Despite its tremendous size and population, the New York metro area is surprisingly close to a multitude of beautiful hiking trails. A day hiking trip is the perfect way to actively experience the city or aggressively escape the crowds. Harried professionals can leave the city, immerse themselves in nature, relax and unwind. Tourists visiting New York can find a number of trails in and around New York City for an active, healthy vacation. Serious hikers in New York are just moments away from mountain ranges and sweeping river valleys. No matter what kind of hike you seek, New York has you covered.
Where to Go
Directly north of the city lies the Hudson Valley, a gorgeous forested area featuring the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains. The Palisades Interstate Park, a beautiful wooded area of New Jersey, sits to the west. Long Island, the area east of New York City, has a variety of hiking trails from state parks to seaside jaunts. For a short hike, you don't even have to leave New York City. Central Park, Staten Island and Van Cortlandt Park are popular destinations for inner city hikers.
Finding Trails
For beginning hikers, the easiest way to find a hike is to join one of the many hiking groups based in New York City. Companies, such as Outdoor Bound and Urban Escapes, specialize in organized day trips that help beginning hikers escape the urban jungle. Hikers that prefer to plot their own course will find a number of websites charting easy-to-find New York trails including Trails.com and NYCDayHiking.com. For day hikes within New York City, the Department of Parks & Recreations lists hiking trails by borough on its website.
Getting There
More often than not, people in New York City find themselves without a car. Fortunately, the public transportation around New York City is some of the best in the country. Many hiking trails are easily accessible by bus or train. The Metro North, which leaves from Grand Central Station, transports you directly to hiking trails in the Hudson Valley including Cold Springs, Manitou and the Appalachian Trail. The Long Island Rail Road has stops for Long Island's Greenbelt Trail as well as the Nassau-Suffolk Trail. If you are one of the lucky car owners in the New York metropolitan area, you can reach a large number of trails by driving no more than an hour or two outside of the city.
What to Bring
Water and comfortable shoes are a must. Stay away from glass bottles, and bring as much water as you can comfortably carry. Wear durable hiking boots, or at least sturdy sneakers with treads. Non-crushable snacks will keep your energy up on longer hikes, and you'll be happy you remembered your sunscreen and camera. Dress in layers and bring rain gear if the weather calls for it. If you're heading to upstate on the Metro North railroad, you might want to bring something to do on the train.
Weather
If you're leaving New York City for a day hike, remember it's always a few degrees colder outside of Manhattan. The elevation of the Hudson Valley and the breezes of seaside Long Island will add to the chill factor, so come prepared. Trails very close to the city are accessible for the majority of the year; New York does get snow, but the amount varies greatly from year to year. Trails north of the city will likely be covered in snow from November to March. April through November is very mild, so most trails will be accessible during the spring, summer and fall.
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