I have to say, Hyde Park has a lot of cool parks and trails to check out, but this one stands out…read morethe most in terms of the best signature, decent good views, and peace and quiet. Most of the trails contain gravel along the journey along with some occasional tall grasses, rocks, and tree roots along the way. Speaking of all that, bring bug spray and check for ticks. There are five trails: Red, Green, Orange, Blue, and Yellow with the Red doing a big loop with the other trails having a dead end or connecting with the others (see a photo of the map). There technically are three starting points one at the Red trail end, Terwilliger Road, and also at the Yellow, on Route 9. The signature and location isn't that clear. The green trail comes out at a small road with no parking lot, instead in a neighborhood on Spruce Road. Beware of yellow paintings on tree branches which mean it's private property. All of that mentioned, enjoy the nature at Winnakee.

Beautifully maintained local treasure! 5 options for hiking…read more Easy to moderate difficulty for this almost 70 yo F. Great views, plenty of foraging for berries, apples and other edibles: know your plants of course!! Lots of rest stops along the way, picnic tables, benches- and it's dog friendly!! Perfect for a day time hike with a friend.

Really cute park with lots of easy hiking trails at a former apple orchard…read more The views are really pretty especially for sunset time and it's located at the highest point in Poughkeepsie. I love that throughout the trail you have little signs explaining fun facts about the animals you find there and insects such as frogs and fireflies. Really cool to learn while you walk. Came here in November for some photos but there wasn't too much foliage. Can't imagine how beautiful the park must be during spring with their apple blossoms and being able to Apple pick too! The cool thing is this park is run by a nonprofit, The Friends of Peach Hill and they're always looking for volunteers to help maintain this beautiful place. Porta potties available and beware of ticks. Signs are posted everywhere when you first walk in and I took my very first one home from just walking around and being in low cut grass area. That's the only downfall and main thing I can't evennnnnn deal with in the north east. Other than that, cute park with lots of picnic tables and areas where you can enjoy creation.

I like Stewart forest for both walking and GeoCaching as there are A LOT of caches in this forest…read more A word of caution I will say please be sure to check postings at parking lot if you visit during winter months because while the property is not chained/closed the forest is closed certain times of year in the winter for hunting. While you might find people still walking into the forest during hunting season they do so at their own risk. Hunters do sit out there at appropriate (legal) times of the year waiting for their prey. I warn because I didn't realize this and had a hunter warn me sternly that I was unintentionally putting myself at risk when the forest was off limits to hiking, walking & biking. The hunting warning aside the forest really is massive in size but I wouldn't call it difficult at all to walk. I could say it's a great beginner hiking spot since the elevation gain throughout the forest is well below 1K. I've hit some decent points but nothing like hiking an actual mountain. The forest I believe has something like over 20 miles of trails for foot, hiking and even horse back riding traffic. Some portions are swampy areas so be cautious where you step if you venture off the beaten path. There is no official NY/NJ trail map that I could find but NYS does provide a free map you can print out in advance. Stay safe and have fun! Info & Maps: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/50095.html

Great park with lots of trails for hiking and biking. They built a couple of boardwalks in the…read moreswamp that are very nice. Saw a pheasant and some birds and some beautiful fall foliage. 18 miles of trails!

ETA: I have since learned that the $35 is to park at the mountain house which is apparently more…read moreexpensive than parking at the preserve. :)

New Paltz / Gardiner, NY - I have hiked and biked through the Mohonk Preserve many a times over the…read moreyears, in all seasons, and it is one of my favorite wild places! Some of the trails I love the most are the Bonticrou Crag & Table Rocks (breathtaking views; the rock scramble is fun and challenging but there is an easier way up via the Bonticou ascent path), Labyrinth & Lemon Squeeze, and Sky Top Trail by the Mohonk Mountain House. On weekends and in the warmer seasons/good weather especially, the parking lots fill up early (like by 8:30-9am). There are 5 main trailheads, and the day use fee is at current writing $15 for hikers or $20 for cyclists/climbers/horseback riders (children 15 & under are free). At the heart of the preserve lies the Mohonk Mountain House, which is actually a private property. The area around the mountain house is amazing but unfortunately it is rather arduous to visit for many due to the parking lot distance, as it's a bit of a hike in from the preserve's trailheads (pleasant & easy, but about 4.5 miles in so that's ~9 miles roundtrip), unless you're a paying guest at this all-inclusive resort property and are allowed to park in the on-site lot. I've done it both the hard & easy ways, so to avoid sweat if not tears, I'll let my Yelp community in on some hacks of less strenuous ways to see the mountain house and its surroundings (short of paying $1Kpp as an overnight guest)... 1. $ - You can buy a $35 hiking day pass, to park at the "closer" parking lot at the Gatehouse, which is still 2.1 miles out from the mountain house (4.2 miles roundtrip, but better than 9 miles). 2. $$$ - Be a day guest and book a dining or spa experience at the property, and you can park on site. 3. $ - Visit during their special annual events like the gingerbread house competition in December or the tulip festival in April-May, passes for which are a much more affordable $15-$35 (2025 rates). This allows you to park at the mountain house and not have to hike in. So there! Mohonk Preserve is one of the most beautiful places in the Hudson Valley, with so much incredible scenery (including fall foliage!) and things to do - hiking, biking, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, row boating, and even a via ferrata though that's only for hotel guests - and is a dream for outdoor lovers!

