Appalachian Trail: High Point State Park to Mount Peter
Winding through farmlands, across the Boardwalk, and into Wawayanda State Park.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 53 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 1.7 km
Reconnect with Nature: 7 Best Hikes near New York City
Escape the concrete jungle and reconnect with nature on these beautiful hikes near New York City.
Hiking Easy, Moderate, Difficult
Description
New York City—the largest city in the United States of America. With a population of over 8.6 million people in the city limits and over 20 million people in the NYC metro area, New York isn’t a location that springs to mind as a hiking destination. And yet, of those tens of millions of people, likely a few million at least enjoy outdoor adventures such as hiking, mountain biking, downhill skiing, and more. So what do you do if you love to hike and you want to get out and enjoy the woods?
While of course you could hop on a plane, there’s a surprising array of hiking opportunities in and around NYC. A few routes in Central Park offer quick access to some green space. Trails like the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt on Long Island are surprisingly wild. And in less than a two-hour drive from the city center, you can access one of the most acclaimed hiking trails in the world: the Appalachian Trail.
However much time you have or however far you want to drive, this hiking guidebook will give you the information you need to escape the concrete jungle and reconnect with nature!
Routes included
Appalachian Trail: Bear Mountain Bridge to NY-22
This section passes Anthony's Nose, Canopus Lake, Nuclear Lake, and Cat Rocks ending at the Appalachian Trail Station .
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 68 km
- Ascent
- 2.6 km
- Descent
- 2.5 km
Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail
An ~20 mile singletrack route dissecting Long Island, with countless access points.
Moderate Hiking
- Distance
- 31 km
- Ascent
- 365 m
- Descent
- 370 m
Central Park Inner Loop
A 4-mile loop through Central Park, with plenty of opportunities to explore.
Easy Hiking
- Distance
- 6.6 km
- Ascent
- 62 m
- Descent
- 62 m
Bear Mountain Loop via Major Welch Trail and Appalachian Trail
A picturesque and challenging, albeit short, hike to the the summit of Bear Mountain.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 6.2 km
- Ascent
- 358 m
- Descent
- 358 m
Blue Mountain Reservation Summit Loop
A relaxing hike connecting moss-covered ponds to two defined summits.
Moderate Hiking
- Distance
- 8.8 km
- Ascent
- 292 m
- Descent
- 292 m
Gertrude's Nose Loop
An epic loop across exposed rocky bluffs, beginning and ending at Lake Minnewaska.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 372 m
- Descent
- 372 m
Rainbow Falls / Castle Point Loop
A beautifully diverse hike with endless views and a waterfall.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 441 m
- Descent
- 446 m
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Related guidebooks
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