The Best Hiking in the Hudson Valley
The best hike under 5 miles
sterling lake
Sterling Lake in Tuxedo Park is accessible by car and less than an hour away from Manhattan and anywhere in the lower Hudson Valley. This hike is a relatively flat loop trail around a stunning lake, with a well-maintained visitor’s center at the trailhead. Point your GPS to 116 Old Forge Road in Tuxedo, NY. Keep your cameras ready for birds and wildlife along the route. Swimming is not allowed, but the lake is well-stocked with fish. Check out our fishing guide to get you started, and don’t forget to get your New York State fishing license online if you decide to try your luck fishing.
The Best Climb
Bear Mountain State Park’s Bald Mountain Trail offers the best views in New York State. The climb is approximately 1,000 feet, so not quite the height of the Empire State Building. The climb is spread out over a 6.8-mile loop, so this is not a short hike. Be sure to bring water, your fit friends, and your phone, and get ready for Instagram-ready views of New York City and the Hudson Valley. Getting to the trail is easy by car, just put Bear Mountain State Park in your GPS. Park in the main parking lot, and follow the 177E Trail right out of the parking lot.
Here are a couple of pro tips:
1. You should have good views of New York City, as long as the weather does not call for precipitation or fog at the time you will be at the top of Bald Mountain (about an hour after you arrive in the parking lot). Check the local weather here.
2. The Bear Mountain parking lot will get full after 9:00 am on the busiest days of the year, such as holiday weekends. You will either need to arrive early, or plan to park a short hike away from the main parking lot, such as Fort Montgomery at 690 Route 9W.
3. While you’re at Bear Mountain, you can check out the Bear Mountain Zoo, Bear Mountain Inn, more hikes at Bear Mountain, ice skating in the winter, and be sure to grab lunch at the Barnstomer BBQ.
The Best Waterfall
Bish Bash Falls is technically in Massachusetts, but the trail starts in New York. Point your GPS to the Copake Falls Post Office at Route at 109 Route 344, then continue about a mile on Route 344 past the post office to the trail parking lot. The 30 minute hike to the waterfall is well-marked. Waterfalls are best in the Spring, so bring your camera. You may not have cell service at the waterfalls, so forget livestreaming. But take your photos and post them when you enjoy lunch or dinner in the town of Copake. Try the Clock Tower Pub and Grill or Church Street Deli and Pizza.
Pro Tip: Click Here for a detailed trail map.
The Best Paved Trail
Walkway Over the Hudson starts in Poughkeepsie, crosses the Hudson River over the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, and continues for a total of 8.5 miles to the historic town of New Paltz. That’s a 17-mile round trip if you choose to do so, but for starters, you can cross the 1.5-mile bridge, or turn around in the town of Highland, which offers dining such as The Gateway Diner, Copola’s, or Dunkin. If you turn around in the town of Highland you’re in for about a total of 5 miles.
This hike has it all for experienced or new hikers:
1. Views that can’t be beaten
2. Great dining options in Highland, Poughkeepsie, or New Paltz
3. The comfort and safety of paved trails
4. Free parking in Poughkeepsie
5. Easily accessible by Metro North at the Poughkeepsie train station
The Best Backcountry Trail
“Backpacking” is hiking combined with camping, which means you pack all of your camping gear in a backpack and walk to your campsite from your car. That takes some practice and research to know what you will need while camping and to have essentials like food, sleeping bags, and tents. Check out our gear guides for The Best Hiking Gear and The Best Camping Gear to get you started.
Even if you don’t have all of the gear yet, Malouf’s Mountain Campground in Beacon is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the backcountry backpacking experience, and this campground/resort will even supply you with important supplies such as meals and a bathhouse. Malouf’s campground is easily accessible from New York City from the Beacon Metro North Station, and easily offers a variety of backcountry experiences, from wilderness camping to “glamping.”