Best Hiking Trails Near New York 2026

New York City is surrounded by remarkable hiking terrain. The Hudson Highlands begin just 60 kilometres north of Manhattan, the Appalachian Trail crosses the Hudson River at Bear Mountain 80 kilometres from Times Square, and the Catskill Mountains 160 kilometres north provide the finest mountain hiking in the northeastern United States outside New England. Many Hudson Highlands trails are accessible by Metro-North commuter rail without a car. Here are the best hiking options near New York for 2026.

Breakneck Ridge: The Classic NYC Day Hike

Breakneck Ridge, on the Hudson River 100 kilometres north of Manhattan, is the most popular day hiking destination in the New York region and accessible by Metro-North's Hudson Line (Cold Spring or Breakneck Ridge seasonal stop, 80-90 minutes from Grand Central). The scramble up the exposed granite face of Breakneck Ridge (480m) involves hands-and-feet climbing over open rock with Hudson River views from the first few metres of the ascent, making it one of the most dramatic and immediately rewarding trail beginnings on the East Coast. The ridge circuit via the Bull Hill summit and return through the Wilkinson Memorial Trail provides a 10-12km loop with sustained river views. The weekend Breakneck Ridge train stop operates from April through November specifically for hikers, and trail information is available from Scenic Hudson.

Appalachian Trail: Bear Mountain and Harriman State Park

Bear Mountain State Park and Harriman State Park, 80 kilometres from Manhattan (accessible by Short Line bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal), together protect 200 square kilometres of Appalachian highland that feels entirely remote despite its proximity to the world's most densely populated urban region. The Appalachian Trail crosses the Hudson River at Bear Mountain on the Bear Mountain Bridge and climbs to the Perkins Memorial Tower summit (453m) before traversing the Harriman highlands. The Lemon Squeezer (a famous narrow rock crevasse on the AT in Harriman), the Long Path along the Palisades ridge, and the Pine Meadow Lake circuit provide varied day hike options. The Harriman trail network covers 300 kilometres and supports week-long backcountry itineraries as well as day trips from the city.

Catskill Mountains: Hunter Mountain and Slide Mountain

The Catskill Mountains, 160-200 kilometres from Manhattan (accessible by Trailways bus from Port Authority or by car via I-87/NYS Thruway), provide the most serious mountain hiking within New York State's day trip radius. Slide Mountain (1,274m), the highest peak in the Catskills, is accessible via the Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide circuit (16km return from Woodland Valley) through northern hardwood forest with views from the open summit ledge. Hunter Mountain (1,777m), the second-highest Catskill summit, provides a 12km circuit from the Spruceton trailhead through mature balsam fir and spruce forest. The Catskills are particularly beautiful during the autumn foliage season (mid-October), when the sugar maple, beech, and birch forests turn brilliant orange and yellow.

Practical Guide to Hiking Near New York

Metro-North's Hudson Line provides car-free access to Breakneck Ridge (seasonal Breakneck Ridge stop, April-November) and Cold Spring (year-round for Breakneck, Hudson Highlands, and Bull Hill trailheads). Short Line and Trailways buses serve Harriman and the Catskills from Port Authority Bus Terminal. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (nynjtc.org) publishes comprehensive trail maps and guides for all regional hiking. The Hudson Valley and Catskills are at their most crowded on autumn weekends; spring (April-May) and early summer (June) offer fewer crowds and the wildflower season on the lower trails.

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.