New York City offers fabulous shopping, Broadway plays and… hiking trails?
Guide book author Ben Keene has hiked across the NY metro area. (Photo: Ben Keene)
A thriving metropolis of 8 million people is an unlikely place to experience nature. But as Brooklyn’s Ben Keene explains, there are plenty of opportunities to hike in and around New York City.
The author of Best Hikes Near New York City agreed to share his urban hiking tips exclusively with Downtown Traveler readers.
Read on for Ben’s insider tips for hiking in the Big Apple.
Where to Hike in NYC
1. When you talk to New Yorkers about hiking, what’s the typical reaction?
Honestly, a good percentage of New Yorkers seem surprised to learn that there are hiking trails so close to the city. Dozens of trails can be reached by spending about an hour on a bus or a train.
2. Many of the hiking spots in your book are outside of the five boroughs. Do you need a car to reach them?
There are numerous parks that are accessible via public transportation. More than half of the hikes in my book include directions for reaching the trailhead without a car. [See below for Ben’s favorite NYC hiking spot].
The Delaware Water Gap is a two-hour drive from New York City. (Photo: Compass Points/Flickr)
3. If a New Yorker has a car and can venture farther off the beaten track, what hiking destination would you recommend?
With a car and a willingness to drive as much as two hours each way, I’d recommend Catskill Park upstate or the Delaware Water Gap along the New Jersey-Pennsylvania state line. Either is a good bet if you need some distance from the city.
4. What is your favorite hiking spot in New York City proper?
Definitely the Staten Island Greenbelt. As the second biggest park in the city it has six main trails of varying lengths that allow for repeated visits. And again, you don’t need a car to reach the Greenbelt.
Flowers at the Staten Island Greenbelt in New York City. (Photo: Ben Keene)
Essential Gear
5. What advice would you give to first-time hikers?
First and foremost, be prepared. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, a high-protein snack, and a map. Always a map. Boots are also worth investing in if you plan to go hiking regularly. Beyond that, I’d say determine your fitness level before you go.
6. Does a beginner have to invest a lot of money in buying hiking gear?
No, you don’t need to invest a lot of money in gear. As I mentioned, boots are a smart purchase (as are a few pairs of thick socks), but expensive outdoor apparel, hiking poles, fancy hydration systems, and the like aren’t essential. Start simple.
New Yorkers can skip the designer gear, but a good pair of hiking boots is essential. (Photo: EMS.com)
7. At a bare minimum, what gear should you always bring on a hike?
I want to stress the importance of water and a detailed topographical map. A smart phone is not a smart alternative. Do not head into the woods without these two things. It always upsets me when I meet people on a trail who are putting themselves at risk of dehydration by essentially hiking blind.
Beer, Rock ‘n Roll and Hiking
8. Do you listen to music when you hike? If so, what’s your favorite song to get in the outdoor spirit?
When I go hiking I want to hear birds, the wind in the trees, and other hikers. Not Katy Perry. If I had to pick a song that inspires me to get walking though, I’d say “Mykonos” by the Fleet Foxes—lyrically and musically it’s all about movement.
9. When did you first get interested in hiking?
I’ve enjoyed the outdoors since I was a kid. Many a family vacation involved visits to national parks—Acadia, the Smokies, Yosemite—and the best way to experience the natural beauty of those places is on foot.
10. You blog about craft beer. Would you recommend mixing that with your other love, hiking?
Beer and hiking can be good friends, but they get along much better if they meet up at the end of the trip. I’ve gotten into Black IPAs recently. It’s worth noting that alcohol consumption is prohibited in some parks.
For More Information
Ben Keene
To learn more about outdoor adventures near Manhattan, read Ben Keene’s book, Best Hikes Near New York City.
Ben developed a love of hiking while growing up in Virginia and Maryland, and has been exploring New York City’s trails for the last decade.
When he’s not communing with nature, Ben runs the blog Where and Back and writes for DRAFT Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, Time Out New York, Wend, The Village Voice, and Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia.
You can find Ben on Twitter (@Whereandback).
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The Fleet Foxes are awesome. Thinking about seeing them when they come to Chicago at the end of September. New York is a lot like Chicago in regards to hiking. A lot of places to hike people would not expect.
Hi Ted. I’ll have to make time for a hike the next time I’m in the Windy City!
Nice post i wanna try to go hiking in Staten Island Greenbelt, i want experience hiking there i wish one day.thanks for the wonderful thoughts.enjoy hiking!!!
Such an interesting post! My eyes were wide open too, to find out that there are actually so many hiking trails in NYC. There’s definitely something for everyone in this metropolitan city yes? 🙂
I enjoy hiking and we have some INCREDIBLE places to hike here in northern California. I really wouldn’t have considered NYC as a place to hike but nice to know there are some decent trails near the city. For most people, hiking is Central Park! 🙂
Good tips for NYC. Walking from the stores in SoHo to the stores in Midtown, does that count as hiking?
I didn’t know Staten Island had a Greenbelt. My fave NYC & surrounding area to walk is on Long Island – Bethpage State Park, the wood chipped horse trails. The beaches are also fantastic to walk through. For those who are not familiar with the area, the south shore has sandy beaches and the north shore has rocky beaches.
Nance, thanks for the tip! Bethpage State Park sounds like a great place to hike.
I have hiked all over NJ and NY states but never in around the city. You know, I never thought about hiking in Staten Island when I used to live in northern Jersey….boy how I miss the state parks, especially Harriman and Bear Mountain!! Nice interview and great video too!!
Had no idea one could hike so close to NYC! Another great attraction and something I should visit Leslie for;)
Had no clue about this! Definitely up for the Staten Island hike next time I’m in New York.
I’d love to try the Staten Island hike myself! Looks like a beautiful trail.
There’s great hiking in the Catskills in Ulster County. Grew up doing that.
Harriman, Bear Mountain, and the Catskills are all great options for New Yorkers, but I’m not sure shopping in SoHo counts as a hike…
That’s very good tip for me! Great. Thanks for putting this up together Leslie! 🙂
How about the security issues in New York? Especially in parks all around the city. Hoe can we be sure if the hiking trail is safe to those people who have evil intention?Hope you can cover it soon on your next interview and articles.
Thanks for your comment Jennifer. Actually, NYC is one of the safest large cities in the US. You won’t need to take any special precautions, but as always when hiking it’s advisable to tell someone where you will be going and to bring water, a map and appropriate gear.
Rats! I wish I would have known about these places when I visited NYC in May. Nice tip on drinking and beer. I’m not going to mess that one up again. 🙂
Wow, I had no idea there were any places in NY to hike at all! The next time I visit I’m definitely going to come here. Such nice scenery too. Thanks for the tips and locations!
Two things: First, if you haven’t done much hiking, it’s always a good idea to go with a partner or a small group. And secondly, as Nance points out, there are some pleasant, relatively easy nature walks on Long Island. Check out my book for ideas!
Leslie,
Thanks for doing this interview with Ben. I live in the Washington, DC area. I was surprised to discover some of the best trails I have hiked were right there (Billy Goat Trail in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park). It is surprising what can be found in an urban area when you look for it. I will have to check out some of the New York City trails the next time I am visiting.
Thanks for the DC tip, Roger! Would love to check out the trails there.