The best hikes near New York City

New York City doesn’t exactly conjure up images of roaming wildlife and deciduous forests, but while the boroughs’ streets lead to skyscrapers and bodegas, their surrounding trails connect to a multitude of landscapes.

Many scenic trails crop up within or close to the city; the Long Island Railroad links with the Greenbelt Trail, while the Hudson Line brings visitors to Westchester’s Croton Point Park. The best hikes, however, tend to surface farther in NYC’s 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’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge. New Yorkers often seek outdoor experiences come summer, though leaf-peeping season draws crowds Upstate – and out of the state – every October. That’s not to imply the trails hibernate in the winter, either, as snow transforms select hiking havens into winter sports hubs.

Advertisement

Below, you’ll find an assortment of trails far greener than Central Park, so you don’t 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 1½-hour bus to Warwick, NY, plus 10-minute drive

The AT’s Pochuck Valley to Pinwheel Vista hike starts on a boardwalk, where you’ll stroll through a marshy area, lush with singing warblers and wind-blown cattails. Because boardwalks cover the trail’s 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 – a unique photo opp – 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 — and more than 800 feet of elevation over the first mile and a half — before ending with a rewarding view of the Vernon Valley. 

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