Hikes around New York City

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Minnewaska State Park

🍦

Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center (gmaps)

[Parking] Sizeable parking lot, but gets full by 10:30-11am.

→ Gertrude’s Nose (gmaps, alltrails / 6.9mi, 1,161 ft elevation, loop)

→ Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road (alltrails / 1.9mi, 259 ft elevation, loop)

Very chill, flat scenic loop around the lake with a picnicking area

→ Rainbow Falls (gmaps)

Takes about an hour to get there, mostly on carriage road and very flat and straightforward. Not very interesting overall but nice falls.

🍂

Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center (gmaps)

[Parking] Good backup if the lake parking is full, fills up by 12pm maybe?

→ Millbrook Ridge Trail (gmaps, alltrails / 7.4mi, 1,145 ft elevation, loop)

Less-frequented trail but equally nice views 🙂

→ Close to East and West Trapps for rope climbing and bouldering

Bear Mountain State Park

🚌 Bus Access via Shortline Hudson (Port Authority Bus Terminal)

→ Bear Mountain (gmaps, alltrails / 3.7mi, 1,145 ft elevation, loop)

[Parking] Limited free spots at the top of the mountain, lots of parking at the bottom ($10/car)

Popular, relatively short but steep loop up some rock scrambles

Also a popular place to picnic or barbecue by the lake at the bottom

Harriman State Park

Beaver Pond Campground

Large campgrounds within walking distance to a beach 🙂 and a quick drive to hiking trails

Reeves Meadow Visitor Center (gmaps)

[Parking] Parking lot is small, but the norm is to park along the side of the road

Several different intersecting trails including some that lead to a nice, big lake

→ Pine Meadow Lake Loop (alltrails / 5.6mi, 1,167 ft elevation, loop)

This one includes some detours, you can also go straight from the visitor’s center to make it a 2.5mi out-and-back trail that is mostly flat (although some rocky/muddy terrain if it rains.) This lake sparkles on the right day!

→ Ramapo-Torne is fairly popular too, pretty steep (alltrails / 6.1mi, 1,368 ft elevation, loop)

→ Ramapo Dunderberg Triangle Trail Loop (gmaps, alltrails / 7.1mi, 1,568 ft elevation, loop)

Haven’t done this one but looks interesting!

Pine Meadow Lake, Reeves Meadow

Hudson Highlands State Park

→ Breakneck Ridge (gmaps, alltrails / 2.9mi, 1,233 ft elevation, loop)

🚆 Train access via Metro-North (CLOSED)

Popular steep hike with some scrambles and nice views

⚠️ Trailhead CLOSED from 2025-2027 ⚠️ but this is still available:

AllTrails.comCold Spring to Beacon, New York - 804 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Cold Spring to Beacon, New York - 804 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
This point-to-point hike is designed for people without a car accessing the Hudson Highlands via the Metro-North railroad, making use of both the MTA’s Cold Spring and Beacon stops. Note that the distance from the Cold Spring stop to the trailhead is about 1 mile, and the distance from the end of the trail in Beacon is about 1.75 miles to the Beacon stop. If you chose not to walk those stretches, you can get a cab in Cold Spring, and either a cab or bus on the Beacon end. After making your way from the Cold Spring train station to the actual trailhead at Little Stony Point, you start up the Cornish Trail (blue), which initially parallels Route 9D, then makes a gentle ascent along an old, concrete driveway. You will reach the ruins of the Stern-Cornish Estate (labeled as “Northgate” on the route map). Here the pavement ends, and you (mostly) follow an old dirt road (which is quite washed out in spots). Shortly after passing the intersection with the Washburn Trail (white), you reach the ruins of the Cornish Farm (mislabeled as “Cornish Estate” on the route map). Shortly thereafter, the Cornish Trail ascends (fairly steeply) to the Breakneck Ridge Trail (white), onto which you turn right. For the next couple of miles, the trail features few technical challenges, but has a number of ascents and descents. Shortly after crossing Squirrel Hollow Brook, turn right onto an old woods road which both the Breakneck Ridge Trail and the Wilkinson Trail (yellow) follow. After a couple of minutes, make sure to turn left (off the road) to stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail. The trail make a steep ascent which eventually turns into a rock scramble which (except for one fairly level stretch) continues until you reach the summit and the Beacon Fire Tower. After enjoying the stupendous, panoramic views (great even if you choose not to climb the tower), continue on the Breakneck Trail until it ends at the Casino Trail (red), onto which you turn left, following an old road until you get to the casino ruins, which are interesting to explore and also have a great view to the northwest. Continue down the Casino Trail as it descends (fairly steeply) on mainly (washed-out) old ski trails, finishing up on some metal stairs which lead you to the Mountain Beacon Park parking lot. This route allows hikers to visit some of the more interesting locations throughout the Hudson Highlands Park, including the Stern-Cornish Estate ruins, Cornish Farm ruins, Sunset Point lookout, Squirrel Hollow, the fire tower at South Beacon (the highest point in the Hudson Highlands at 1,610 feet) and the Casino lookout, while avoiding some of the busier sections of Breakneck Ridge and without relying on the Breakneck Ridge Metro-North rail stop, which receives limited service. The trail can be completed year round as a day hike, but caution should be exercised in snow, icy or muddy conditions.
AllTrails.com

→ Bull Hill (gmaps - trailhead, alltrails / 5.3mi, 1,391 ft elevation, loop)

🚆Train access via Metro-North to Cold Spring + 25min walk to start of trail

Actually haven’t done this one..

Delaware Water Gap

→ Mt Tammany Red Dot / Blue Dot Trail (gmaps, alltrails / 3.6mi, 1,213 ft elevation, loop)

→ AMC Mohican Visitor Center (gmaps)

Kind of a random, small visitors’ area with parking, doesn’t seem widely frequented but has some trails like Rattlesnake Trail and Coppermine Trail. Seems like there’s a system of trails here that connect with “Upper Spur” and “Kaiser” trailheads.