Advice: arrive early for a parking spot. Sometimes the parking lot is full because there is a…read morehiking group, other times it's individuals or families. This is a great short hike about 45 mins per the park ranger but without stopping you probably can finish around 30-40 minutes just strolling. You can climb up the hill for a better view though the climb down is a bit steep and rocky, not recommended for toddlers. There is also a beach that is full of tree trunks for a nice break. Go breathe the fresh air and get away from the city.

This is the perfect spot to unwind after conquering one of the bigger hikes nearby like Bull Hill…read morejust across the street or Breakneck Ridge about a mile up Route 9D. I'd been to the beach a few times before I realized one of the trails climbs up the small cliffs, offering a stunning vantage point overlooking the river. Wish I'd known about that hidden gem before. On a summer evening with a glowing sunset, it's a prime spot to snap some memorable photos. So, make your way to Little Stony Point an ideal way to cap off a day of hiking around Cold Spring. Even if you're wiped from your earlier trek, I promise you'll make it there. This place is fantastic. Split by Route 9D, it offers two distinct experiences: on one side, a Hudson River beach where people swim and relax; on the other, a hiking trail that winds through the intriguing ruins of an old estate. This was easily one of the most captivating spots we explored.

PROS: This was a great hike to take! Trail markers were clear, map was nicely laid out, porta-potty…read morenear the entrance, loads of parking, and nice sight seeing with the coal mine and abandoned tunnel. CONS: More bugs on this trail than any other trail I've been on. Also, the paths aren't taken care of. Plants are growing over them which makes them narrow OVERALL: Wear long pants and put bug spray on and you should be good while hiking this trail

It has been decades since I was last here. Used to go backpacking with a friend. We'd bushwhack…read morethrough the woods until we found a suitable spot, set up the tent and wander around. Nowadays, all of us would rather rough it at a Hilton ;) The forest is still there, but some of the trails are blocked off. There must be a reason. It brought back happy memories, cooking on a tiny Coleman stove, using an actual compass to navigate, sometimes waking up with snow outside, always some little adventure. It's a lot more civilized now.

What an incredible park !!! We love the hiking and hunting opportunities here…read more Gorgeous terrain

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

This was a very quiet and accessible hiking point with a few options for trails with some views. We…read morewalked around and got lost for a bit while trying to go to the top of the rock but it was really nice along the way. We walked by at least two huge reservoir areas. The only thing about the trails are that they deviate from the paved path and you have to look out for the colored markers which takes you "off" the paved path but is the right way to go. We ran into some locals on the way and they were all so so helpful in giving us advice on navigating the area. I personally loved that this area wasn't too packed with people. If you park in the official lot, it's $5 and the people in the front were very nice. There's multiple points to park not so legally too if you want to risk that.

I'm an avid hiker and Black Rock has got to be my least favorite hike despite the mountain having a…read morevast amount of trails to hike. I hiked the entire outskirts of this mountain grabbing all the view points which aren't many but the few that it has were pretty darn nice but in my opinion not worth going out of your way to hike. The trails are well maintained but for some reason I'm just not a huge fan of these trails. I do however frequent Storm King mountain across the road which I visit very frequently so why not stop by here more often, I just can't pin point why I don't really like these trails. Maybe it's not super hard that's why I'm not a fan. I always recommend checking it out for yourself because maybe you'll love this place.

If you ever need a timeout and take a break, this is one of the best drives in the state of New…read moreYork. The drive takes you past lakes, the beautiful green scenery etc. If you plan to drive here at night, it is pitch dark, I don't recall seeing a light post. There is a boating dock along the drive. It is close to the Woodbury outlets and bear mountain, so you can make a full day of activities. Restrooms may be hard to come by.

This is a great drive, especially in the fall. In fact, I came here twice in the last 2 weeks (and…read morethis is over an hour away from my place). Fun roads, with minimal traffic (at least early). Lots of great scenery. There are a few cool small roads that intersect it that are really fun. Many hiking options. We did one that was fairly nice, and a little challenging in fact (some minor climbing). I can't remember the name, but the entrance is right by the visitor center. Tip: Storm King Hwy is not far, and is a REALLY fun drive!

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

The Klara Sauer Trail is wonderful, connecting Long Dock Park to the beginning of Dennings Trail,…read moreand also Madden Brett Park via the Dave Miller Connector Trail. The trail lasts 1.1 mile, running parallel to the Hudson River, with different viewpoints along the way, viewing the river. In the north end of Klara, there's a strip of sand that runs along the river, with enough room to sit up some chairs and take everything in. It's like a mini beach if you will. At the southern end of the mini beach, there's a trail that connects back to Klara. Along the way, the trail also comes across the former Beacon Line, which can be walked on to make a lot of space for walkers, and that section is filled with cement. In cool seasons, expect to see many people on the Klara Trail. I still enjoy this trail, and making this stop is well worth it.