There are plenty of great hiking spots not too far outside the big city. You only need to drive a short distance or hop on public transport out of NYC to get to some superb hiking trails. Here are some of the best NYC hiking day trips you can try out.
Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail runs for over 2,000 miles, making it one of the longest and most amazing hiking trails on Earth, and you can enjoy a small section of it with ease by heading out of NYC in your car or taking the Metro-North from Grand Central. Once you arrive, you can choose from multiple sections of the trail, with some being much more challenging than others, and then set off. Map
Breakneck Ridge
Breakneck Ridge is another excellent option for a hiking day trip out of NYC, and you can get there on the Metro-North or simply by driving for about an hour out of the city. This hike climbs up and up, so you'll need to have some energy bars on hand to make it to the top, but you'll be rewarded with some amazing views. The hike runs for about four miles in total and is well-suited to people with a moderate level of physical fitness. Map
Ice Caves and Verkeerderkill Falls
The Ice Caves and Verkeerderkill Falls Trail is one of the most popular hiking routes near NYC. It runs for about seven miles and can take a few hours to finish, but it feels like you're traveling through a fairy tale landscape the whole way as you squeeze through narrow ice caves and admire the unmatched beauty of the Verkeerderkill Falls. You can get there by driving or taking the Short Line bus out of NYC to Ellenville and then taking a taxi round to Sam's Point Preserve. Map
Anthony’s Nose
Anthony’s Nose is a good option for those who don't have too much experience with hiking or are just looking for quite a simple but spectacular hike to take on with friends and family in a leisurely way. You can get here by taking the Metro North to Manitou and walking about a mile to the trail. The trail itself runs for around two and a half miles. Map
Kazimiroff Nature Trail
You don't even need to leave NYC to enjoy this hiking trail. Head out to the Bronx to Pelham Bay Park to find the Kazimiroff Nature Trail.
It's a short and mostly flat hike, so it's good for families, and the surrounding scenery really feels a million miles away from the crowded streets and noise of NYC. Map
Mount Beacon Park
Like many hiking spots outside NYC, you can get to Mount Beacon Park by taking the Metro North line. You'll travel on the line up to Beacon station and then have quite a scenic walk up to the start of the trail to the top of Mount Beacon, which is the highest point in the whole of the Hudson Highlands, reaching a total elevation of 1,611 feet above sea level. The hike is only a mile long and gives you breathtaking views over the Hudson Valley. Map
Stairway to Heaven Trail Hiking Day Trip from NYC
Fittingly named, the Stairway to Heaven Trail features a very steep section that really does feel like you're going to climb up into the clouds, but it's one of the most rewarding hikes in the area. It's about 50 miles away from NYC, so getting here can take a little while in a car or via the NJ Transit buses over to Warwick, but it's worth the trip for the views alone. Map
