5 Best Places for Hiking Near Manhattan

Once in a while, it’s nice to escape our concrete jungle and fully embrace nature, and with fall approaching, it’s the perfect time for a nice hike! We’ve made it easy for you to plan your trip with a list of the 5 best places to hike near New York City. 

FRANNY REESE STATE PARK 

Macks Ln, Highland, NY 12528 

Home to the Walkway Over the Hudson, the world’s largest pedestrian bridge, Franny Reese State Park is a great place for plenty of easy hiking and walking. If you want a stunning view of the Hudson River, try the Yellow Trail and White Trail Loop, a 3.9-mile loop that takes you to the Mid-Hudson bridge and provides plenty of scenery along the way. 

How to get there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Poughkeepsie. 

Hike Difficulty Level: Easy 

13 BRIDGES LOOP 

125 Phelps Way, Pleasantville, NY 10570 

Calling all fans of bridges! Located within Rockefeller State Park is the 13 Bridges Loop, one of the longest single trails within the park, that’s guaranteed to entertain any and every hiker. The bridges vary in size, length, height, and aesthetic, but are all historic carriage bridges from the early 1900s. Not to mention, this hike is perfect for the family and can be completed by inexperienced hikers. 

How to get there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Tarrytown and take the 0013 towards Ossining Railroad Station from North Broadway at Neperan Road to Phelps Hospital, then walk to the preserve. 

Hike Difficulty Level: Easy 

ANTHONY’S NOSE 

Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Garrison, NY 10524 

Sometimes we just want to go for a shorter hike, and Anthony’s Nose is perfect for doing just that, while still providing great views. Located near Cold Springs, this 2-mile out-and-back trail takes about an hour and 18 minutes to complete, making it the perfect quick hike for a nice day. Plus, the river views are hard to beat! 

How to get there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Manitou (1 min walk to trail) 

Hike Difficulty Level: Medium  

BULL HILL 

3260 NY-9D, Cold Spring, NY 10516 

If you’re looking for beautiful river views and a more challenging hike, travel to Cold Spring and explore the 5.4-mile loop trail on Bull Hill. Gaining an elevation of 1,391 feet (about 423.98 m), Bull Hill provides hikers with two options: the short loop, which takes around 1-2 hours, or the full loops, which takes around 2-3 hours. Regardless of which loop you choose; you can look forward to stunning sights and a great workout! 

How to get there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Cold Spring (20-minute walk to trail) 

Hike Difficulty Level: Medium/Hard 

BELLVALE MOUNTAIN – APPALACHIAN TRAIL 

Warwick, NY 10990 

For a longer hike, look no further than the Bellvale Mountain section of the Appalachian Trail. A 7.7-mile out-and-back trail located near Bellvale, New York, this trail typically takes a little over 3 hours to complete but is filled with beautiful views that make the hours worthwhile. The trail is most popular for backpacking, birdwatching, and camping, but can be enjoyed by anyone looking to get their steps in! 

How to get there: NJ Transit bus #197 to Route 17A and Kain Road, then walk to Continental Road 

Hike Difficulty Level: Hard