I came here on a nice spring day for a walk and was so pleasantly surprised! This is a gorgeous…read morepark! It has a few trails which are fine for beginners and very enjoyable. So many great views here! There are several picnic tables throughout so it would be nice for a picnic or lunch with a view. The history of the lighthouse was so interesting and fun to learn about. This was such a peaceful and relaxing spot. Great for a mental break! There are 2 parking lots that are on the smaller side. One for the Esopus Meadows Preserve and another for the Lighthouse Park, but the parks are connected, literally a 30 second walk, so park wherever you find a spot!

Lighthouse park itself seemed to be overflowing with trash, unfortunately. The parking lot there is…read moresmall, but there is ample parking at the preserve parking lot. The trails were great, well-marked, and well-kept. Saw a big rat snake, and there were some giant fish splashing around. My son enjoyed the Phrenology trail and learning about the plants.

Great challenging hike with amazing views. Awesome workout. Ended up doing the long trail that…read morecoconnects w 3 other trails. I believe that day I did 9+miles hike. I wasbeat but the workout and the view was worth it. Definately recommended! But be careful as there are some very narrow and slippery areas

Great open mic nights and amazing espresso martinis. Fun time! Definitely recommend visiting the…read moreLemon Squeeze while you're in NP

Such a beautiful trail with a great view! I completed the labyrinth course of a rock scramble…read more There is a walking trail for those who are looking for a calmer hike to the top. One of the best rock scrambles I have done! Bring bug spray!!!!

Beautiful park with plenty of open space, clean paths, and peaceful surroundings. Great spot to…read morerelax, walk, or enjoy time with family. Well-maintained and perfect for a quiet escape outdoors.

The falls are truly incredible…read more The trail down to the bottom of the falls, is a bit tricky. But so incredibly worth it. I would suggest not to believe the sign saying 189 steps.... it is definitely more! Take drinking water because you'll need that for sure. We went back in August and the heat was definitely there. The parking lot was pretty packed but throughout the trails people were pretty evenly spaced out. Not so much at the base of the falls themselves but there was still plenty of room to move around freely.

A very mild and easy hike with a beautiful payoff! Definitely bring your bathing suits because you…read morecan take a dip in the water--it's cool, refreshing, and perfect for cooling off after the walk. The waterfall and surrounding scenery are absolutely beautiful, and you can easily spend some time relaxing on the rocks and taking in the view. You don't have to get in the water if that's not your thing; there are plenty of rocks around the area where you can sit and enjoy the scenery. There are both upper and lower sections of the waterfall, so depending on how much walking you want to do, you can choose which area to explore. We walked to the lookout point first, which gives you a view of the waterfall from above. From up there, everyone below looks like little ants! Before reaching the bridge, there are stairs that lead down to the actual waterfall, which I definitely recommend checking out. Overall, it's a beautiful spot, and the hike is very manageable!

If you're like us, it would be easy enough to drive accidentally into a unit complex which come…read moreright before the turnoff for the parking lot. The lot is big enough for a good two dozen vehicles, and the entrance and the beginning of the Black Creek trail comes right off the far end of the parking lot. The suspension bridge is pretty and gives a great view of the creek, and leads right into yellow trail, which we didn't pick. Black Creek trail has a mostly gentle slope, fully paved, and is about 0.6 mile long, and it culminates in Cedar Point Outlook with a gazebo and a large open field with several benches where the creek really opens up. There's a restroom next to what looks like a caretaker's cottage. We couldn't figure out how to get to the other outlooks from Cedar Point, so if anyone knows, please share. I appreciate this space being maintained and open for all to enjoy. **You can only enter and exit the parking lot one way, so please watch for the signs.

I absolutely love this preserve! The trails are great and challenging. Perfect place to go alone…read moreor with family or dogs or all of the above! Lots of opportunities for beautiful nature shots. It's a really good spot to hike if you are dealing with anxiety or PTSD. If you want a beautiful setting and some nature time then this is your spot.

Park your car in the small lot and walk toward the Mid-Hudson Bridge, but don't go too far. To your…read moreleft you'll see a black gate, a bit of signage and a steep downward staircase.. take it. Then head under the stone tunnel and into the forest. The hike starts with a steep incline, that works the glutes! I loved it but recommend preparing yourself and wearing comfortable footwear. The area is marked with plenty of signage to keep you on trail. Lots of beauty to take in, with great views of the river, Mid-Hudson Bridge and Walkway over the Hudson. I imagine it even more magical in the Fall. Signed, The Happy Hour Huntress

A wonderful park indeed, with the highlight of a great view viewing the Hudson River and Mid Hudson…read moreBridge. Parking at the Macks Lane end can be challenging depending on the time of day, with a couple of spots and enough room to park on the side. There's enough room while getting out, and plenty of space to move around while getting to the trail. At the Johnson-Iorio Memorial Park end, there are plenty of spots to park at. Depending on your direction, the trail has an uphill/downhill gradient along the way. It's a workout for sure when going uphill. It's very easy to trip with so many rocks and tree roots on the ground, so please take caution. The trail is well indicated by its color and is shown on the tree barks hung up. Of course, the maps are provided at each trailhead for convenience. UPDATE: The white trail which I recently took is a cool trail, doing a loop that connects with the yellow in a different spot not too far from that starting point. It is steep in this section, which requires small steps along the way. There is also a shortcut to cut over to the other side to make it shorter (don't recommend it). Also, on the way, there are ruins, which were once a big Mansion that was abandoned in 1949, with unknown information on how it got destroyed. Pretty cool history. When in doubt, take a rest, it's needed.

