View of Plattekill Falls – Catskill Park – Photo credit: Daniela Wagstaff This versatile route through Platte Clove Preserve and Overlook Mountain Wild Forest can be tailored for a day hike or overnight backpacking trip. Options include a moderate 4.5-mile out-and-back to Codfish Point, a scenic 8.8-mile round trip to Echo Lake, or a full
Wawayanda Furnace – Photo by Daniel Chazin This diverse 7-mile loop in Wawayanda State Park connects multiple scenic trails and historic sites, traversing rhododendron tunnels, serene lakes, hardwood forests, and wetlands. Starting on Cherry Ridge Road, the hike visits Lake Lookout via the white-blazed Lookout Trail, then winds along the historic Laurel Pond Trail to
Wetland along the Doris Duke Trail – Photo by Daniel Chazin This moderate 4-mile loop hike explores the scenic and tranquil Doris Duke Wildlife Sanctuary in Sterling Forest, where hunting is prohibited. Following the yellow-on-white Doris Duke Trail, the route winds through forests, skirts marshes with views of beaver lodges, and climbs to a rocky
Narrow passage on the Catfish Loop Trail – Photo by Daniel Chazin The 4.6-mile Catfish Loop Trail explores the rugged, lesser-traveled southwest corner of Clarence Fahnestock State Park, offering a peaceful circuit through forested ridges, historic stone walls, laurel tunnels, and scattered viewpoints. Starting from Dennytown Road, the loop briefly follows the Appalachian Trail before
View of the New York City skyline from Cactus Ledge – Photo by Daniel Chazin This 3.8-mile loop in Ramapo Valley County Reservation offers a well-rounded experience of scenic overlooks, rocky ascents, quiet forests, and tranquil water features—all within one of Bergen County’s most popular parklands. Blazed in 2016 by Trail Conference volunteers, the Vista
Forest View Trail/Closter Dock Trail Loop – Photo: Daniel Chazin This rewarding loop invites you along a striking stretch of the Palisades, blending cliffside vistas, Hudson River history, and rugged adventure—all just minutes from the George Washington Bridge. The hike begins on the iconic aqua-blazed Long Path, tracing the clifftops above the Hudson with spur trails leading to dramatic viewpoints
View of Greenwood Lake from the Ernest Walter Trail – Photo by Daniel Chazin This 6.7-mile loop over Bearfort Ridge is one of the most scenic and adventurous day hikes in the New York–New Jersey Highlands. Beginning with a steep 600-foot climb up the State Line Trail, the route rewards hikers with sweeping views over
Cranberry Lake Preserve – Photo: Jane Daniels The Cranberry Lake Preserve loop is a peaceful 3.5-mile loop that explores the varied terrain of Cranberry Lake Preserve, a 190-acre natural area tucked amid the suburban bustle of Westchester County. Despite its modest size, the preserve offers a rich and diverse hiking experience, from tranquil lakeside paths
Discover sweeping Hudson Valley views on this scenic loop hike along the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail near North/South Lake. Highlights include panoramic overlooks like Sunset Rock and Inspiration Point, historic landmarks, and a peaceful mix of forest and escarpment edge walking. Ideal for moderate-level hikers seeking a rewarding Catskills adventure with stunning vistas and rich natural…
