{"id":292183,"date":"2026-07-10T11:06:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T11:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/292183\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T11:06:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T11:06:06","slug":"6-of-the-best-hikes-near-nyc-and-you-can-reach-them-by-train","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/292183\/","title":{"rendered":"6 of the best hikes near NYC\u2014and you can reach them by train"},"content":{"rendered":"

Famous for its soaring skyscrapers, New York City<\/a> is not exactly an image of the great outdoors. Yet, escaping from its urban jungle into pristine nature is easier than many visitors realize. One big advantage of the Big Apple is that it offers a stress-free escape into the backcountry by way of mass transit\u2014no driving required, and no traffic jams to slow you down. New York\u2019s extensive network of commuter train lines, including Metro-North and Long Island Railroad, can whisk a traveler to scenic hiking trails of varied difficulty levels in under two hours. So, if you\u2019re tired of glass and concrete, consider taking a train to these six refreshing destinations.<\/p>\n

1. Cold Spring Harbor State Park, Long Island, New York\"a<\/p>\n

In Cold Spring, New York, Little Stony Point offers hikers an easy one-mile trail along the Hudson River, located a 20-minute walk north of the Cold Spring Metro-North station.<\/p>\n

Robi_J, Getty Images<\/p>\n

Known for its challenging, hilly, and wooded terrain with stunning views of Cold Spring Harbor,\u00a0this state park<\/a>\u00a0is accessible by the\u00a0Long Island Railroad (LIRR)<\/a>. Inside the park,\u00a0the Long Island Greenbelt Trail<\/a>\u00a0weaves through a dense forest with giant oak trees which red-tailed hawks and songbirds call home.\u00a0<\/p>\n

George Gorman, Jr., regional director of NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, says the park is a year-round attraction, but spring and fall are particularly colorful because of flowers and changing foliage. If you go, save some time for\u00a0Port Jefferson<\/a>, a quaint, walkable waterfront village with restaurants and shops.<\/p>\n

How to get there:\u00a0From New York Penn Station, take\u00a0the Port Jefferson branch<\/a>\u00a0of LIRR to the Cold Spring Harbor station. The park entrance is about three miles from the station. If that\u2019s too long a walk, take the Port Jefferson line to Huntington Station and hop on a\u00a0Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART) bus<\/a>\u00a0that stops at the Cold Spring Harbor parking lot.<\/p>\n

(The best beaches for a weekend getaway\u2014just a train ride away from NYC<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

2. Storm King State Park, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York<\/p>\n

Located in the Hudson Valley on the western shore of the Hudson River,\u00a0Storm King State Park<\/a>\u00a0boasts trails\u00a0of varying difficulty and length<\/a>. The park\u2019s longest Highland Trail is five miles of rugged, scenic terrain, weaving through the Hudson Highlands, a moderate-to-difficult level. A shorter trek is the Crossover Trail, which runs along the river and offers views of the water.<\/p>\n

The park has no toilets, and some of its trails can test even experienced hikers, cautions\u00a0Matthew Shook, the chief of staff at the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, which manages the park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of the hikes are steep, so folks should be certain they are prepared for a challenge,\u201d he says, adding that winter trekking can be even more difficult because of ice. Regardless of what trails and seasons you choose, you\u2019ll be greeted with gorgeous views of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains.<\/p>\n

How to get there:\u00a0From\u00a0Grand Central Terminal<\/a>\u00a0in Manhattan, take the\u00a0Metro-North Hudson Line<\/a>\u00a0to the Beacon Station, and then a local taxi or a rideshare across the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge to Cornwall-on-Hudson, a charming\u00a0riverfront village, where you can enter the park.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Belmont Lake State Park, West Babylon, New York\"Long<\/p>\n

Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon, New York, is a scenic fall leaf-peeping spot and a 3.8-mile path that runs along Carll\u2019s Creek, connecting Belmont Lake and Argyle Lake.<\/p>\n

Scott Heaney, Getty Images<\/p>\n

Belmont Lake State Park<\/a>\u00a0is a scenic destination that offers easy wooded hiking trails, picnicking, biking, fishing, birdwatching, horseback riding, and boating (rowboats, pedal boats, and kayaks are available to rent). In the winter, visitors can go cross-country skiing. A picturesque 3.8-mile path that runs along\u00a0Carll\u2019s Creek<\/a>\u00a0connects Belmont Lake and Argyle Lake, each with its own charm. Belmont Lake boasts tall trees and secluded paths, while Argyle Lake welcomes visitors with a historic village charm. Hike along the Belmont Lake and keep an eye out for great blue herons, egrets, and ospreys that dive into the water from the sky to catch fish for their young in the spring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to get there:\u00a0To reach Belmont Lake State Park, take the\u00a0LIRR Babylon Branch<\/a>\u00a0from Penn Station to Babylon Station. From there, you can walk less than three miles or take a local taxi or rideshare to the park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Six of the best things to do in New York City<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

4. Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Westchester County, New York\"A<\/p>\n

Hikers or walkers may see Stone Farm in Rockefeller State Park Preserve, located \u00a0in Westchester County, New York. Consider hiking down Old Sleepy Hollow Road Trail to access the popular Thriteen Bridges Loop.<\/p>\n