This place is absolutely amazing! I've hiked all the Catskills mountains three times over through…read morethe years and I had never been to overlook because there was no reason to but I had heard so much about this location I just had to visit and satisfy my curiosity on why this place is so popular. First off the parking lot is medium sized and parking on the road (even off the road) is risky because certain spots you are not allowed to park so arrive early, get a legit parking spot and save yourself the wasted trip or the hassle of returning to your vehicle to a ticket or it completely gone (towed). The hike up and back for Overlook is approximately 5 miles so everyone is spot on mentioning the distance. It's fairly steep all the way up and while you don't have any views on the way up, you do encounter some old ruins which is a neat break along the way. Once you do make it to the top you are met with a small shed that has some very minor historical information inside and on peak weekends you'll find stewards that can assist with information about the area and hiking tips. The fire tower can't be missed to the left after the small shed and the view is to the right of the shed. I have to say, I've been atop many mountains and it's been a long while since I've had my breath taken away but when I saw the view at Overlook it was breath taking. What made the view so beautiful and different than other mountains I've hiked is that the view is expansive with no mountains obstructing so you can see as far as the eyes can see. It's truly a remarkable view being so high up and seeing so far out. This mountain is known for its rattlesnake population. Sadly I never got to see one because I always hike in the early morning hours and they normally come out at around high noon when the sun is the hottest.

Hiking is definitely a love-hate relationship! This mountain goes UP--and I mean all the way up…read more There are barely any flat or straight sections, so you're constantly climbing, weaving around corners, and then going back down just to do it all over again. I had to take frequent breaks to catch my breath because the climb was no joke. And honestly, the tower was probably the scariest part for me. The views from the top were absolutely beautiful, but I had to go up quickly and come back down just as fast because my fear was kicking in! Before tackling the mountain, we also walked a different trail, which was already exhausting. So by the time we started the climb, my legs were definitely feeling it. But once you finally reach the ruins and the tower, it all feels worth it. The scenery and views are honestly incredible, and it's such a beautiful place to see. Just be prepared: before you reach the top, you may question every life decision that brought you there!

Easy trails. Well circulated with other people. Relaxing views. A great place to paint outdoors,…read morehave lunch under the pavilion or/and explore.

Doing some research online, I came across this park. It's nice to see what the Hudson Valley offers…read morefor its park! Parking can be limited at times, so the best time to go is early in the day. There are multiple paths that anyone can take, but for our convenience, we did the red and yellow path (those are the main ones). Other paths are found along the trails. Some of the markings can be unclear along the way, so keep an eye out on that. It's best to follow the dirt path at all times. Be aware, most of it is windy. The fire tower wasn't what we expected. As we approached near the top, there were a lot of bees on the railing. The view is excellent from where we stopped, but not enough to fulfill a hiker. Another thing is to watch out for is bugs. There is a lot of shady spots on each path, therefore, I strongly recommend bringing bug spy. Something I learned too. As long as you look at the map, there won't be any problems.

DO NOT SWIM HERE -- This lake is known locally as Snake Lake. Water snakes and copperheads are…read morenumerous. There are also snapping turtles. The water quality is also low sure to a nearby quarry.

When you get there, you can drive on the gravel road until it dead-ends into a parking lot with a…read moreporta potty. If that lot is full then you can park in the one that's right off route 28. The trail is nicely shaded. We saw orange newts galore. It had just rained the night before so it was a little muddy in spots. We hiked the yellow loop trail and it was perfect for kids ranging in ages 7 to 13. Very scenic. We left in the early afternoon when the sun came out. Many others were just getting there to swim in the lake.

A tiny local park with great views of the Hudson River. A handful of picnic tables and limited…read moreparking but this is a cute park to stop for lunch and walk on some nearby trails. Several memorial benches are around to sit on while viewing the river and local wildlife which includes blue Herron and Loons if you're lucky.

My wife and I came here as part of a day trip we were planning. There isn't much parking (I think…read moreabout six spots total) and not many other places to park if they are full (the next door park also only has about six spots). It is a cute little place with some benches, access to the water and a tiny rock beach, and views of the lighthouse. But, there isn't much to do here. I didn't see any educational displays about the lighthouse. It is a cute place to spend a couple of minutes, but unless you want a nap next to the water you will become bored pretty quick. It is carry in, carry out.