Lots of lush land, prime for hiking, hanging, picture taking, and overall enjoying nature! You do have to pay a fee to enter from may thru Sept BUT you can walk in for free! The pals and I went early summer to collect wild berries and they were plentiful! Lots to do for every nature lover whether avid or beginner. Take in the history and find something new and majestic here! read more

Not the prettiest this time of year with barren trees and wet muddy swap areas. Off-trailing is highly unrecommended. Follow the trails and do some research beforehand, maybe even use a hiking app. The basic trail was probably easier than the weird way we tackled the mountain. Definitely start the trail where it's marked on Google Maps. Real muddy after the rain from yesterday and got real messy. Thorny plants too. And many bugs buzzing around your head (no mosquitoes yet despite the swampy wetness). Can take the Metro North to Peekskill and walk up a steep hill to the reservation. 1) follow the trails 2) bring bug spray 3) check out the weather and the season 4) don't get lost read more

Blue Mountain Reservation - April 2022 - Hiking Near Me - Peekskill, New York

See all

With its poorly marked trails, below-average scenery and bucolic sounds of a nearby gun range, Blue Mountain is skippable. Apparently I was near the summit but there was no signs. More alarmingly, the blue apparently morphed into the green trail which uses the most blueish green I've ever encountered. I went far out of the way and landed next to the archery range which is near the gun range. The real danger wasn't arrows, it was walking for miles on sidewalk-less roads which at the time seemed safer that going back uphill on unclear trails. Maps and directional signs were non-existent. Mount Spitzenberg offered pleasant rocks and Hudson views but they only made the effort to put a sigh on the southbound (or maybe it was westbound, this was kind of a mess). read more

Seriously great park. There is a playground, lake, bike paths, ample parking - the only thing that sucks is the parking fee. Dogs are welcome there, but beware of goose poop. There is a new deli outside the entrance to the park, so you can stock up before you go in. Remember to clean up after yourself. One of the best parks in Westchester. read more

Blue Mountain Reservation - Hiking Near Me - Peekskill, New York

Great spot close to NYC for mountain biking and hiking. Getting there is pretty easy (take metro north to Peekskill) and I have seen the town offer vans to the park during the fall. Single track is a ton of fun (trail forks has a very useful map) and the hiking is a nice change of pace from the more popular bear mountain (just across the river). This is also one of the only places where you can rent a bike and ride quality trail. Pedal Peekskill is a great operation read more

Blue Mountain Reservation - Hiking Near Me - Peekskill, New York

Beautiful place for long walks especially if you have the time to wander. The paths are easy walking, but it can be difficult to follow the trails to anywhere in particular. Be careful if you're on the aptly names Sitting Duck trail that circles the shooting range. The park also has a field where you can play baseball or soccer/football, just drag the goalposts. There's a scenic bridge for photos, and ponds where you can dip your feet. There are a few porta potties if you get desperate. read more

Great place to visit in the fall. It's worth of the drive there. There is a lot of place to explore in the park so bring some food to eat or pack it up in your back pack. read more

See all

This is a lovely park with many different trails. For difficulty ratings, look at the key on the map of trails--those were accurate for a pair of semi-fit people. As mentioned in other reviews, there is no pay off in terms of a vista here, and it seems to be a park more local in nature for that reason (e.g. people with dogs and families) and more populated by mountain bikers than hikers who do it for the 'gram. But that also meant it was blissfully empty on one of the nicest weekends of the season--all the better for people-free shots of foliage and a true escape from the city. Also as mentioned, the trails are not well-marked--paint on trees rather than signs--we got turned around several times. But the park isn't super large, so we figured it out, and the locals were happy to help. Lastly (and also mentioned in another review), for those coming from the city on the weekend--call Johnny the Driver, who operates a shuttle between the Peekskill station and the park, at (914) 584-8711. He's the best--super friendly, enthusiastic, and happy to talk about all things Peekskill! read more

See all

Wish I would've stayed longer! Felt a little uncomfortable wandering too far on my own. An easy drive from nyc with many hike options. 10 dollar entrance fee. Wasn't crowded at all on a weekday afternoon. read more

Who would believe this gem exists in Westchester County off Watch Hill Road, Cortlandt Manor This review is about the Sportsman Center Shooting Range. For $7-9/hour, depending on range, you have access to several ranges: .22 rifle, pistol, rifle (100 and 200 yards), trap/skeet, and archery. When I have brought guests, Range Officers are helpful and love to coach new shooters about good technique and safe shooting skills. Best days are Thursday and Friday when less crowded than Sat or Sun or holidays. Range is open other days for law enforcement only. Out-of-county residents also welcome, though pay $2 more per hour. Access to rest of park is free though some parking areas require a fee. Age restriction is 12 years or older. Entire families often come to the range. read more

I visited this park on a clear sunny March day when it warmed up. Glad to take the time for a walk out here. It was very pretty with the snow on the ground and the lake still frozen. It looks to be a great spot for hiking and picnics during the summer. During the winter since they don't really have the capacity to clear the path as we had so much snow this year. It was mainly for the sights. The area we visited was only a small portion of the park I believe. From the looks of it this is mostly meant for biking on the trails and camping since it contains a large land area. Relatively close to Bear Mountain that this deserve a visit as well. read more