I picked this trail out a while back, which in fact is part of the Wappingers Greenway Trail. This…read moretrail has four trailheads, considering it's a long trail that covers 2.73 miles. Only two trailheads provide parking while the other two don't. Along the way, there's plenty to take in, specifically the beautiful scenery paralleling Wappinger Creek and the view looking south toward the Hudson River. Some places are a bit steep and the edges are narrow as well - proceed with caution. We personally enjoyed our walk, and highly recommend it. The only issue that needs to be fixed is the bridge, located near the Market Street trailhead.

It was an absolutely beautiful day, where the attire du jour was t-shirts and shorts (as long as…read morehis wife has no say). Met best friend, Hopalong Casualty. After parking in a big dirt lot just past Rosendale, we walked south for about a half mile (over the trestle over the Rondout River). Then NOBO for a bit over 3 miles past an old abandoned outhouse (2-seater). Past William's Lake on the left, and past an area about 100' long where the temp suddenly drops a good 10 degrees. Weird, but it happens every time we walk past this area. Must be an aura or vortex. At the 18 mile mark (there are posts marked every half-mile), a lunch break. Sal, Kris and Charlie's deli hero. Best of the best. HC brought the brandy, but forgot to decant it. WVRT is absolutely beautiful. Cinder surface. Very gentle terrain. The part north of Rosendale is lightly trafficked. Bring fluids, and please practice Leave No Trace principles. 5 stars

I hit this trail up for an early morning hike and it was such a solid way to start the day. I…read morestarted from the southernmost point and walked about 2.5 miles north to the Gardiner Library. FYI, that southern start point has zero parking, so you're better off finding a spot near the Gardiner Library and going from there--it'll give you options for heading north or south. The path itself is wide and super chill. It was covered in leaves when I went, which was pretty, with big trees lining both sides. You can actually see some beautiful houses tucked in beyond the trees, which was a fun little treat as you walk. Heads up, though, it's not all nature; you do cross some streets, so stay aware of traffic. This thing is huge--the entire trail is over 20 miles and connects a bunch of towns like Wallkill, Gardiner, and New Paltz. It's a true multi-use path for walkers, runners, cyclists, and equestrians (no motorized vehicles, thank goodness). Quick tips for hitting the trail: Parking: Skip the southern end. Park around the Gardiner Library area; it's the smarter move. The Path: Remember, this is a linear trail, not a loop, so be ready to turn around and backtrack or arrange a ride back! Weather: If it's sunny out, you're set. It's an easy, flat walk. If you're looking for a relaxing, easy walk or ride with some nice scenery and want to knock out a few miles, this trail is a winner. Great for a Saturday morning coffee walk!

I visited Hudson Highlands State Park for the first time to hike the Blue Trail, also known as the…read moreCornish Trail. It was only my third time hiking, and that's when I realized how much I love hiking. I definitely plan to hike more often. The Blue Trail is considered beginner-friendly, I found parts of it a bit challenging because of the incline. Still, the effort was worth it, the view of South Beacon Mountain was absolutely beautiful. The hike itself was a great experience, especially with friends. Near the train station, there are small shops where you can grab food, drinks, or any last-minute supplies. There are also restrooms by the station and portable toilet near the trail areas. I would definitely come back to hike there again, maybe do the red trail.

One of the best hikes that I have gone on this year! Initially, we were going to do the Bull Hill…read moreFull Loop which is an estimated 3-4 hours. This is definitely a moderate trail. If you go in the winter, take caution with the ice when climbing to the top. After about an hour into the trail, you will see a sign to continue on the Full Loop or the Short Loop. When we reached that point, we switched to the Bull Hill Short Loop. It took around 3 hours to complete. The trails have beautiful views! You will see other hikers, but everyone keeps a safe distance. Take time to stop and enjoy the surrounding. There are portable toilets at the beginning of the trail with hand sanitizers if you need to use a bathroom.

This trail is not that long, only lasting less than a mile connecting from Dennings Point to Madem…read moreState Park. The Connector trail ends which then becomes the Madem Brett Trail, which is indicated by a white trail. You'll notice the change when the concreate becomes gravel. Beware at the northern end, there are a lot of plants which covering in the way of the path which contains a lot of bugs. At the end, the path widens providing more space.