The Best Hiking Trails in New York

The Giant Stairs Hike is a fun and challenging adventure that involves scrambling through a boulder field in Palisades Interstate Park. This hike follows a loop route and uses a number of differently named trails. Although the loop doesn’t have an official name, it’s one of the most popular hikes near New York City for Strava members and is sure to be a fun time. Because you’ll need to scramble over boulders for nearly a mile, most consider this a hard hike. We recommend bringing grippy shoes to help negotiate the rocky sections.

This hike through Cold Spring Harbour State Park is a perfect city escape. You’ll stroll through old hardwood forests and take in beautiful views of Cold Spring Harbour. The hike follows an out and back route. It’s got a few hills but nothing major, so most consider this an easy hike. Cold Spring Harbour is a great place to get family or friends together and enjoy some nature away from the buzz of the city. This is one of the most popular hiking trails among Strava members in the New York Metropolitan area.

The Ashokan Rail Trail runs along the shores of Lower Ashokan and Upper Ashokan reservoirs, providing an incredibly scenic natural escape in the Catskills. Taken together, the Ashokan Reservoir "is one of the largest reservoirs in the NYC water supply system," according to [GothamBikeTours....

With nearly 40 million visitors a year, Central Park is one of the busiest tourist attractions in the world. Its geographic prominence makes it one of the most iconic and internationally recognized landmarks in New York City....

With nearly 40 million visitors a year, Central Park is one of the busiest tourist attractions in the world. Its geographic prominence makes it one of the most iconic and internationally recognized landmarks in New York City....

With nearly 40 million visitors a year, Central Park is one of the busiest tourist attractions in the world. Its geographic prominence makes it one of the most iconic and internationally recognized landmarks in New York City....

If you are looking for a magical hike that will delight both children and adults, you should visit the fairy trail at South Mountain Reservation in New Jersey. This half-mile trail has been inhabited by fairies who have built their homes in tree hollows, roots, and natural materials....

A fun walk along the shore of the Hudson River just north of the George Washington Bridge. The Shore Trail runs for miles along the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. This particular section is popular with Strava members. The trail follows an out and back route and can be extended in either direction if you’d like to add more mileage. Most consider this an easy hike which can be perfect for families, beginner hikers, or those just looking for a beautiful walk near the city.

Along NY-22, a parking area lies slightly north of the trail and the adjacent train station. Though service is limited, this is a prominent access point from the AT to southern New York....

This hike departs from the popular DEC parking lot along Platte Cove Road and leads to one of the best bang-for-the-buck overlooks in the Catskills. Less than 5 miles round-trip, the average hiker should expect this hike to take between 2 and 3 hours....

This family-friendly day hike brings two of the state's 46 High Peaks within reach. Just a short drive from Lake Placid, this hike is perfect for the entire family and can typically be completed in less than three hours....

Ithaca is renowned for its beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails, with the most popular found in Cascadilla Creek Gorge. The most famous of the falls is "picturesque Cascadilla Falls," which consists of "20 feet of multiple cascading falls," according to [VisitIthaca....

Ithaca is renowned for its beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails, with the most popular found in Cascadilla Creek Gorge. The most famous of the falls is Cascadilla Falls itself, which consists of "20 feet of multiple cascading falls," according to [VisitIthaca....

Offering a trip to the foot of the spectacular Kaaterskill Falls, and a viewpoint which overlooks it, this is a disproportionately spectacular hike for how little effort is required to complete it! As one of the tallest waterfalls in New York State, Kaaterskill Falls cascades down two tiers, plunging a total of 260 feet into a rocky pool below....

Watkins Glen State Park is located in the Finger Lakes region, known for its bucolic beauty. The Gorge Trail is the centerpiece of the park and is open from mid-May to early November, and it’s recommended to visit early in the morning or on weekdays to avoid the crowds....

When you think of hiking in New York, the Catskills and Adirondacks are often the first things to come to mind. Long Island, however, is home to a surprisingly challenging and diverse trail that dissects the island between Cold Spring Harbor and the Massapequa Preserve....

Blue Mountain Reservation is home to a massive network of trails, both for hiking and mountain biking. Roughly an hour north of NYC, it's easy to forget how close you are to such a massive metropolitan area....

This hike loop in Hartshorne Woods Park is a beautiful and welcoming hike option within a hour’s drive of downtown Manhattan. The trail has great views of the mouth of the Navesink River and Sea Bright across the water. This trail follows a loop route. Most consider this an easy hike. This hike is popular with Strava members who live in the New York Metropolitan area.

Beginning at the trailhead along NJ-23, the trail parallels Scenic Drive as it makes its way to the High Point Observation Deck. After taking in some views, take the spur trail that leads to the summit of Kittatinny Mountain, the highest point in New Jersey....

With a train station at both the southern and northern terminus, this segment creates an opportunity for a car-free point-to-point hike. Though service is limited to both stations, day hikers often utilize it over the weekends to access popular landmarks like Anthony's Nose from the south, or Cat Rocks from the north....