See all

Absolutely amazing all year round. Lots of space. An absolutely gorgeous lake in the middle with a nice little waterfall. Lots of trails to explore. read more

Blue Mountain Reservation - Hiking Near Me - Peekskill, New York

See all

Primarily known as a mountain bike park, this Westchester gem is about an hour away from Grand Central on Metro-North and is a superb destination for getting out of the city for a day hike. The park is over 1,500 acres and is open 7 days a week from 8am to dusk. Facilities include picnic area, ballfields, camping, fishing, shooting range and horse trails. Trailhead/park entrance is about a 20 min walk through town from the Peekskill train station and is easy to get to. Once there, there's a total of 20 miles of various level hiking including beginners, intermediate and advanced and most are clearly marked. The peak of Blue Mountain itself offers a killer view of the Hudson Valley looking west so bring your camera. I also highly recommend this spot for the post-hike option of Peekskill Brewery which provides the perfect end destination before heading back. read more

Perfect spot for a stroll, hike, biking or photography. I visit this park a few times a year to take conceptual photos. If's absolutely gorgeous with a vast variety of landscapes to work with. Watch out for snakes (non-poisonous). Otherwise, would definitely recommend. read more

See all

Blue Mountain Reservation is great for runners, bikers, walkers and sportsmen in the Town of Cortlandt/Peekskill area. It's not too remote so that even those not acquainted with northern westchester can locate it and navigate its paths, but its also sufficiently wooded and private to afford some respite from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding towns. Besides being beautiful, it's a great place to work up a sweat and get some exercise in without worrying about cars running you over, since Westchester suffers in general from a lack of sidewalks... read more

Just a short drive from NYC, nestled in the heart of Westchester is a great little park that offers something for everyone. I go for the mountain biking so I never really paid much attention to its other offerings but I had some casual riders with me this weekend who were quick to notice all the other great stuff. The park's offerings range from family friendly picnic and playground to hiking, biking, horseback riding (although I've never seen a horse there) t shooting. At the heart of the park are two mountains; Blue mountain and Mt Spitzenberg. The park is ringed and crossed with jeep roads and woven with tight single track. There are ponds, streams, picnic areas and a playground. There is a shooting range in the park but it has its own entrance. The single track is great. Most bikers park at the upper lot to avoid the family play areas. The offerings range from carriage roads with the occasional loose rocky patch, to tight AM single track that will put every inch of your suspension to use. The trails are well marked and a map can be printed off various mtn bike websites. read more

This is an OK trail, but it doesn't provide many surprises, challenges or a scenic payoff at the end. If one exists, we missed it, which is possible. Also, I believe there's a shooting range nearby, so the sound of gunshots detracts from the scenery. I probably won't make a special trip to hike this trail, but I would do it again if I were in the area. read more

Terrific day for a walk in the park! This is easy access and a beautfiul hike in the woods without trekking over to Bear Mountain.

Great way to get out if the city for a day and see some nature. The hike was very easy to get to from the Peekskill train station (1 hour ride on the metro North from Grand Central). There is a van funded by the local businesses which takes you right to the trail head. If you don't see it at the station, call Johnny the driver at 914 584 8711. The hike itself is great. Very peaceful and a good variety of trails. Trails we're not clearly marked throughout, so we got lost a few times, but still had a good time and managed to find our way back to the trail head anyway. After the hike, Peekskill brewery is right by the train station and is a great way to end the trip. read more

If you're thinking about going to the large bore/ 100m range; don't. Rude, know it all staff (even had one guy FORCE me to shoot from a specific position [steady marksman position]... Was only there to put a few down range to check the action and spent cases on a new surplus, which had to be cut an recrowned anyway) (note: I had already checked the head-spacing prior to make sure it was safe) 1 round at time only. (even the small caliber ranges are only 5 rounds max per mag) No custom targets, targets pre-placed and full of holes if you're not the first one on the range, or lucky enough to be their when they finally decide the switch the targets out. Expensive. Overall this place is the embodiment of New York's Nazi 2nd amendment laws and zaps all the fun out of shooting if you're an experienced shooter. read more

First off, I just need to say that I feel really strange even writing a negative review for nature, because what does that even mean? It makes me feel kinda icky and unappreciative, but my poor review is solely because the trails are SO poorly marked. Overall the park itself was pretty nice, with some cute bridges, but not very many scenic views. As an experienced hiker, I hit a new park's trails expecting to not get lost for hours because I followed a certain trail and it's marked incorrectly on the map, but that's exactly what happened here. The map makes it appear that if you follow the blue trail, you'll eventually meet the yellow trail and will be able to do a loop of most of the park. However, we followed the blue trail and that was apparently the white trail and then we somehow ended up at a random street that may or may not have even been on the map at all. We ended up having to backtrack for almost an hour, where we took an offshoot onto the red trail and our faith was briefly restored in the system of trails and proper markings. That is, until the red trail markers completely disappeared and we wandered around on a completely unmarked trail for about an hour until we suddenly popped back onto the red trail again and were able to find our way out via the yellow trail. The whole experience was incredibly frustrating, and I've left convinced that the blue trail doesn't actually exist and with a theory that the red trail might also be partially contrived. So yeah, if you're looking for a fun hiking experience where you can enjoy nature without being stressed about being utterly and completely lost/confused, it's probably best to avoid this park. read more

