11 Easy And Beautiful Spring Hikes Everyone In New York Will Love
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Lea Monroe
Author
With temperatures rising and days getting longer, springtime in New York is a great time to start your outdoor adventuring. We compiled a great list of some of the best hikes in New York for those days that you are looking for a shorter hike that doesn’t involve too much energy or take up the whole day.
1. Fillmore Glen
Fillmore Glen State Park, 1686 NY-38, Moravia, NY 13118, USA
At Fillmore Glen State Park in the village of Moravia, you can actually find quite a few trails that are nice and relaxing to explore. One of the most popular hiking trails in the park is the Five Falls Trail, leading you past some of the park's most stunning waterfalls, while other trails will take you through the gorge and past more waterfront scenery. Most of the trails that you can find at the park are anywhere from one to three miles long; nothing too intense! They're some of the best spring hikes in NY. Head to the New York State Parks website for more.
2. Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, Kingston, NY, USA
Stretching across over 20 miles of New York, there are quite a few ways that you can enjoy the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. Known for being one of the best rail trails in the country, this unique hiking experience will take you along what was once the Wallkill Valley Railroad. A flat hike that won't be strenuous on you, you'll have views of the Wallkill River, pass over bridges, and have plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. When it comes to easy hikes in New York, the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail ranks high. For the most up-to-date information on this trail, check out the Wallkill Valley Rail Trust.
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3. Keuka Lake Outlet Trail
Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, Penn Yan, NY 14527, USA
Stretching across 13 miles of the Finger Lakes, the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail is a locally known gem that's amazing to hike through. The trail is considered to be easy and gives you views of creeks and abandoned buildings that are near the old locks and canals. Check out the outlet trail's website for more info.
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4. Bashakill Wetlands
Basha Kill Wildlife Refuge, S Rd, Wurtsboro, NY 12790, USA
An easy trail that takes you through a unique area of New York, the Bashakill Wetlands is the perfect place to go hiking if you're looking to remove yourself from everything and everyone. The official wildlife management area covers over 2,000 acres of Wurstboro in Sullivan County, with trails running through here that will give you the chance to see eagles and herons. If you are in or around Wurtsboro and wondering if there are any hiking trails near me, you've got your answer. Take a look at the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation's website for more specific information about the area.
5. Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain, NY 12834, USA
If you're looking for an easier hike to take in the Adirondacks that will give you extended views via a fire tower, then you should definitely look into tackling Bald Mountain up in Old Forge! The out-and-back trail is just under two miles long, with the Rondaxe Fire Tower at the summit, which will give you the chance to have even more of an amazing view of this area of the Adirondacks. For a more detailed description check out AllTrails.
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6. Mashomack Preserve
Mashomack Preserve, 79 S Ferry Rd, Shelter Island, NY 11964, USA
Long Island may not be the first region you associate with New York hiking, but it's one you should never rule out! Well worth the drive, oceanfront hikes at places like the Mashomack Preserve are ones that will give you memories to last a lifetime. Out on Shelter Island, the beautiful preserve has a nearly 10-mile-long loop that's easy to hike along and is considered one of the nicest scenic hikes in New York.
For the latest info, head to the Nature Conservancy's website.
7. Vernooy Falls
Vernooy Falls, Rochester, NY 12446, USA
Many of the trails that you'll find in the Catskills can be a bit challenging or lengthy, but amazing secluded spots like Vernooy Falls are always great places to go hiking! Visiting during the spring is always a quieter experience, while during the summer, you'll find more people visiting here to cool off in the waterfalls and creek, perfect during spring in New York. The trail is just over three miles long and can be found in the town of Kerhonkson. You can find more info about the trail on All Trails.
8. Ferncliff Forest
Ferncliff Forest, 68 Mt Rutsen Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572, USA
An easy little hike to take in Rhinebeck, Ferncliff Forest features a two-mile-long loop trail that eventually leads you to a fire tower. After making your way up to the top of the fire tower, you'll have expansive views of the Hudson Valley that you won't believe were so easy to achieve. Talk about scenic hikes in New York; these panoramic vistas are not to be missed. The Ferncliff Forest website will provide you with more details on the hike.
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9. Akron Falls
Akron Falls Park, 44 Parkview Dr, Akron, NY 14001, USA
Looking for "spring hikes near me" in the western part of the state? A great little hike to take out in Western New York is located in the small town of Akron at Akron Falls Park. One of the oldest parks in this area of New York state, you'll find an easy and short hiking trail to explore here that leads you through a gorgeous dense forest to Akron Falls. For further information on this hike, check out this OIYS article.
10. Baxter Mountain
Baxter Mountain, Keene, NY 12942, USA
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Driving through the Keene Valley is always a magical experience, but oftentimes, many of us aren't quite ready to climb New York's tallest mountains. Surrounded by the High Peaks just off of Route 9N, Baxter Mountain is a two-mile-long hike just south of Lake Placid. During the spring and summer, you can find the summit covered in wild blueberries, with the beginning of the trail made up of lots of family-friendly switchbacks, making it one of many kid-friendly hikes in New York. For details on this hike, check out All Trails.
11. Buttermilk Falls
Buttermilk Falls, Warwick, NY 10990, USA
Another wonderful state park to hike through when you're out in the Finger Lakes is Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca. The state park features a natural swimming pool at the base of Buttermilk Falls that becomes quite popular during the summer, so beating the crowds and planning a spring visit is always nice. The state park has a handful of different trails that interconnect, all roughly one mile long or less. The New York State Parks website will provide more information.
Another place to check out in the Finger Lakes area is Watkins Glen State Park. Take a look at this video by @OnlyInYourState:
Another place to check out in the Finger Lakes area is Watkins Glen State Park. Take a look at this video by @OnlyInYourState:
Which of these best hikes in New York will you add to your spring bucket list? For more trail information, make sure you download the AllTrails+ App. I find it quite helpful!
Want to enjoy other unique outdoor adventures in the Empire State? Then read about how this diamond mine.
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More to Explore
Best Hikes in New York
What are the most easily accessible hikes in New York?
In addition to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, some of the most easily accessible hikes are those that were previously part of rails. There are many of these easy hikes in New York, such as the following:
- The Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie/Highland is a 1.28-mile elevated pedestrian bridge.
- There is also the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, which goes 46 miles from Wassaic to Chatham.
- And then there is the epic Empire Trail, which goes north from Manhattan all the way to the Canadian border, and clocks in at staggering 750 miles.
What is the weather like in the spring in New York?
Like most states on the East Coast, the spring weather in New York is truly lovely. The leftover snow begins to melt, the ground begins to thaw, and the trees and flowers begin to bloom. Early spring, you’ll have some chillier mornings with the sun warming the afternoons. It’s a perfect time to get out on some scenic hikes in New York, as the summer months can get a bit hot and humid.
What are the best hikes with a view in New York?
While there are a lot of great places with some outstanding views, some of the most scenic hikes in New York involve hiking out to fire towers, and if applicable, climbing up those fire towers to take in the sweeping vistas. Here are a few hikes with views in New York:
- In the Catskills, head to Overlook Mountain. It’s 2.3 miles to the fire tower and has a bonus of some really neat hotel ruins as well.
- In Dutchess County, take the short but steep trail up to the Stissing Fire Tower.
- In Beacon, you can hike a 4.4-mile out-and-back trail to the Mount Beacon Fire Tower, which also sports some bonuses, such as a reservoir and ruins of the area, which used to have an incline railway that took people up to a casino and hotel.