7.2 miles | 820 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ I have mixed feelings about the cooler temperatures. On one hand, the crispness is perfect hiking weather. I love being bundled and even more importantly, not sweating. But on the other hand, the muted colors of grey dampen otherwise spectacular views. Not wanting to journey too far last weekend, we decided to explore Hemlock Falls in South Meadow Reservation. The falls were nice, but the discovery of a fairy village made the hike all the more worth it.
easy trail
Hike 46: Letchworth State Park
4.6 miles | 892 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★★ Letchworth State Park. The Grand Canyon of the east. And apparently USA Today's top state park in the United States. The Genesee River runs straight through the park, with waterfalls as high as 600 feet in some places. It's not prime for challenging hikes, but accessibly and effort bang for your buck, it's way up there.
Hike 45: Taughannock Falls
2.5 miles | 217 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★★ On our way up to the Finger Lakes for a long weekend, we stopped at Taughannock Falls. At 400 feet in height, Taughannock falls is more than double the height of Niagara Falls, though not nearly as wide. Best of all, the hike is relatively accessible for all skill levels and just 20 minutes north of Ithaca.
Hike 44: Old Croton Aqueduct Part 3
6.5 miles | 328 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ The Old Croton Aqueduct trail traces the waterway from Croton Dam to Bryant Park, and provided clean water to New York City in the 1800s. In 2019, we finished our 3-part hike of the Westchester trail and earlier this year, we opted to start the remaining ~15 miles of the urban trail, from Bryant Park to Yonkers.
Hike 43: Pyramid Mountain and Tripod Rock
3.8 miles | ~600 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ Last weekend was a perfect fall day. A little crisp but not the kind of chill you feel in your bones. Back from the Catskills, we were excited for the local foliage, but unfortunately that was still to come. Instead, we headed out to New Jersey, to Pyramid Mountain National Historical Area in Montville for a gentle forest walk with a few views.
Hike 42: Vanderbilt Mansion
3.0 miles | 223 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ On our way home from the long weekend, we decided to stop for one final hike - a stroll along the Vanderbilt Mansion grounds. Just across the Hudson River, and a bit south, is Hyde Park - home to the Roosevelt Presidential Library, CIA and Vanderbilt Mansion. The grounds are beautiful, overlooking the Hudson River, with the Catskills in full view.
Hike 40: Diamond Notch Falls
2.0 miles | 226 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ After conquering Twin and Indian Head, we needed a recovery hike. And who can turn down a waterfall. Diamond Notch Falls were a bit of a drive, but I've found (as with the Adirondacks), it's sometimes challenging to find a scenic hike in the Catskills, unless you're willing to put in the work. Many hikes are under .5 miles, a "look at the thing on the side of the road" hike, or "moderate" 1,000 ft climbs. Diamond Notch Falls offered a moderate distance and relatively flat trail.
Hike 37: Pochuck Valley via Appalachian Trail
4.8 miles | 302 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ We went apple picking last weekend in the far corner of New Jersey, a stones throw across the border from Warwick, New York. The orchards at Pochuck Valley Farm, were a hike of their own. With acres of land and nearly 2,000 trees, you could always find your own corner of solitude. It was a bonus when we learned the AT was right down the street, including the Stairway to Heaven, a hike that's been on our list for some time now.
Hike 36: Anthony Wayne Recreation Area
5.4 miles | 909 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ It's FALL! No other season even comes close. And it's not just because it's my birthday season. Crisp evenings, chilly mornings, ideal hiking weather, apples, cider, fire colors, leaf peeps, Halloween, oh my! What's not to love?! While we didn't get to actually hike on the first day of fall, it's first Saturday brought ideal conditions.
Hike 35: Old Croton Aqueduct Part 2
7.2 miles | 453 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ The Old Croton Aqueduct trail traces the waterway from Croton Dam to Bryant Park, and provided clean water to New York City in the 1800s. In 2019, we finished our 3-part hike of the Westchester trail and this month, we opted to start the remaining 15 miles of the urban trail, likely also done as 3 parts.
Hike 34: Sandy Hook
8.3 miles | 92 ft gain | Difficulty: Moderate | Rating ★★★ There's a direct ferry from the bottom of Manhattan, 30 minutes to Sandy Hook, NJ. We've known about the ferry for years, but this year, we finally tried it out. Landing right at Fort Hancock, you're immediately immersed in the history that was once there. Shuttle buses will take you to the beach of your choice, but we wanted to wander and explore.
Hike 33: Old Croton Aqueduct Part 1
6.6 miles | 240 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ The Old Croton Aqueduct trail traces the waterway from Croton Dam to Bryant Park, and provided clean water to New York City in the 1800s. There are still remnants of the aqueduct on the trail, like stone ventilation towers that now skirts between suburban backyards and unassumingly down city streets. Over a few years, we hiked the more common route, from Yonkers to Croton Dam, approximately 26 miles. This time we decided to finish the remaining 15 miles.
Hike 32: Iron Mine Pond Loop
3.2 miles | 469 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ After our trip to the Adirondacks, we took a few weeks off from hiking. Partly to recover, partly to make way for Hurricanes Henri and Ida's wrath. We had a great camping trip planned for Labor Day weekend at Rudd Pond in Taconic State Park. And some big plans, including the highest point in Connecticut and the NY-CT-MA tripoint. Unfortunately the consistent rain on Sunday forced us to pack up a day early. Luckily we still got a quick loop in on Saturday, leaving right from our campsite.
Hike 31: Belfry Mountain
0.7 miles | 138 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★ After a week of moderate but intense hikes, 6000 ft gain and 30+ miles, we wanted an easy trail to end on a high note. Barely a hike, but part of the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge, we decided to quickly run up Belfry mountain on our way home.