I wish I could give the lodge house as well as the park itself 5 stars but I can't. I've been booking the lodge house for years for my Boy Scout unit and we fill it. We usually go for the MLK weekend and make a long weekend of it. The boys are out of school and we fill the lodge house. My boys love it, however it seems every other year, Westchester County changes its booking process. How can you book a lodge house for MLK weekend when you only open the books right after January 1? Also Westchester County officials get first preference to book ahead of the general public. This stinks of scam and corruption to me. Too bad, it is a very nice place to spend a three day weekend with 40 people. Shame on you Westchester County!!! read more

Not a real fan of this place for one reason. The trail map you get at the front gate may as well be for a different park. It is impossible to follow. As you're hiking you will find you're on the red path. Them you look at the map and there's no red path on it. I have been there twice and tried two different trails and it was the same thing. The trails are nice and all but I prefer to know how to get back to my car. read more

I've been to the Sportsman Center at Blue Mountain three times for the pistol range see http://parks.westchestergov.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1899&Itemid=4554 It's a very nice public facility. The people are helpful and friendly. The range officers are willing to provide good advice. It's a very nice setting and a lot of people seem to agree as I have seen a lot of crowds, so get there early. I'll be going back as often as I can. I can't wait to try the trap stands! read more

I've only really used the shooting range, although the rest of the park looks great for a day outdoors or hiking. There are pistol, smallbore,and largebore ranges. I frequent the smallbore range where most of the range staff are great... in particular, George is great. the largebore range is a different world - some of the staff are helpful, but there are a couple of guys there that have an attitude and act like Rambo wannabes. Overall I would highly recommend the smallbore range, but the largebore range isn't even really useful for sighting in a rifle read more

Wow.... talk about a great place to have some family fun at the shooting range. I decided to go to their small bore range for shooting for my birthday a week and a half ago, and was happy to learn that they weren't charging by the gun (I had just gotten a Remington Model 597 for my birthday, but I wanted to also shoot my mom's Marlin, my dad's Ruger 10/22, among other guns). They were really cool about things at the front office...when we got to the range, the first range we went to (the one in the middle) was run by a complete and utter moron. A super snarky old man who was being a complete nimrod that almost ruined the whole day. Good thing they let us shoot in the range that was attached to the pistol portion, because they were a lot more awesome and accomodating. Great with being serious and teaching the non-shooters some gun safety, but also really laid back (he even showed my mother that she's actually left eye and left arm dominant, so she had a lot better time shooting her Marlin and at least holding the .410 shotgun after that). It was only $28 for 6 people to have a great day shooting for 2 hours. I definitely loved the experience and I hope to go again soon! read more

I came here with my cuteness. It was fun to go in the woods. Watch out because at one part of the trail they use blue markers incorrectly and it will lead you astray. You'll be near the shooting range. Then you gotta go back. That place sounded like the second amendment. It's a pretty nice hike but not the best ever. It's not very challenging with a good pair of shoes and some strong legs. read more

I went to Sportsman Center. Its ok, however rules don't make sense sometimes. You better come property zeroed in because there is only 100 and 200 meter targets. One range officer was total jerk who thought he was worlds best shooter. If he likes you he will help if not he will pas you off to next guy. You cant load more then 1 round although you need 3 shots to test grouping. I go there because its the closest range that is 100-200m. I went to Davis once although the range was farther and bit more expensive, the range staff was more helpful. If there was a closer 100m range I would go some place else read more

i go mtn biking here almost every weekend! the best in the country,,and nov thru march you dont pay 8.00 for parking

I've only been here twice, both times to the shooting range(the rifle/large bore range to be precise)and will only ever go back under extreme protest. First off, and a big gripe of mine: you can only have 1 cartridge loaded at a time. 1 measly round whether you had a semi-automatic or a bolt action, making the visit already forgettable. I first went here years ago when I was about 23 years old and had a horrid experience. The range master in charge was a fat, crotchety, old man adorned in his full Vietnam or Korea or whatever veteran uniform probably looking for respect or maybe pity. He was absolutely abysmal. Since I apparently wasn't over the age of 40, I was considered an inexperienced child that had no idea what he was doing in his mind. He hounded the rules and regulations to me at least three times and then stood over me like a hawk. I asked him kindly if he would mind giving me some room to which I received no reply, so I turned around and merely stared at him till he gave me a snooty stare and walked off but constantly monitored me the entire time I was there. I decided to go back another year or two later, figuring maybe he won't be there that day, retired or had maybe even died since it looked like he was on the verge of it the first time I went. Nope. He was there yet again and treated me like some dumb kid. Luckily some other guy who worked there kind of warded him off and was overall a nice guy. read more