a rewarding view of the Vernon Valley. 

To access the boardwalk, park on the shoulder of Rte 517, though there鈥檚 also a designated lot before the Stairway to Heaven segment. Signs warn of potential snakes, so adhere to the boardwalk whenever possible.

Insider Tip: Because this route is in rural New Jersey, it鈥檚 not easy to reach without using a car at some point along the route. If you鈥檙e looking to hike the AT entirely via public transportation, head instead to Upstate New York鈥檚 Dutchess County, where the  train line stops at Appalachian Trail Station.

2. Lemon Squeeze and Eagle Cliff: Mohonk, NY

Best for rock scrambling 
Distance: 6.9 miles 
Duration: 3陆 hours
Difficulty: Difficult 
Travel time from NYC: 1陆 hours by

Rock climbers flock to New Paltz, but the Hudson Valley鈥檚 artsiest college town also harbors more horizontally inclined routes 鈥� though the area鈥檚 best hikes aren鈥檛 without some rock action. Among the most popular trails for visitors and New Paltz students, loops through the Shawangunk Mountains. As the trail鈥檚 name suggests, parts of this steep hike dare you to squeeze through, then scramble up, jagged rockfaces. One section even requires a ladder, which makes for a fun hybrid of hiking and climbing.

You鈥檒l find the trailhead from 鈥檚 hiking parking lot. You鈥檒l have to purchase a online, which enables access to the resort鈥檚 85 miles of trails. For a cheaper hike, the nearby costs US$15 and similarly includes a scrambling stint.

Insider Tip: To experience one of the area鈥檚 most unique forms of hiking, try the  at Mohonk Mountain House. They launched it last year and it is the area鈥檚 first 鈥渋ron way鈥� trail.

3. Red and Blue Dot Trails: Mount Tammany, NJ

Best for a view of the Poconos and Delaware Water Gap 
Distance: 3.6 miles
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult 
Travel time from NYC: 2 hours drive or 1陆-丑辞耻谤 , plus 10-minute drive 

You may not expect to find sweeping views of the Delaware River 鈥� and a peek at the Poconos 鈥� alongside a major highway, but just off Rte 80 in New Jersey, the trail delivers. The steep Red Dot Trail will make you work for your summit photo, but the hike rewards all efforts with a clear shot of Pennsylvania鈥檚 Mt Minsi and the Delaware Water Gap. 

To find the route, look for signs advertising . There, you can access multiple hikes, so double-check that you鈥檙e taking the Red Dot Trail. Arrive early, as both the trail and parking spaces fill up on nice days. 

Insider Tip: While you can go up and down the same trail, this hike works best as a loop, with an ascent up the red and a descent down the blue.

4. Shore Trail: Palisades Interstate Park, NY

Best for quick access from NYC 
Distance: 4.7 miles
Duration: 1陆 hours
Difficulty: Easy 
Travel time from NYC: 20-minute drive, or 1 hour via

For a hike close to NYC that still feels like a breath of fresh air, you can鈥檛 beat Palisades Interstate Park. Walk the to soak in the Hudson River鈥檚 drama. Here, rocky cliffs abruptly pause at the water鈥檚 edge 鈥� a landscape that glows come golden hour, especially among autumn鈥檚 peak foliage. 

From the parking lot, look for near the Alpine Picnic Area; they indicate the start of the Shore Trail.

Insider Tip: Rockland County isn鈥檛 limited to just one hiking hot spot. Not far from Palisades Interstate Park, additional trails abound across and state parks.

5. Escarpment Trail: Kaaterskill Falls, NY

Best for waterfall vistas
Distance: 2.3 miles
Duration: 1 hour 
Difficulty: Moderate
Travel time from NYC: 2陆 hour drive, or 3陆-hour , plus 15-minute drive

Niagara Falls isn鈥檛 the Northeast鈥檚 only notable waterfall. In the New York town of Hunter, the soaring 260-foot Kaaterskill Falls poses amongst the evergreens in the heart of the Kaaterskill Wild Forest. Reach the waterfall from the , where you鈥檒l follow the melody of the waterfall鈥檚 rush along a .

For this particular route, it鈥檚 best to in the Laurel House Road lot, though you鈥檒l find additional parking on Schutt Road and South Lake. To see the waterfall without hiking too far, there鈥檚 also an option from Laurel House Road to walk to a viewing area. 

Insider Tip: An hour south, you鈥檒l find even more falls in , though if you鈥檙e up for a longer road trip, the Finger Lakes鈥� Taughannock Falls is mesmerizing year-round 鈥� but especially during winter鈥檚 freeze. It anchors the scenery of , which promises approximately 150 waterfalls.

6. Breakneck Long Loop: Breakneck Ridge, NY

Best for a Hudson Valley workout
Distance: 3.2 miles
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Travel time from NYC: 1陆 hour Metro-North train via the Hudson Line 

Breakneck Ridge ranks as one of the most popular, but challenging, hikes in the Hudson Valley. During the , you鈥檒l get your heart rate going from the get-go, as the route starts with a strenuous but exciting scramble. Upon reaching the top, you鈥檒l spot the Hudson River, , and maybe even a soaring hawk.

Reaching the trail is relatively straightforward using the Metro-North, which has a specific Breakneck Ridge stop. To access the ridge, take the hike counterclockwise, starting on the white trail. If you鈥檙e spending longer than a day Upstate, branch out to the area鈥檚 other beloved summits, such as Bear Mountain.

Insider Tip: You can navigate Breakneck Ridge using a variety of trails, so for a different viewpoint 鈥� and a longer hike 鈥� consider the , which scales the adrenaline-pumping Beacon Fire Tower. 

7. Storm King Trail: Storm King Mountain, NY

Best for a rejuvenating day Upstate 
Distance: 2陆 miles 
Duration: 2陆 hours  
Difficulty: Moderate 
Travel time from NYC: 1陆-丑辞耻谤  

Just across the river from Breakneck Ridge, Storm King Mountain splinters into a variety of trails that take hikers to the peak of one of the area鈥檚 tallest mountains. Of those routes, the is among the best-balanced, as a moderate path that still packs a challenge in rockier sections.

Because this hike loops around, start the trail in either direction. Neither path is necessarily easier than the other, but a matter of preference. If you鈥檇 rather hike up a rocky stretch than navigate your way down one, go clockwise, and you鈥檒l maintain better balance on the descent. This choice, however, will be more strenuous from the hike鈥檚 get-go. Depending on when you hike, it鈥檚 also smart to keep microspikes handy; given the mountain鈥檚 elevation of more than 1300ft, sections may prove icy, even in early spring.

Insider Tip: When you鈥檙e done hiking, make a day of your detour Upstate. Tour the town of Cornwall, where Storm King Art Center keeps the theme of outdoor trails 鈥� albeit ones that lead through a 500-acre sculpture garden.