Best Hiking Near NYC
Jack S
I know how stressful this year has been so far. With COVID-19 seemingly taking over the world, a lot of us have had no time to relax and get our mind off of it. One of the best things you can do to ease your mind and take some stress off of your life during these troubling times is getting outdoors. Mother nature always has the best remedies, and getting some fresh air can help put you at ease even at the most stressful times. My favorite thing to do if I had a rough week, or am overall just stressed out, is to go on hikes.
There are so many benefits to hiking:
- Lowers stress levels
- Reduces heart disease risk
- Lowers blood pressure
- Lowers cholesterol levels
- Improves bone density
And many, many more. If you have the ability to, try to get out to a hiking trail! There are so many within reasonable driving distance to New York City. Below, I will list out some of the best trails and how far they are from NYC:
For a quick trip - 1 hour or less:
- Marine Park Salt Marsh Trail (Brooklyn, NY)
- Bronx River Forest (Bronx, NY)
- Greenbelt Nature Center (Staten Island, NY)
Make a day out of it - Between 1 and 2 hours:
- Bear Mountain (Orange County, NY)
- Croton-Gorge (Croton-on-Hudson, NY)
- Minnewaska State Park (Kirkhonkson, NY)
Take a road trip - 2+ Hours:
- Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail (Albany, NY)
- Kaaterskill Falls Trail Head (Haines Falls, NY)
- Wittenberg Mountain (Shandaken, NY)
Whether you’re looking for a quick trip or a long day trip, any of these trails are perfect for you. Don’t see one that you like? A quick google search will get you so many more trails to try. So do your mind and body a favor and take a hike this weekend. Be safe and enjoy!