12 Best Hikes in The Hudson Valley Worth Checking Out
The Hudson Valley is one of New York’s most scenic regions, where rolling mountains, winding rivers, and charming small towns create the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures. Just a short drive or train ride from NYC, the valley is home to some of the best hikes in the state, ranging from short nature walks to challenging climbs with sweeping views. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner looking for a day outdoors, the Hudson Valley offers trails for every level and season.
12) Giant Stairs Palisades:
I’ll be doing a more thorough dive into this hiking trail on the Hudson Valley, but I recently completed it and I really enjoyed (nearly) every minute of it. It’s moderate for most people, and will involve a bit of an decline/incline hike (4.5 miles), but the beauty of it is that if you want to get an awesome Hudson Valley hiking experience, no other hiking trail on this list will get you closer to the water than the Giant Stairs Palisades hike.
That picture you see to the right is me hiking through the actual “Giant Stairs” of the hike looking up at the giant mountain over me, which you can see across the Hudson River. Besides this hike, there are also other attractions available within this region which is known as Fort Lee Historic Park.
If you finish this hike a bit early, I would strongly recommend reading that article I linked to because there’s much more to see and do at this park. And fortunately, the other hikes on this list are also very close by.
- Location: Fort Lee Historic Park NJ
- Length of hike: 3-4 miles
- Difficulty: Hard
11) Anthony’s Nose:
There are 2 ways to do the Anthony’s Nose hike:
- The first is the short in and out trail which is only about 2 miles long close to Bear Mountain Bridge.
- A bit south of, there is another trailhead leading to the same area (Anthony’s Nose) which makes it an 8 mile in and out trail.
- Location: Purple Heart Memorial Bridge NY
- Length of hike: 2 to 8 miles (2 different ways to do it)
- Difficulty: Moderate
10) Reeves Brook Loop Trail:
Out of all the Hudson Valley hikes on this list, this one is the furthest from the actual river. It’s located in Harriman State Park which is next door to Bear Mountain.
At certain sections of this park are overlooks from which it’s possible to see the Hudson River. It’s also about 3-4 miles long. I included this particular trail because I’ve done it several times, think it’s great for both beginners and moderate hikers and also because to me, Harriman State Park is one of the most awesome parks to explore on the Hudson Valley. The Reeves Brook Loop Trail is awesome but please be careful on it since it can be difficult to navigate and I have gotten lost in the woods a few times when I started exploring it.
- Location: Harriman State Park
- Length of hike: 3-4 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
9) Breakneck Ridge:
Breakneck Ridge may be the toughest hikes on the list (it’s really not that bad though, but it carries that reputation). This hike is east of the Hudson River and is about 30 minutes north of Anthony’s Nose. In addition to being a fun and possibly dangerous hike, you will be going up a pretty steep incline for about a mile. At the same time, you will also get great views of the Hudson River and also a mountain on the opposite end of the river (which is also on this list) called Storm King.
The view you see on the right is one of the view points of Breakneck Ridge (there’s several). Breakneck Ridge offers several hiking trails ranging from a few miles of a loop, to a longer one that is over 10 miles long. I’ve personally done the shortest one, but tied it in with the next one on this list (Bull Hill Loop).
- Location: Hudson Highlands State Park
- Length of hike: Anywhere from 1.5 to 9 miles
- Difficulty: Hard
8) Bull Hill Loop Trail:
The Bull Hill Loop Trail is only a 5 minute drive from Breakneck Ridge (south), and it is an easier, but also very scenic hike you can do on the Hudson River Valley. The views such as the ones you see to the right are plentiful on this trail (which is about 5 miles long).
You will also intersect with parts of the Breakneck Ridge hike as well and like I said above, I’ve tied these 2 hikes into one during one of my “expeditions there”. It wasn’t easy, but it ended up being a near 10 mile hike that day.
In any case, Bull Hill Loop is a beginner to moderate hike and there are other options available that can make it longer (see the map for other options). So far I’ve done this hike twice. The first time was in the rain, which at first I hated, but then really appreciated and the other time was in hot weather (which made me appreciate the rainy hike more).
- Location: Hudson Highlands State Park
- Length of hike: 3.5 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
7) Storm King Mountain Trail:
I’ll be honest, this is one of the 2 hikes on this list I have yet to do. But my road trip buddy explored it and said it’s a pretty cool place to check out. Storm King is a mountain right across Breakneck Ridge, on the west side of the Hudson Valley. It is a state park with scenic drives and hikes (as you can see from the photo on the right). There are also other attractions available in this state park, including a giant statue that is honestly hard to describe unless you see it yourself (you’ll see what I mean if you ever check it out).
The one I have seen recommended as the top choice is the Storm King Mountain Trail which is about 2.5 miles long. It will also give you a great view of the Hudson Valley, as well as Breakneck Ridge (plenty of photo opportunities).
- Location: Storm King Mountain State Park
- Length of hike: 4 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
6) Bear Mountain Loop Trail:
I’ve done the Bear Mountain loop hike once when I was little but have yet to fully explore it as it’s meant to be explored. And it’s not because it’s boring or anything. It’s just that most people who travel to Bear Mountain just prefer the other hikes nearby (and the fact that you have to pay to enter into this park).
