Stanfordville, New York

NOTE: There is a new permit system in place: Under the new no-cost permit system, visitors to the Blue Hole are required to obtain a permit on weekends and holidays from May 15 through October 15 every year. DEC will issue up to 40 permits per day and each permit allows entry for up to six indivi...

Schunnemunk Mountain State Park is one of my favorite parks.  It offers many trails and possibilities for different loops.  The attraction of Schunnemunk Mountain is the long double ridges running parallel to each other and amazing views in all directions. This hike starts at the Taylor Road par...

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...

The trail starts across the street from the parking area you will see a sign. After a short walk in you will cross a foot bridge. At approximately 0.75 mile you will reach a junction. You will turn left toward Giant Ledge. The next half mile is fairly flat. At 1.5 miles you will reach a spur ...

Giant Ledge is a great hike in the Catskills if you are looking for something short, with incredible views, and camping options. There are not many hikes with better views then this in the Catskills, so why not spend as much time as possible up there? There are a few camping spots you can grab wh...

The Osborn Loop trail itself is not a loop.  It connects to a 2.5 mile section of the Appalachian Trail.  Hiking these together creates the loop.  Start at the trail head for the Appalachian Trail on South Mountain Pass Road.  There is parking for two or three cars.  Walk up the road a short dist...

The Escarpment Trail runs the length of the Catskill Escarpment. The Escarpment rises steeply from the valley below forming the northeast corner of the Catskill Mountains. It offers great views toward the Adirondack Mountains to the north and the great Hudson River to the east. The trail is moder...

Parking for the trail runs along both sides of 9D right up until the Bear Mountain Bridge. It can be busy on the weekends so just make sure you're as far off the road as you can and be especially careful unloading kids and dogs. The trailhead is located at approximately 41.322571, -73.975949 and ...

Popolopen Torne is a hidden gem in the Hudson Valley, a surprisingly unknown trail with a beautiful payoff and a far deeper meaning. A short hike to the top puts you at the foot of a memorial to those who have served their country, a pile of painted rocks carried up by those who want to pay their...

From your starting point at the Bear Mountain Inn, go left along the Cornell Mine Trail. (This part can be a bit confusing, but go past the carousel to a shaded picnic area; that is where the trail starts.) You will go under a bridge and follow the trail until it takes a sharp left and descends t...

This approximately 3-hour hike borders the Hudson River, and is one of the best in Westchester County. Start off at the parking area at the Bear Mountain Tollhouse, or at a small parking area farther up Bear Mountain Road, if you want a slightly shorter hike. The trail is fairly steep in places, ...

Timeline: Weekend, though can easily be done as an overnight trip or just a day hike Summary: Day 1: Hike to camp (0.7 miles, 340' elevation gain) Day 2: Hike to Balsam Mountain and back to camp (4 miles round-trip) Day 3: Relax & hike back to car (0.7 miles) Details: Park the car at McKinle...

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...

This loop trail is moderately rated and reaches a total elevation gain of approximately 1,183 feet. It’s located in the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, which spans roughly 4,315 acres. It is Westchester County’s largest park and includes roughly 35 plus miles of hiking trails to explore. The Ward...

Enders State Forest sprawls over approximately 2000 acres, and is found within the towns of Granby and Barkhamsted in Connecticut.  Enders has a good sized parking lot directly on Route 219.  From the junction of Route 219 and Route 20, visitors will proceed west on Route 219 for 1.2 miles and tu...

Kinderhook Creek is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Stephentown, New York.