Hikes Near New York City

Janina Casey has a history of working in equity sales at various institutions in New York City. In her free time, Janina Casey enjoys hiking.

While New York City does offer its fair share of parks, there’s nothing like going out of the city to experience nature on a deeper level. Luckily there are many quickly accessible options nearby. For instance, New York City is close to the famed Appalachian Trail. To reach it, pick up a train on the Metro-North Harlem line at Grand Central and journey to the Appalachian Trail station for a hike as long or as short as you’d like.

Also along the Appalachian Trail is Anthony’s Nose Hike, a section that leads hikers up to a ridge with beautiful views of Bear Mountain Bridge. The hike takes approximately two to three hours and is moderate in its difficulty level.

Finally, Arden Point and Glenclyffe is another nearby option. Again take the Metro-North line to the Garrison stop and go through the stone pillars toward Arden Point — Hudson Highlands State Park to enjoy a 3.7-mile circuit with great views of the Hudson River. This is an easy two- to three-hour hike.