As far as hiking trails go in the immediate NYC-metro region, this is one of the best in terms of…read moreviews and a good choice for moderate aerobic exercise. From the hilltop peaks your sightline on a clear day follows the winding path of the Hudson River and then extends for miles along the east and west horizons. Arrival to the trail is by car or train. There's no parking lot at the main two trailhead entrance/exit points so cars park alongside the road next to these markers for about half a mile each way. Arrival by metro-north train drops you off at Breakneck Ridge station, though worthwhile to double check whether it stops here on off-peak weekdays and winter months. There are a few main options for trail difficulty and length. The short loop takes 1 hour though doesn't ascend the main peaks, the long loop takes 3 hours and involves a pretty arduous (steep rock scramble for hiking novices) climb up to reach 2 main peaks, the Break Neck to Cold Spring route includes the rock scramble portion of the long loop and the takes 4 hours. There are other combinations of trails you can take, and park services has done a good job of posting trail markers so you don't get lost. My friend and I took the long trail and on a clear fall Saturday morning tons of other hikers had the same idea. The rock scramble was about 30 minutes of continuous steep ascent, some parts of which you need to push or pull yourself over boulders so a decent level of physical fitness, a good sense of balance and shoes/boots with good traction are a must. This part of the trail is one-way meaning for ascent only--descending would be rather dangerous if other people were trying to climb up at the same time--and especially bc on certain parts there's only 1-2 routes uphill with a clear path and good grip (at least for inexperienced rock climbers like me). There are signs warning not to take this route if you have a fear of heights. The second peak along the long loop requires similar rock scaling though there's an option to go up via a side route which was still steep but involved less scrambling. The rest of the loop is mild and mostly downhill though you do need to be careful of dusty (or muddy) patches and loose rocks and pebbles causing slippery slopes. Make sure to bring enough water if you're doing the longer trails, and ideally a snack to replenish some energy part way. No rest stops or bathrooms on the trail (it is after all a hiking trail in the woods) so plan accordingly! Dogs are allowed and I saw some on and off leash.

So the novice in me (and I use that term very loosely) decided to embark on this journey without…read moreeven knowing that a scramble was. The views at every point, the nice breeze amidst the summer heat, and the friendly folks along the way made this a highlight of the summer. Oh, and hiking snacks came in clutch

A nice area for hiking with castle ruins and a lake and changing elevations. There are some paved…read moreroads but also trails off that path. You can hear the sound of cars on the highway both at the end and beginning of the hikes. Lots of dogs off leash even though there are signs that say to leash all dogs. The parking lot can get crowded later in the afternoon especially in the spring and summer, but there were plenty of spots on a Sunday morning at 9:30.

My 350th Yelp review is a banger…read more I try to stop by Ramapo at least once a year, usually at the beginning of hiking season; there's a nice 5- or 6-mile route I do in there that helps me build up for the more hardcore hikes later in the year, and it's unusual for me to do this one so late into the actual summer. Boy, is this a different hike in June. Ask the gazillion bears I saw. Yesterday I did about 6 miles, starting at the Ramapo Lake Trailhead parking lot, going on the blue trail to the aforementioned lake and then turning left onto N Shore Drive. I then veered off toward the castle ruins but made a pretty quick right before the path up to said ruins onto Cannonball to Skyline Drive, joining up with the Castle Point Trail back to and through the castle ruins, before heading down back to the lakefront and continuing all the way around the lake until getting back to the blue trail and the parking lot. The official hike in my book says it's 6.6 miles when you include an additional loop to the south of the lake that gets you very close to 287, but i bypassed that today. One of the big issues with this section of Ramapo is the parking situation. I can't tell you how many times I've had to pivot and do a different hike because this Ramapo Lake parking lot was completely full by mid-morning, and the powers that be insist on plastering no parking signs in every other conceivable area going literally miles down Skyline Drive. I get that Skyline is a busy road but there ARE sections where you can theoretically park safely on the shoulder without bothering anyone else - I think there's a compromise here somewhere, but because they don't have one, this lot is usually full by 8:30am on a nice day, and then you have vulture cars just lurking in the middle of the lot for ages waiting for hikers to come back so they can immediately grab the new spot. You can't tell me that's much safer than the alternative. Anyway. The other mild annoyance for me is that you can often hear car traffic, especially in the southern section by 287, but it is what it is. The lake and the castle are the real selling points here, especially the castle. Ruins are one of my all-time favorite hiking kinks, and this adventure has them in droves. The one drawback (again, because of the time of year) is that it gets overgrown with foliage very quickly, so this is a rare instance where I would recommend exploring it in the early spring before you're bushwhacking to get through. Very cool optics though, and a definite must at some point if you're in the area. The wildlife situation? Man. This was one for the books. I usually see one or two bears a year, but I saw that many today, and numerous hikers told me they'd encountered others as well. It was insane and I've never seen anything like it. I got a picture of the biggest one I saw (attached) as I was slowly backing away, and I'd guess this was a 700 pounder? Big boy, and wasn't particularly fazed by my bear horn (though he did ultimately wander off after a few toots on it). Absolutely would not do this hike without a bear horn. I don't even want to ponder what would have happened otherwise. Neither of the bears seemed aggressive but you just never know, and if cubs had been around? Ugh. I encountered a park ranger toward the end of the hike who said it had been insane bear-wise the entire summer and they're just getting more comfortable with humans so again, be careful, use common sense, etc. The trail conditions were pretty decent. Some of the blazes/markers were not the best, and a few sections of Cannonball were one way (meaning you had to keep turning around to confirm the markers because they were only on one side of the trees/poles). As mentioned, the trail section by the castle is overgrown right now but I'm not crazy about advocating for maintenance in an area that by definition should probably be preserved and as authentic as possible. To me there aren't too many significant inclines on the trail (there's one small section very close to the parking lot where you have to take a minute for footing on the rocks, as well as the climb up to the castle if you're going on that trail) but it's definitely rocky and not particularly flat except by the lake. This is one of the better hikes in the area but it's not my absolute favorite - it's crowded and a little too close to civilization. But arguably the bears cancel some of that out. Memorable day.