Allan Montaine, Alamy<\/p>\n

Only 30 miles north of New York City,\u00a0Rockefeller State Park Preserve<\/a>\u00a0boasts 55 miles of wide, easy-to-moderate carriage road trails\u2014the wide, broken-stone or gravel paths\u2014which are open year-round, dawn to dusk.<\/p>\n

One popular route is the Thirteen Bridges Loop, a meandering two-mile trek along a brook that feeds into the Pocantico River. Reaching the loop, however, takes more walking. To access the\u00a0Thirteen Bridges Loop<\/a>, visitors should be prepared for a five-mile hike down Old Sleepy Hollow Road Trail from the preserve\u2019s main entrance\u2014but it\u2019s worth it. The loop includes 13 charming old stone footbridges, and none of which are the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While in Sleepy Hollow, consider visiting the\u00a0Rockwood Hall<\/a>, which overlooks the Hudson River and is home to the remaining foundation of William Avery Rockefeller Jr.\u2019s country estate. In spring, visitors come to see the blooming peony trees, and in fall, the preserve offers\u00a0Hulda\u2019s Night<\/a>, a walking ghost tour, and a chance to encounter the famous headless horseman. \u201cIf you go once, you\u2019ll find yourself visiting again and again,\u201d says Linda Cooper, regional director for NYS Parks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to get there:\u00a0There are two ways to reach the preserve from Grand Central Station by Metro-North: take either the\u00a0Hudson Line<\/a>\u00a0to Tarrytown Station or the\u00a0Harlem Line<\/a>\u00a0to Pleasantville Station. The preserve\u2019s main entrance is a short taxi or rideshare drive from either station.\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, Cold Spring, New York<\/p>\n

Massive and undeveloped,\u00a0Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve<\/a>\u00a0stretches for\u00a06,000 acres along the eastern side of the Hudson River in New York State. A thriving ecosystem, it is home\u00a0to a variety of wildlife, just 50 miles north of New York City. Within the park, the\u00a0Camp Smith Trail is a moderate-to-strenuous trek, ranging from four to six miles, depending on the route. Described by some as the most rugged trail in the county, it features steep, staircase-like climbs and huge boulders. The arduous workout is rewarded\u00a0by panoramic views of the Hudson River and Bear Mountain Bridge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to get there:\u00a0Take Metro-North\u00a0Hudson Line<\/a>\u00a0to the Peekskill Station; the park is a short cab ride away.<\/p>\n

(How to walk the length of Manhattan in a single day<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

6. Franny Reese State Park, Highland, New York\"A<\/p>\n

Visitors hiking in Franny Reese State Park may spot the ruins of the old Cedar Glen Estate in Highland, New York.<\/p>\n

KMarsh, Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Franny Reese State Park<\/a>\u00a0offers several easy\u00a0hiking and biking trails<\/a>. The longest, Walkway Loop Trail of about 3.6 miles, boasts thrilling river views and connections to other local parks and trails. Slightly short of a mile, the Yellow Trail takes visitors past the stone walls and ruins of the Cedar Glen Estate, a 19th-century mansion, built by Henry Roberts, a Poughkeepsie dentist who invented the first dental anesthetic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the winter, people can go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the park, says Seth McKee. executive director of the Scenic Hudson Land Trust & Land Programs, which manages the park. There\u2019s also a scenic overlook perched right above the Mid-Hudson Bridge, with breathtaking vistas of the Hudson River and the city of Poughkeepsie.<\/p>\n

How to get there:\u00a0Visiting Franny Reese State Park is a special treat. Half the fun is traveling there because, after getting off the Metro-North\u00a0Hudson Line<\/a>\u00a0in Poughkeepsie, visitors must cross the\u00a0Walkway Over the Hudson<\/a>, recognized as the world\u2019s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, towering 200 feet above the river to enter the park.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis bridge is higher than any New York City bridge,\u201d says\u00a0Seth\u00a0McKee, and adds that the panoramic views are unmatched.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lina Zeldovich is a New York-based writer and tree-hugger who covers travel, food, culture, nature and adventure.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Famous for its soaring skyscrapers, New York City is not exactly an image of the great outdoors. Yet,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":292184,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[111569,111568,32199,111559,111572,1965,3955,109663,111564,3376,199,111563,111562,8296,9,24,11,10,54345,49,51,50,111571,58049,11277,111565,111567,111570,111561,111566,111560],"class_list":["post-292183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-bear-mountain-bridge","tag-belmont-lake-state-park","tag-catskill-mountains","tag-cold-spring-harbor","tag-cold-spring-harbor-state-park","tag-grand-central-station","tag-grand-central-terminal","tag-headless-horseman","tag-highland-new-york","tag-hudson-river","tag-hudson-valley","tag-ligh-island-railroad","tag-metro-north-hudson-line","tag-metro-north","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-penn-station","tag-new-york-state","tag-new-york-state-headlines","tag-new-york-state-news","tag-palisades-interstate-park-commission","tag-port-jefferson","tag-poughkeepsie","tag-rockefeller-state-park-preserve","tag-rockwood-hall","tag-storm-king-state-park","tag-walkway-over-the-hudson","tag-west-babylon","tag-westchester-county-new-york"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=292183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292183\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/292184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=292183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=292183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}