Best Hiking Locations in New York

New York is mostly dominated by mountain ranges within the Appalachian Mountains. Here, you’ll find popular hiking areas like Adirondack State Park and the Catskill Mountains. The 2,184-mile-long Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, passes through eastern New York. September and October are great hiking months and will give you a great opportunity to see the beautiful foliage that the Fall season brings.

Here are our favorite hiking trails:

• • Long Path
    This 356-mile trail connects the New York City area with the Catskills Park and continues north to the Adirondack Park, where a hiker can connect to the Northville-Lake Placid trail. Along its route, the Long Path transverses many state parks, including the expansive Catskills Forest Preserve, where it connects with the Finger Lakes Trail.
  •  Buttermilk Falls
     Buttermilk Falls is coincidentally a hop, skip, and a throw away from the Appalachian route. Located in Rockland County, the trail is widely popular for its steep gorges, ravines, waterfalls, and streams. Interestingly enough, the trail is a hot spot for painters who frequent the falls for landscape inspiration.
  • Storm King State Park
    Right next to the well-known Storm King Art Center, is the Storm King State Park. First, visit the open-air museum, then take a 7-minute drive over to the magnificent Storm King Mountain. At the summit of this hike, enjoy unsurpassed views of the Catskills and Hudson Valley.
  • Ramapo State Park 
  • Located in Mahwah, NJ, one hour from NYC, this four-mile, in-and-out hike in Ramapo State Park moves through heavily wooded terrain with steady elevation gains that provide gorgeous views of Ramapo Lake and lead to the Van Skyle Castle Ruins.