Located in New York, the state capital, Hudson Valley is a beautiful vibrant city best known for its orchards, farms, and vineyards. It is home to Storm King Art Center Sculpture pack and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Dater Mountain Nature County Park, located in this amazing region, is a popular park with various camping sites. Other tourist attractions include Bear Mountain State Park, a popular spot for fishing, swimming, picnicking and hiking. Storm King Art Center is a seasonal sculpture park and a unique art gallery. Read on and find more about these top 10 hiking and trekking spots in Hudson Valley, New York.
1. Breakneck Ridge Loop
The Breakneck Ridge better known as the Breakneck Ridge Loop trail is a rather challenging trail recommended for advanced hikers. It takes about three hours to complete this rocky trail. The trail offers stunning views as you explore the scenic part of Hudson Valley. There is a spot on the top where you can catch your breath, grab a snack to re-energize before heading back to your starting point. It is not known by most but there is a train that can drop you at top of the trail where you can decide to enjoy a one-and-a-half-hour trek back down if you are not ready to tackle the rocky terrain twice.
Breakneck Ridge Loop
Address: 428 Breakneck Rd, Beacon, NY 12508, United States
2. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Next on our list is the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. It is a 34.3-kilometers (21.3 miles) long trail beginning from Gardiner as it stretches through the New Paltz, all the way to Kingstone city line. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail can be used for biking and hiking. it is a moderately challenging trail and lightly trafficked by hikers and bikers. It features a beautiful 100-year-old renovated bridge stretching about 940-feet (286.5 meters) long and an old decommissioned railway.
The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Address: 227 Springtown Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561, United States
3. Fishkill Ridge Trail
The Fishkill Ridge Trail is a more forested loop trail that is lightly trafficked. It is located near Beacon and is 8.3 kilometers (5.2 miles) long. Your hiking journey begins at the Overlook Trail ascending towards the Fishkill Trail. It is rated as a lightly challenging trail any hiker can complete. This loop trail is best used by those who enjoy nature walks, bird watching, and hiking. Expect scenic views of the woody and lush green forest as well as New York City skylines from afar.
Fishkill Ridge Trail
Address: 32 Sunnyside Rd, Beacon, NY 12508, United States
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4. Mount Beacon Trail
Located in the backyard of Beacon, Mount Beacon is the spot where you will get to access the Mount Beacon Trail. It is a heavily trafficked loop trail that is a 9.5-kilometer (5.9 miles) long trail featuring a waterfall. Mount Beacon Trail is a difficult one best used during March all through October. Due to its location, this trail is known to feature spectacular views of the city and the lay of the land. Hikers with dogs are allowed in on condition that all pets have to be on a leash.
Mount Beacon Trail
Address: Mount Beacon, NY 12508, United States
5. Storm King Mountain
Storm King Mountain trail is a 4-kilometer (2.5 miles) long loop trail that takes about two and a half hours to complete. When it comes to climbing difficulty, it is a fairly challenging trail with several steep and rocky sections. Despite its challenging climb, this loop trail offers an exciting tour of the woody area before getting to the highest point. The beginning can literally be an uphill task but the intermittent views from the top will motivate you to reach the endpoint.
Storm King Mountain
Address: Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY 12520, United States
6. Poets Walk Park
Situated in Red Hook, New York, Poets’ Walk Park is a scenic trail featuring classic wooden views, thick forest, and sunkissed fields. It is a partial loop trail spawning about 3.9 kilometers (2.4 miles). It takes about one hour to explore this spectacular trail. It is an easy trail featuring breathtaking meadows and a beautiful gazebo. Poet’s Walk Park offers the perfect spot for nature walks, bird watching and hiking.
Poets Walk Park
Address: 776 River Rd, Red Hook, NY 12571, United States
7. Wappinger Creek Greenway Trail
If you are looking for the best location to enjoy the undisguised natural beauty while at the same time enjoying some sightseeing, focus your attention to Wappinger Creek Greenway Trail. It is a 17.7-kilometer (11 miles) long loop trail featuring on and off-road trails. The Wappinger Creek Green Way Trail features sidewalks near town streets, billow terrains and a lake. It is a trail best known for its historical sites along the way, stunning views and a trail with an abundance of natural beauty.
Wappinger Creek Greenway Trail
Address: 87 Sleight-Plass Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603, United
Website: Wappinger Creek Greenway Trail
8. Anthony's Nose
Located along the Hudson River, Anthony’s Nose trail covers a distance of 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles), taking about 2.5 hours to complete. It is rated as a fairly difficult trail, a challenge to beginners but an easy task for experienced hikers. It is a rocky trail that offers spectacular views, and easily half a day hike for friends and family. It offers an amazing vantage point on top of a massive rock, the best place to rest and enjoy a short picnic before your decent.
Anthony's Nose
Address: Bear Mountain Bridge Rd, Cortlandt, NY 10567, United States
9. Stissing Mountain Trail
The Stissing Mountain Trail is a relatively short trail stretching only 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) long. It is a fairly difficult trail with a steep short climb. It takes around two to three hours to fully explore and complete this amazing trail. It features a 30 feet (9 meters) tower, the highest point of the trail that offers spectacular panoramic views of the land.
Stissing Mountain Trail
Address: 499 Lake Rd, Pine Plains, NY 12567, United States
10. Wonder Lake State Park
If you are looking for a big payoff on your hiking adventure, take a moment and map out Wonder Lake State Park. It is the most popular spot for hikers who would love a variety of hiking options from the start point. The park is best known for its woody forest, scenic views, and a 3-acre (1.2 hectares) Laurel Pond. It offers a 13.8-kilometers (8.6 miles) of hiking stretch. It is considered to be a fairly difficult terrain easily maneuvered by hikers of all experiences.
Wonder Lake State Park
Address: 357 Mooney Hill Rd, Patterson, NY
Website: Wonder Lake State Park
Explore Hudson Valley’s nature
Nature is one thing that can’t be explored exhaustively. All we can do is explore the part we can and leave the rest to the next generation. Hudson Valley offers some of the best locations to explore but one fact that remains the same is that you will never get enough of all that the region has to offer. With this list on hand, you at least have an idea of where to start.
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