9 Best Hikes in New York State

New York City gets all the glory. Travelers flock to the state to sip craft cocktails from fancy rooftop bars and eat their fill of pizza and bagels. But the state of New York is actually FILLED with rolling mountains, forests, and plenty of state parks packed with trails perfect for year-round hiking. We spent much of our week in upstate New York intermittently eating pizza and marveling at the fall foliage while hiking. As you should. Here are the best hikes we found in New York.

Best Hikes in New York State

1. Indian Head Trail, Adirondack Mountain Range

Don’t let the 11-mile trail scare you away. It’s reeeeally only a 5-6 mile hike, if you don’t take into account the long paved section of roadway you have to walk from the parking area. So yes, you’ll walk 11-ish miles, but on easy flat ground for most of it.

This trail is popular year-round, but at it’s absolute best if you can arrive for peak fall colors. At the rocky summit you’ll be overlooking a rolling valley cupping a bold blue lake in the center. The trail itself is a fun one too. You’ll climb up large boulders, walk through the forest, & carefully loop back down the steepest side of the mountain.

The big catch here is the incredibly small parking lot. Only 20 or so cars can park here & ANYTHING parked outside the lot gets a big fat New York parking ticket. My recommendation? Arrive late the night before. We’re stealth camping experts in our camper van and it worked like a charm. Other people started showing up as early as 4:30 AM.

2. Gorge Trail, Watkins Glen State Park

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This “hike” is one all energy levels can enjoy. Clocking in at 2.4 miles roundtrip and almost entirely paved this is more of a scenic walk than a real hike but it’s too beautiful to miss.

Stone steps guide you through carefully carved tunnels and across some makeshift bridges, all designed to give you the very best view of the gorge below. Cool clear water runs through the jet black canyon walls and pools into perfectly still ponds or cascades into icy waterfalls.

When it’s crowded it can be a pain to navigate the thin trails & it’s closed completely during the winter months so be sure to time your visit while the gorge trail is open.

I couldn’t possibly do all the hikes myself during our visit to New York, so I enlisted some help & here are the best New York hikes from my fellow travel writers.

3. The Ashokan Rail Trail, Catskill Mountains

Margie, Travel Writer from DQ Family Travel

The Ashokan Rail Trail is an 11.5-mile scenic paved path where hikers and bikers can enjoy the views of the surrounding Catskill Mountains and the Ashokan Reservoir. This easy, gentle path has three trailheads with ample parking at Boiceville Bridge, Ashokan Station, and Woodstock Dike. There are water and mountain views almost the entire trail as well as a boardwalk section, and a bit of wooded seclusion amidst the wetlands and white pines. 

This trail can be accessed year-round and enjoyed in all four seasons. In the summer and fall are where it sees the most traffic, but even in the winter, the unplowed trail can be enjoyed for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-tire bike riding. The pathway is also wheelchair and stroller friendly, and great for families.

The Catskill Mountains provide ample opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy nature, and the Ashokan Rail Trail is one of the area’s most popular easy and scenic trails. There are many surrounding towns within a quick drive of the three trailheads along the Ashokan Reservoir. If you’re looking for a home base to explore the Catskills and Hudson River area, I recommend the Emerson Resort & Spa located in Mt. Tremper, just 5 minutes from the western trailhead. 

4. Mount Marcy, Lake Placid

Kristen, Travel Writer for Yonderlust Ramblings

Mount Marcy is literally at the “top” of must-do hikes in New York, as the state high point hike!  This trail encompasses so many characteristics of the lush Adirondack region, and of course, has some of the most breathtaking views at the highest point in New York!

Mount Marcy is located in northeastern New York, close to the town of Lake Placid, and the borders of both Canada and Vermont.  Its far northern location means hiking here is best enjoyed in the warmer summer months. The Mount Marcy hike is 14.1 miles roundtrip, with over 3,000 feet in elevation gain, making this a challenging and strenuous, but definitely worthwhile, day hike.  What makes this hike so unique, in addition to being able to check off a state high point hike, is that a large majority of the trail traverses a rocky ravine up to the summit, meaning there is an above-average mix of boulder scrambling and rock hopping to take on.  Above the tree line, Mount Marcy’s towering summit plays host to a beautifully intricate, yet fragile, alpine ecosystem, surrounded by a horizon of dozens of neighboring Adirondack peaks.

5. Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca, NY

Carley Rojas Avila, travel writer for Home to Havana

The hiking trails and paths of Buttermilk Falls State Park are some of the most beautiful in upstate New York, winding through one of Ithaca’s most beautiful gorges. The most common hiking route through the park starts at the base of Buttermilk Falls near the parking lot and campgrounds and heads up the gorge trail (0.65 miles mostly uphill) before looping back down the rim trail on the other side of the river cutting through the gorge (1.15 miles downhill along). However, there are longer loops to take that continue up along the river and gorge, and eventually, connect with the Finger Lakes Trail through a trail spur about two miles up the gorge.

