Day hiking in the Catskill Mountains or Bear Mountain, or thru hiking the Appalachian Trail or Long Path,  Hudson Valley Outside has guides, hiking resources, trail maps, hiking stories and photos, and suggestions to fuel your Hudson Valley hike.

Hiking Organizations

NY-NJ Trail Conference 
Hudson Valley Hikers
Catskill 3500 Club
Mid-Hudson AMC 
​Hudson Valley Hikers Meetup

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Where To Go

Ashokan Reservoir
​Bear Mountain State Park
Belleayre Mountain
Black Creek Forest Preserve
Black Creek State Forest
​Black Rock Forest 
Blue Mountain Reservation
Bluestone  Wild Forest
Breakneck Ridge 
Catskill Forest Preserve
​Clarence Fahnestock State P
D & H Canal Heritage Corridor Towpath Trail
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve
Ferncliff Forest
Franny Reese State Park 
Frost Valley YMCA 
​Harriman State Park 
​Highland Lakes State Park
Hudson Highlands State Park
Hudson Valley Rail Trail
Hurley Rail Trail
Illinois Mountain Park 
John Burroughs Association
Kenneth L. Wilson Campground 
Lippman Park
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Mohonk Preserve 
​Norrie Point 
Overlook Mountain Fire Tower
Roosa Gap State Forest
Ski Plattekill 
Sam's Point Preserve
Schunnemunk State Park 
Shaupeneak Ridge 
Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge
​Sterling Forest State Park 
Stewart State Forest 
Storm King State Park
​Tivoli Bays
Town of Shawangunk Rail Trail
Walkway Over The Hudson
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Windham Mountain 
​Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest

Searchable Trail Map 

There are around 300 trails in a 60 mile radius of the Peak Homebase. Check the NY-NJ Trail Conference interactive maps. 

Hunters and Hikers
Mountain Bikers, Climbers, Trail Runners, and XC Skiers too​

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By Alan Via 
Every September I think of how concerns over hiking during the hunting season keeps some folks indoors.
As a hiker who grew up hunting, allow me to share some thoughts for those who don't want to give up weeks of being in the woods.
Read more

Kenco Hike the Catskills
Rattlesnakes, Ticks & Bears, Oh My! 
Dealing With Catskill Mountain Wildlife

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It’s official--spring is finally here!  While we may still experience some winter weather, the coming months start to mean a few things in the animal world. Read more

Kenco Hike the Catskills #4- 
Maps vs. Apps: Navigating In the 21st Century

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Winter is a popular time for bushwhacking to those off-trail peaks in the Catskill Mountains.  All the leaves are off the trees, exposing the landscape, thus making route-finding a bit less complicated.  For navigation ​Read more

Hunters and Hikers 

​Kenco Hike the Catskills #3- Mind Over Mountains

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Greed, hate, violence, war, fear.  Money, bills, politics, laundry, grocery shopping, work, responsibilities and a whole laundry list of other worries. ​Read more

Kenco Hike the Catskills #2 -The Laws of Nature

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 By Jeff Vincent
​We live in a world of laws and restrictions.  Sometimes it’s nice to escape that world and walk deep into the woods where we feel that there are no rules.  But, even in the deepest parts of the forest, there are regulations set by the Department of Environmental Conservation Read more

Lean-to Magic ​

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 By Moe Lemire 
 There is something to be said to falling asleep in a Lean-to in the woods.  Be it listening Read more

Kenco Hike the Catskills #1 Baby, It’s Cold Outside : Preparing For Winter Hiking 

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 Some of the most idyllic scenes in the Catskill Mountains happen after the leaves have fallen. With nearly 350 miles of trails to explore, the Catskills see action all year-round, but it’s important to be prepared for cold-weather conditions  Read more ​

Leave No Trace 

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  • *Plan Ahead and Prepare
  • *Travel and camp on Durable Surfaces
  • *Dispose of Waste Properly
  • *Leave what you find
  • *Minimize Campfire Impacts
  • *Respect Wildlife
    • *Be Considerate of                                                     other Visitors
   LEARN MORE HERE

The Cold Catskills: Dressing for Winter Adventures

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By Jeff Vincent
​12.1.15
With winter approaching we’ll start to see more and more ill-prepared hikers in the Catskills.  It’s important to know the right clothing to wear and the special gear you may need on a cold weather trip.  Read more

Bonticou Rock Scramble

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​The Shawangunk Ridge, companion to the Rondout Creek, forms the southern boundary of Rondout Valley and provides the familiar views of the ‘Gunks that are backdrop of our lives. Read more

Gertrude's Nose

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The Gertrude’s Nose hike is another Gunks classic. It’s about a 5 hour trip so if you time things right, you can have lunch on the flat rock outcropping above the nose..Read more

Overcliff/Undercliff

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Undercliff/Overcliff - An easy hike, run or mountain bike at the Mohonk Preserve, and groomed for xcountry skiing in the winter Read more

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail (AT) is 2,190 miles long and goes through ​​14 states- one of them New York . For  90 miles from near Greenwood Lake in Orange County through Harriman State Park, across the Hudson River at the Bear Mountain Bridge and through Putnam County the AT bisects NYS, and the Peak Magazine neighborhood.   The New York AT has terrain ranging from easy to challenging and goes from 124 feet of elevation to 1433 feet. 

Resources

* Ulster County's interactive recreation map
*Hike the Hudson Valley
Interactive Map
*Find a Hike NY-NJ 
*Hikes in the Catskills 
* Appalachian Trail Map

*Adventures in the Catskills 
*Catskill Mountain Club
*Catskill Mountain Wild
​*Catskills Trail Conditions
​*Catskill Hiker 
​*Trail Keeper 
*NY Metro Area Trail Conditions 
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Scenic Hudson Parks
PEAK Magazine-Hudson Valley Outside
​The source for outdoor sports in the Hudson Valley
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