Croton-on-Hudson, New York

Mount Beacon is a very popular trail along the Hudson River, and for good reason. It offers a good workout, fantastic views for both sunrise and sunset (and of course the time in between), a recently rebuilt fire tower, and all with incredibly easy access right on the edge of a lively town. The ...

Starting in the quaint town of Beacon there are a couple of options for hikes of varying difficulty. From the station the walk is about 1.5 miles to the trail heads, alternatively if you choose to stay the night at Malouf's Mountain Sunset Campground you can arrange for the host to meet you, take...

There are some great view points along this route.  Start from the Mount Beacon Park trailhead parking area.  This leads to the Casino Trail (red markers).  The trail climbs steeply to some old ruins of a casino.  Most of what remains is only the brick structure housing the mechanics for a trolle...

This trails starts at a small park in Woodbury called Gonzaga Park.  Closed from mid-November to April, you are still able to park just outside the gate if that is the time of year you are hiking.  Three different trail names share this path.  The Jessup trail starts/end at Gonzaga Park and trave...

Fishkill Ridge is a strenuous but rewarding hike, and one of the less known areas in the Hudson Valley. The parking area is at the very end of Sunnyside Road in Beacon, along with the information board at the trailhead. The red trail leaves the lot and will take you up to the first peak on the ri...

Hudson Highlands Overlook Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Beacon, New York.

There are several trailheads for Hemlock Hills But the least crowded is at the intersection of Ned's Mountain road and Bogus Road.  I took my 3 year old black lab. There are ton's of little ponds for your dog to jump in and do dog things.  For the most part the hike is flat but at some parts it c...

Long Dock and Dennings Point are two of the most popular parks in Beacon, that just so happen to be connected by a train track turned trail. Plenty of parking is available at Long Dock, and its a perfect spot to picnic, launch your kayak into the Hudson, or cast your line hoping to reel in the bi...

The easiest way to access this loop hike is by parking at the Palisades State Park Headquarters.  This is just off exit 2 from the Palisades Interstate Parkway.  Parking here is free and it is a short walk down a road to the Closter Dock Trail.  The Closter Dock Trail is more of a wide fire road ...

The Celery Farm Mayor Fitzpatrick Nature Trail in Allendale, New Jersey, is a peaceful, scenic retreat for birdwatchers, hikers, and nature lovers. This 1-mile loop trail winds through a 107-acre freshwater wetland preserve, offering opportunities to spot over 240 bird species, deer, turtles, a...

To start, I recommend coming in the early morning or afternoon, as the parking lot fills up with people hiking, fishing or going for a walk with their family. I usually get my luckiest before 9. This park is as relaxing or exciting as you want to make it. Here is a good map to use/ print out. We ...

Located along the Long Island Sound, this 147-acre conservancy is home to a plethora of different birds, including marsh wrens, seaside sparrows, and American woodcocks. The conservancy has 3 miles of trails, all easy to navigate. Starting out from the visitor's center, take the trail to the rig...

Start out by turning right when you walk out of the visitor center onto Sterling Lake Loop (Blue Blazes). The visitor center is worth going in as they have a full diorama of the park with LED light to show trail routes. About .3 miles into the hike you will cross over a small bridge with a waterf...

This trail is accessible year round and features water views of the Long Island Sound with beach access. The trail is a popular spot for walking, biking, fishing, and even bird watching. But if you’re not quite in the mood to get your steps in, you can use the small beach to sit and chat with a f...

Saddle River Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

On my way to the drive-in, I saw a sign for Ringwood Manor estate and wanted to adventure around. The parking is easy and the property was beautiful! As we walked through the estate, we found: a quaint tree foresta small cemetery with headstones hundreds of years olda river with a small waterf...