New York Hiking
What’s going on Road Trip Warriors!? New York State offers some of the best hiking in the Northeast with mountainous landscapes such as the Adirondacks and the Catskills. Some of the hikes in these mountains are more rigorous than others. I wanted to share what I believe to be five easy day hikes in New York. None of these hikes have a round trip distance of greater than eight miles, and they offer great outdoor experiences for all ages.
Overlook Mountain (Catskills)
- Distance: 4.6 miles round trip
- Elevation: 3,140′
- Difficulty: Easy/Moderate depending on fitness level.
- Dog-friendly: This hike is dog-friendly.
- Photo opportunities: The abandoned hotel is very cool to explore. We had a great time walking through its ruins in the snow.
This was one of the few hikes I have done in the Catskills and we did it in the snow. This hike had its pros and cons. One of the major cons was that it lacked the feeling of being secluded in the woods. Power lines were visible while we made our way along the trail. Another con that we did not have to deal with is the presence of snakes. Apparently this area is well-known for having many rattlesnakes. If you choose to hike this mountain during warmer weather, be careful.
One of the major pros of this hike was exploring the abandoned hotel (Overlook Mountain House). The ruins of the building are being reclaimed by nature and it was thought-invoking knowing that people had walked through the former hotel back in the 1920s.
Kane Mountain (Southern Adirondacks)
- Distance: 1 mile round trip
- Elevation: 2,200′
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Dog-friendly: This hike is dog-friendly. I don’t know how anyone feels about bringing their pet up the fire-tower though.
- Photo opportunities: The only place you will be able to get scenic photos is from the top of the fire-tower. The summit of Kane Mountain is heavily wooded.
Kane Mountain is one of the easiest hikes in the Southern Adirondacks. It is about a half mile to the summit, and the views from the fire-tower aren’t too bad. You’ll need to ascend the fire-tower to get a good lookout of the surrounding area. It should not take you more than twenty to thirty minutes to summit.
Hadley Mountain (Southern Adirondacks)
- Distance: 3.7 (about) miles round trip
- Elevation: 2,654′
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dog-friendly: This hike is dog-friendly.
- Photo opportunities: There are some cool spots as you get towards the summit to take photos. The summit itself is not wooded, and there is a fire-tower. You can get great photographs from just about anywhere on the summit.
This was another one of my first hikes that made me fall in love with getting out into the woods. The hike itself is a good workout, but not too strenuous. The summit has 360º views and a fire-tower that can be climbed.
Sleeping Beauty (Southern Adirondacks)
- Distance: Varies from 5 to 7.5 miles depending where you park.
- Elevation: 2,347′
- Difficulty: Moderate (only because of distance)
- Dog-friendly: This hike is dog-friendly.
- Photo opportunities: The summit offers beautiful views of Lake George. Although the summit does not offer 360º views, it is still well worth the trek.
This was one of the first few hikes I went on before I started doing bigger ones. The distance is enough for a good workout, it is not too strenuous, and the vantage point of Lake George in the distance is astounding.
Goodluck Cliffs (Southern Adirondacks)
- Distance: Roughly 5 miles
- Elevation:
- Difficulty: Easy/Moderate depending on fitness level.
- Dog-friendly: This hike is dog-friendly.
- Photo opportunities: Once you reach the cliffs, you get sweeping views of the Southern Adirondacks. There is plenty of space on the cliffs for photographs.
This was a spontaneous hike that I did with a friend. This hike is great if you are looking for a trail that will make you sweat, is not too long, and offers a great place to chill out and eat snacks with a view. It was fun sitting at the edge of the cliffs taking in the sea of green trees of the Southern Adirondacks.
RTW Note
Thank you for taking the time to check out this post about five easy day hikes in New York. Each one of these hikes offers something unique and they are all worth it. I highly recommend these hikes to any hiker whether they be novice or experienced. Remember to always leave no trace and respect other hikers on the trail. If you enjoyed this post, hit the like/follow button, comment, and share it with others if you found it helpful! As always, looking forward to sharing more!
-Ant