But if you find yourself in Bear Mountain State Park, the hike which will take you to a nice overlook of the Hudson River is the Bear Mountain Loop Trail (see the right photo for reference). It’s only 3-4 miles long, not that difficult, and recommended if you’re a beginner.
Additionally, Bear Mountain also has a nice lake in it which you can also check out and kayak on. If I remember correctly, this park also has nice festivals available year round so in addition to hiking, other fun things are available here.
- Location: Bear Mountain State Park
- Length of hike: 2.5 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
5) Little Stony Point Short Loop:
Out of all the hikes on this list, the Little Stony Point Short Loop is the shortest (1 mile and under) and easiest. However, despite that, it’s also the one which I think offers some of the best views of the Hudson Valley that I’ve ever seen (the picture to the right is a great example).
I’ve been to Little Stony Point twice and it’s right next door to the Bull Hill Loop trail (you can park near this trail head and walk over to Little Stony Point). There are 2 ways to check out Little Stony Point: The first is at the base of the park and the second is by taking a short hike up the green trail.
Additionally, this place has beaches and water sport amenities available. If you’re not much into hiking or just tired from doing one of the others on this list, then this is a great little place to check out afterwards. After I do my hikes in Breakneck Ridge or Bull Hill (they are all part of the Hudson Highlands State Park area), I always make sure to check out Little Stony Point.
- Location: Hudson Highlands State Park
- Length of hike: 1/4 mile
- Difficulty: Very easy
4) Devils Path (Catskills):
Now let me warn you: The Devils Path hike can be very difficult and is not recommended for beginners. It is a hike through 6 major Catskill Mountains and it is a point A to B trail. There are shorter options to this trail which will take you through sections of it where you can actually do individual loops through each of the 6 mountains instead of all of them. If this sounds more interesting, then my recommendation would be to do the Indian Head loop trail which is 7 miles long. It begins at Prediger Road which is one of the starting points to the Devils Path trail but cuts away from it 4 miles in and loops back to the same starting point.
- Location: Catskill Mountains
- Length of hike: Up to 25 miles
- Difficulty: Hard
3) Boulder Rock trail:
The Boulder Rock trail happens to be another popular hike in the Catskill Mountains and is a lot easier to do than Devils Path. It is only about 2 miles (in and out) and has 3 overlook areas you can check out. The best one is the one you see above in my opinion. This picture was taken on a foggy day, but you can see the Hudson River.
But as you travel further into the trail, you’ll come across the actual boulder which gives the trail it’s name. That region is beautiful, but it won’t give you a great view of the Hudson River Valley like the previous overlook. The Boulder Rock trail is a moderate trail and if you go, bring trekking poles.
- Location: North South Lake NY
- Length of hike: 2 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
2) Overlook Mountain:
Overlook Mountain is a highly popular trail in upstate NY which not only provides excellent views of the Hudson River Valley, but also other neat gems like an old ruins area as well as a Fire Tower at the end of it, much of which you can see in the image here (but of course, being there yourself will provide much better views). In fact, having personally done this trail, I can vouch for it having some of the best views not just of the Hudson River Valley, but also the Catskills. There are also connecting trails that take you deeper into that region too (like Indian Head Mountain).
- Location: Woodstock NY
- Length of hike: 5 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
1) Sunset Rock (aka Artists Rock):
This hike is also located in the North South Lake area of the Catskills and it actually connects with the Boulder Rock trail from earlier. There is a short hike from North Lake to reach this area and it is off the blue trail (it’s known as the Escarpment Trail). In any case I added this to the list because once you reach the famous rock area (you have to take a short yellow trail after the blue one to reach it), the overlook it takes you to is stunning in many ways!
- You will see the North South Lake areas.
- You will get an awesome view of the Catskills.
- You will also get a great view of the Hudson River Valley.
All of this combined together can be found in this one spot! I added a picture of my hike here and while you can’t exactly see the Hudson River because it’s blocked by the trees (it’s located left of me), I still highly recommend checking this hike out!
- Location: North South Lake
- Length of hike: 3 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
Packing list recommendations
You can get a majority of these on my Amazon gear list:
- Daypack – lightweight and comfortable.
- Water (2L minimum) – hydration is key.
- Snacks & lunch – energy for the trail.
- Map or GPS app – cell service can be spotty.
- First aid kit – small but useful.
- Weather-ready layers – light jacket or rain gear.
- Sturdy hiking shoes – with good grip.
- Sun protection – hat, sunscreen, sunglasses.
- Headlamp or flashlight – just in case.
- Extra socks – dry feet for comfort.
Related:
Final Thoughts
The Hudson Valley is more than just a getaway from New York City, it’s an outdoor playground filled with history, culture, and some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Northeast. From iconic viewpoints like Breakneck Ridge to peaceful riverside walks, every trail offers its own reward. With so many options just a short trip from the city, the Hudson Valley proves you don’t need to travel far to find world-class hiking and unforgettable scenery.
