If you feel nature calling to you, the Empire State offers hundreds of miles of trails for the aspiring hiker. But you don't need to rent a car to indulge your wanderlust: Many of these trails are located close to Metro-North Railroad stations, offering easy access to the great outdoors.
For more details on specific hikes, we recommend visiting Scenic Hudson or I LOVE NY.
Blue Mountain Reservation
A 1,500-acre park near Peekskill, Blue Mountain Reservation is a popular spot for local hikers, offering two small mountains (Blue Mountain and Spitzenberg Mountain) that you can summit for gorgeous views of the Hudson River. Blue Mountain also provides access to the Briarcliff-Peekskill Trail, which runs 12 miles south to Ossining and will take you to Croton Gorge Park, which has scenic vistas of the Croton Dam. Note: From the Peekskill station, you can either hire a car to take you to Blue Mountain or walk roughly two miles to the park.
Getting there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Peekskill
Croton Point Park
The Westchester RiverWalk is a 52-mile paved trail that connects 14 towns, most of which are on the Metro-North's Hudson line. Check out the Croton Point Park loop, situated on a small peninsula jutting out into the river. The park itself is the star of this short but scenic hike: Covering 508 acres, it boasts playing fields (including a cricket pitch), a boat launch, campgrounds, playgrounds, beach access for swimming and sunbathing, and spots to fish. The trail around the Croton Park Nature Center is paved and flat, making it great for a family outing.
Getting there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Croton-Harmon
Bull Hill Hike
Located within the expansive Hudson Highlands State Park, Bull Hill Hike is a four-hour moderately strenuous hike, delivering beautiful views of the Hudson, meandering brooks, plenty of trees, and abandoned carriage roads. The Washburn Trail trailhead is conveniently located near the Cold Spring train station. Use the NY State Parks official map to determine your best path.
Getting there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Cold Spring
Old Croton Aqueduct Trail
This 26-mile path traces the route of the Croton Aqueduct, which brought fresh water to New York City from the Croton River in the early 19th century, running from the Bronx to Croton-on-Hudson and connecting the Rivertowns along the way. Open to pedestrians and cyclists, it’s a pleasant way to hop from one village to the next, or to find some shade and green.
Getting there: Many stations along Metro-North's Hudson Line are close to points of interest along the Old Croton Aqueduct. Dobbs Ferry is closest to the Keeper's House Visitors Center, and Croton-on-Hudson is closest to the Croton Dam.
Walkway Over the Hudson
Spanning 1.28 miles across the Hudson River, the Walkway over the Hudson is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge. Standing 212 feet over the river, the Walkway offers expansive, unobstructed views of Poughkeepsie, the Hudson, the Catskills, the Mid-Hudson Bridge, and all points north and south. At 24 feet wide, there’s plenty of space for visitors to walk, run or bike side by side, and the Walkway’s 21-story glass elevator on the Poughkeepsie side allows easy access to the main structure.
Getting there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Poughkeepsie
Mount Beacon
Want to climb a historic fire tower? Mount Beacon has you covered. The four-mile hike passes some relics from the town of Beacon's past, including the path of an old funicular railway, before reaching the fire tower. Originally built in 1931, the tower stands 60 feet tall; from its summit, you'll have panoramic views of the Hudson Valley and beyond. The trailhead in Mount Beacon Park is approximately two miles from the Beacon Metro-North station, but can be accessed easily on foot or by taxi.
Getting there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Beacon