Despite the initial uphill push, this hike is relatively easy, with much of the path including steps carved into the shale, making it safe along the cliffs and easy to follow. The hike includes multiple waterfalls and natural pools, and twists and turns along the river through soaring gorges, making for incredible spots to cool off in the summer. The state park is popular with families in the summer, especially in the summer when families come to take advantage of the natural swimming hole at the base of the falls and the start of the gorge hike. However, the hike is at its best in the fall, when the leaves start turning and making a scenic route even more stunning.

6. Shaupeneak Ridge, Kingston, NY

James Ian, Travel Writer at Travel Collecting

One of the best hikes in New York is Shaupeneak Ridge, about 20 minutes south of Kingston in the Hudson Valley.  There are actually several interconnected trails, and all of them are lovely.  The white trail (1.6 miles) is a challenging hike up to the ridge that passes a small, but incredibly picturesque waterfall. It is also common to see bright orange salamanders on the trail in the mornings.  Spring and summer are the best times to see the waterfall, as it often dries up in late summer and fall.

The much easier red trail (1.2 miles) passes through fern gullies and past an overlook with stunning views of the Hudson Valley far below.  This is especially beautiful in the fall, when the fall foliage is at its peak.

The easy blue trail (1.2 miles) circles around Louisa Pond, which is filled with water lilies.  Summer is a highlight here, when the water glistens, the lilies are in full flower and the woods provide shelter from the summer heat. It is even possible to kayak on the pond (if you bring your own kayak). 

There is a lower parking lot, which is good for the white trail, and an upper parking lot with access to all of the other trails around the top of the ridge. 

7. Saint Regis Mountain Trail, Saranac Lake

Natasha, Travel Writer from the Great Ocean Road Collective.

Located in upstate New York near Saranac Lake, you’ll find the Saint Regis Mountain Trail, one of the best hikes in the area. This 10-kilometer track is suitable for those with moderate fitness levels and is also dog-friendly. The trail starts through the forest following a path over rolling hills. After crossing a bridge, the climb begins, though there are flat portions in between to rest and no extremely steep inclines that require scrambling. From the bald peak, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Adirondack High Peaks and surrounding lakes. 

Saint Regis Mountain Trail is accessible year-round, though the spring can be especially muddy when the snow melts. Summer and fall are both good times to visit, as the trail is drier and the temperature is milder. Autumn is especially beautiful as the leaves begin to change. During the winter months, the trail is popular for snowshoeing as well, though snow-spikes are recommended for the steeper parts of the hike. Regardless of the time of year you visit, you’re sure to enjoy this beautiful upstate New York hike.

8. Breakneck Ridge, Cold Spring, NY

Anisa, Travel Writer from Two Traveling Texans

Breakneck Ridge is one of the best hikes in NY State because it is so challenging.  The 3.7 mile loop includes ascending 1400 feet, most of that in the first mile. The hike could take around 4-5 hours depending on many times you stop for a photo break. 

A good portion of the hike is a steep rock scramble where gloves would come in handy.  At times, it’s not easy finding the way up. It may be tempting to just turn around but it will be a steep descent if you do.  Power through it and you will be rewarded with some of the best panoramic views of the Hudson Valley.

On the weekends, there is a direct train from New York City to Breakneck Ridge.  After an hour and a half train ride, it’s just a short walk to the trailhead. Try to go early as it is a popular hike and will get crowded!  

9. Bald Mountain, Old Forge, NY

Melissa, Travel Writer at Navigation Junkie

Sitting just a couple miles outside of the Adirondack town of Old Forge is the moderately difficult hike up Bald Mountain. The two-mile out and back trail takes you through the wooded forests of the Adirondacks, up steep and rocky terrain, and past multiple viewpoints of the Fulton Chain and Forth Lake. The mountain rises up 2,350 feet with a total ascent of about 500 feet. 

The summit offers hikers 180 degree views of the surrounding area and the Rondaxe Fire Tower. The hike is likely to take no more than an hour to reach the summit, so packing a lunch and enjoying some time relaxing at the top is recommended. The short length of this hike with its great views as well as proximity to the many attractions of Old Forge make this hike well worth it! 

Although Bald Mountain is a beautiful hike any time of year (other than winter due to the steep rocky trail that becomes very slippery), the best time to visit Bald Mountain is undoubtedly the fall. You will be able to combine the natural beauty of the hike with the vibrant fall foliage seen in the Adirondacks in early October.

Most of our USA hiking experience stems from the west coast. National parks like Yosemite, Grand Teton, Glacier, and the North Cascades have given us miles and miles of hiking joy. But as far as East Coast hiking is concerned, New York comes out on top. These hikes will show you the varied landscape of the state and you’ll marvel at the natural beauty you never knew you could find in New York State.

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