With so much to see and do in NYC, it might not seem like the place to go for some quality time in nature. But whether you live in the city or are visiting the area, there are actually quite a few places within a reasonable distance that offer some really great hiking! Check out my 3 favorite short hikes close to NYC.
Kaaterskill Falls
- Distance from NYC: ~120 miles, 2.5-3 hours
- Hike Details:
- Distance: 2.5 miles out and back
- Elevation Gain: 856 feet
- Time Needed: 2 hours
- Trailhead Location: on route 23A in Haines Falls, NY.
This short hike takes you to the top of a two-tiered 260-foot waterfall. I used to do this hike with family and friends over 10 years ago. Back then, getting to the top of the walls not easy. It was steep, had a lot of potentially dangerous rock scrambling and the trail was not well marked. Since then, they’ve put in stairs for hikers to get to the top, which makes it much more accessible. It’s still steep, but well marked and doesn’t include any scrambling. Even if you just went the short distance to the bottom of the falls, it’s still worth the trek. If planning to go for a weekend, consider camping at North-South Lake Campground where you can boat, fish, swim, and hike. There are a few decent trails within the campground and you can rent kayaks or canoes. There is also a popular place nearby to cliff jump, called Fawn’s Leap. Be sure to try out Last Chance Antiques and Cheese Cafe! Such a fun atmosphere and really good fondue!
Minnewaska State Park – Mohonk Mountain House Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze
- Distance From NYC: ~90 miles, 2.5 hours
- Hike Details:
- Distance: 5.5 mile loop
- Elevation gain: 973 feet
- Time needed: about 3 hours
- Trailhead Location: parking at the mohonk mountain house.
This is one of my favorite areas in all of NY. There are a lot of great hikes at Minnewaska State Park! The thing that makes this particular hike so much fun is squeezing yourself between rocks, climbing up ladders and rock scrambling to get to the some of the best views in the Hudson Valley! If you’re spending a whole weekend, you can even rock climb at The Gunks (Shawangunk Mountains), which is considered one of the best places to rock climb in the country. There’s also the nearby town of New Paltz which has tons of shops and great places to eat. The Gilded Otter, a riverfront pub in New Paltz, really hits the spot after a long day hiking! The Walkway over the Hudson, a State Historic Park with the world’s longest (1.28 miles) elevated pedestrian bridge (over the Hudson River) is also just a short 30 minute drive away.
Anthony’s Nose
- Distance from NYC: ~50 miles, 2 hours
- Hike Details
- Distance: 2.5 miles out and back
- Elevation Gain: ~800 feet
- Time Needed: ~2.5 hours
- Trailhead Location: on Route 9D, near the intersection of route 202 in Cortlandt Manor, NY
There’s a ton of great hikes at the nearby Bear Mountain State Park. Do one of the many hikes, or even drive, up to Perkins Memorial Tower for some great views of the Hudson Highlands. Harriman State Park is also close by and has over 200 miles of hiking trails! Just outside of Bear Mountain State Park is the Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets which has plenty of great shopping, yes, but also, food options, including Shake Shack, Friday’s and one of my favorites, Cosimo’s!
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