Everything went well the is very good for hiking and bike riding it's amazing just grab your…read more friends and a picnic basket and go for it

We Out (Philipa) guided a 10 person group to Hudson Highlands State Park and summited Bull Hill…read morewith an elevation of 1,421 feet in Cold Spring NY. I don't know what kind of hiker I would consider myself as I regularly hike a few of the Delaware Gap Appalachian trails and recently completed Lemon Squeeze in NY. I know a good tour guide when I see one though. Philipa built a full experience for the group, from getting to the mountain (public transportation, GPS if driving), what to pack, how to dress, fitness level suggestions, snack/lunch suggestions and weather updates. Even though the weather for our trip would not qualify for a regular summer day in July I felt prepared and mentally I had a great attitude (which I contributed to the preparedness). At the mountain Philipa went through basic necessities (bathroom uses), pacing and safety precautions. She also gave us information about the mountain which is the only reason I know exactly where I hiked and how high I climbed. We stopped the amount of times the group needed to and she built connections to the mountain giving us some historical information. After the hike we stopped in town for some ice cream and snacks. Overall I feel as each activity would be different as each mountain/trail provides different experiences. But for review purposes what I want to leave you with is that Philipa will not lead the 1st timer astray, an expert will learn at least 1 new fact and she caters each experience to the area. You will not regret it!!! You will love your experience!

What can I say, Im an outdoorsy person and the vibe is different in different seasons. Snow…read moresledding during snowy winters are fun for the chicldren. My favorite part is that it has a good walking trail to get a good exercise while enjoying the view. Can bring children or dogs for walks.

Two parking areas available if the one near the trailhead is full. The trail in itself is not the…read moremost exciting, but you get multiple views of the Hudson R. with the Tappan Zee Bridge as a reward. Just under three miles. Currently the lookout point is under construction.

This park needs "mountain biking" in the name as it's nowhere near dog-friendly or even…read morehiker-friendly, full of mountain bikers going so fast on every trail. Must be amazing for the bikers but it's definitely unsafe and no fun for hikers and dogs. It's not even a nice trail, with the sound of the Saw Mill zipping in the background. Do not recommend.

Great park for mountain biking and hiking just an hour from grand central on metro north. Take the…read moretrain to Pleasantville and then ride / walk to the park. There is sidewalk for the entire route. Extensive trail network and well maintained single track, trailforks is really useful for navigating the park.

I went back to Perkins Tower for the first time in many years. I used to love hiking up from the…read morebase of the mountain when I was much younger. I recall the many nights I spent camping in those mountains as a young man and truly enjoying my time there. Returning brought back many memories of friends and experiences I had there in the 70's and 80's. Reminiscing can be very satisfying and I'm very grateful for the good times.

PROS: This was one of my favorite hikes in this area. Nice uphill hike with stone stairs to get to…read morethis monument, loads of parking above and below this mountain, vending machines and bathrooms are available, parking spaces. If you can't hike the trail than you can drive to the top. As you walk up the historic tower they have images on the wall of the place back in the 1930s CONS: Parking at the bottom of the mountain costs $10. OVERALL: I will definitely come back to this hike and walk up this trail again. However, there is no shame to drive up to the tower if you physically cannot hike

We booked our private 30-person ski trip to Windham through Jason at NYMT and I can honestly say I…read moredon't think I'll ever look anywhere else when planning a group day trip out of NYC. As coordinator and tour guide, Jason was quick, courteous, and knowledgeable. His connections at various local ski resorts combined with his relationship with the bus company brought our prices down to less than what I would have paid had I booked it separately. But it was his services that I found to be absolutely essential to the efficiency of the operation, which included the booking of the bus & driver, ordering & distributing tickets, escorting our group through the rental process, and helping beginners get to their lessons. Without him, our day trip would have been way more stressful on me and nowhere near as fun for the group. So, do your homework, gather your prices, call the group booking desk at Hunter or Windham, and contact local buses for hire... But then do yourself a favor and call New York Mountain Tours. You'll save money, headaches, and time, and your group will think you're the hero!

Out for a hike with the four of us and a four-legged companion (welcome on leash of course) through…read morethis beautiful park. The hike can be short or long and easy or moderate depending on your choice of trail and direction. Some beautiful picture spots and pristine conditions. We loved it.

What a great find. You'd never know this is here, but it is and it's very tranquil... short trail…read morefor a great view or much much longer loop trails for amazing hikes. It's got a lot of options and perfect parking opportunities.