The best hikes in the Hudson Valley

15.09.2024 - 12:24 / lonelyplanet.com

Sep 14, 2024 • 9 min read

With its pristine forests, panoramic peaks, world-renowned bridges and historic ruins, the Hudson Valley is a hiker's heaven. There are trails to suit all experience levels, all just a stone's throw from New York City. If you thought New York State was all about city sprawl, prepare to be surprised.

There's a reason Thomas Cole and the artists of the Hudson River School spent so much time recording this region in their 19th-century paintings. The highlands, forests and meadows flanking the country's fourth-longest river are part of an American Arcadia that dazzles in all four seasons. Walking through this wondrous terrain is one of the best things to do in the Hudson Valley.

Whether you're taking a day trip north from New York City or spending a weekend or longer investigating the area's quirky enclaves, here are the best hikes to add to your Hudson Valley itinerary. 

Best day trip from NYC
5.4 miles roundtrip; 3-4 hours; moderate

It's little wonder the loop around 1421ft Bull Hill (also known as Mt Taurus) is one of the Hudson Valley's most popular treks. Starting just 50 miles north of NYC near the village of Cold Spring, this rewarding outdoor adventure is an easy day trip for hike-hungry urbanites. It's also a visual crash course in the history of the Hudson Highlands.

The hike begins on the Washburn Trail and ends on the Cornish Trail, exploring scenic overlooks and mysterious ruins that attract eager hikers year-round. Pick up the trail across the street from Little Stony Point, a green space by the Hudson River, and climb quickly to the old Mt Taurus Quarry – an industrial stone-mining operation abandoned in the mid-20th century.

A challenging haul through areas of bare rock and patchy thickets leads to several lookout points with awe-inducing views of Storm King Mountain, the Hudson River, and on clear days, the distant NYC skyline. After the summit of Bull Hill, the hike becomes a gentle forest stroll; squirrels rustle in the underbrush, birds flit among tree branches, and a gurgling creek adds a meditative soundtrack. 

Highlights of this section include the stone remains of the Cornish Estate, built in 1910 and deserted after a fire in the 1950s. Peer inside the ruins sprinkled along the trail and imagine the property's Gatsby-era grandeur before finishing the loop. To walk here, plan for an early start – parking spaces fill fast and overflow to the road by mid-morning.  

Best starter hike in the Hudson Valley
2.4 miles roundtrip; 1-2 hours; easy to moderate

Summit Storm King's 1300-ft-high crown to see why this mountain deserves its monarchical title. Rocky outcrops scattered around the trail act as nature-made thrones, lording it over the Hudson Valley. Take a seat by