Hike 25: Buttermilk Falls
4.25 miles | 250 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★ The plan was to drive over to Buttermilk Falls just before dinner on Saturday night. Google gave us one set of directions, Waze another longer route. We assumed Waze knew something Google didn't about traffic or obstructions (it usually does, regardless of them being the same company) and went with it. 30 minutes later we arrived at a blocked road. So...we drove around to the other side. Also blocked. Apparently the direct road to the falls was blocked with "covid restrictions" according to the Delaware Water Gap's website. We learned later that they were rebuilding the parking lot.
Hike 23: Corbett’s Glen
2.5 miles | 148 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ We spent the July 4th weekend road tripping upstate for our cousin's covid-delayed graduation party in Rochester. To extend the trip a bit, we stopped by the Finger Lakes for some wine, cider and hiking. Unfortunately, conditioned by the heatwave in the city, we didn't properly prepare for milder temperatures. Our planned hike to Taughannock Falls would have to wait. Luckily, we found a few hours to check out a local spot in Rochester while there.
Hike 22: Hartshorn Woods
6.0 miles | 614 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ I'm not a beach person, but somehow being near the beach on a 90 degree day felt like the right hike option. We ventured down to Atlantic Highlands, a mile or so from Sandy Hook. Starting from the Rocky Point entrance, we followed the black diamond trail for most of the hike resulting in a long loop around the park.
Hike 20: Prospect Park
4.35 miles | 213 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ With a Friday off, I planned to attempt my first solo hike. But a couple of things changed my mind. I'm a bit clumsy so the idea of being in the woods, alone, and spraining my ankle or worse didn't really appeal. Plus for the first time in 15 months, I wanted to be with all the people. A wild, yet urban stroll through Prospect Park seemed to fit the bill.
Hike 19: Clarence Fahnestock State Park
7.0 miles | 591 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★★ Fahnestock is a beautiful, surprisingly quiet park. We had only been there once a few years back. It was a holiday weekend and we didn't see anyone in our 10-mile journey. Up by Cold Spring, New York, the Appalachian trail runs the length of the park. When my boss insisted we had a two week window to see the mountain laurel blooms, we knew we had to go.
Hike 17: Teatown – Kitchawan Trail
3 miles | 400 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ We've adopted! We're already members of the New York New Jersey Trail Conference, but considering how much we depend on them for great trails, maps and resources, we wanted to give back a little more. So, after training and volunteer orientation, we have adopted the Teatown-Kitchawan Trail, affectionately called the TKT.
Hike 16: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
3.7 miles | 62 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ It was a lazy weekend and we wanted to stay close to home. The idea of driving an hour or so up to the Hudson Valley, again, felt daunting. Little did we know that the 19 mile drive to Queens would still take us nearly as long, thanks to horrendous traffic. But with the temperatures in the 70s on the first day of May, it felt like a good time to head to the beach.
Hike 14: Vernooy Falls
3.7 miles | 659 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ I have trouble understanding where the Hudson Valley ends and the Catskills begin. Staying in New Paltz for the weekend, we wanted to get in one last waterfall before heading home. We decided to head to Vernooy Falls, a moderately easy hike recommended in one of my hiking groups. Just 15 miles away but apparently we were now in the Catskills.
Hike 11: Dennings Point
5.3 miles | 150 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ The plan was to hike Mount Beacon, through the casino ruins and up to the fire tower. We got as far as the top of the metal steps and I couldn't shake the growing shin pain in my right leg. Was it from yesterday's run? I'm not sure. But what was clear was that hiking such a steep climb, starting from a place of pain, was probably not a good idea. Beacon will have to wait.
Hike 8: Newburgh-Beacon Bridge
4.2 miles | 352 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★ The kinda hike. Last week I was super excited to hike Storm King. We arrived around 10am to a mostly empty parking lot. The weather was bright and sunny, with just the right amount of winter nip. As I prepared to put my spikes on, Sean shared the horrifying news - his boots were still in Brooklyn.
Hike 6: Staten Island Greenbelt
4.2 miles | 295 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ With 1-2 feet of fluffy snow dropped all across the tri-state area, the weather was perfect for snowshoeing. If you owned them, that is. Covid has helped more people than ever discover the great outdoors. During the summer and fall, if we weren't at trail heads at dawn, parking was often impossible. While the winter has lead to a sleepier start, the cold hasn't deterred many people for continuing their outdoor adventuring.
Hike 5: Van Cortlandt Park
4.9 miles | 173.9 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★ We opted for Van Cortland Park. We had been there a few years ago during the warmer months, to check out the Van Cortlandt House and explore wilderness stretching too and beyond the Sawmill Parkway. This time, our plan was to explore the revamped Old Putnam Rail Trail, part of the newly established Empire State Trail.
Hike 4: Rockefeller State Park Preserve
5 miles | 499 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★ We chose the Raven's Rock via Lucy's Loop and Buttermilk Hill for two reasons: 1 - this was not the weekend to climb a mountain or a hill, or anything that left us high up and exposed and 2 - we wanted distance (7.5 miles) but an easy way to cut it short if we chickened out. Which is exactly what we ended up doing.
Hike 1: Princeton Battlefield State Park
3.0 miles | 79 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ Sometimes a new year means easing back into things. To simplify things, and to be flexible to restrictions Covid may place, I'm defining a 2021 hike as a 3+ mile excursion in the woods. Yes, I am for challenge, but sometimes it's just nice to get outside for a bit.
Fifty-Two Hikes 