The Hudson Valley has many beautiful trails that are both scenic and fun to explore. If you want to take a natural approach to losing weight and regaining your health, exploring local hiking trails is a great way to start. The following list includes state parks and recreational areas throughout the Hudson Valley area that offers something for almost everyone.
High Falls Conservation Area
High Falls boast a beautiful waterfall along a 1.5 mile loop trail. It takes approximately and hour and a half to complete. The trails are smooth with a few short climbs giving the trail a #2 ranking in terms of difficulty.
Breakneck Ridge Trail Start Point
Breakneck Ridge offers a 3.7 mile loop that takes approximately 4 hours to complete. It ranks high on the list of scenic views and has a difficulty rating of 10. The trail can be incredibly steep at times and should only be attempted by individuals with hiking experience.
Shaupeneak Ridge Park
Shaupeneak Ridge is ideal for a person who wants a relaxing hike without much challenge. Although it has a rank of 4 when it comes to difficulty, it is relatively easy to manage. The trail is 2.2 miles long. The loop takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete but can take longer if additional trails are taken.
Anthony's Nose
Anthony's Nose overlooks the Hudson River and has several scenic viewpoints. The trail is 2.6 miles up to the Nose and then back with a difficulty ranking of 6. There is a short climb that may make it difficult for some but other than the one steep area, the rest of the trail is manageable.
Constitution Marsh and Indian Brook Falls
Constitution Marsh and Indian Brook Falls is an up-and-back trail that is approximately 1.7 miles long. With a difficulty ranking of 3, it takes a skilled hiker approximately 1.5 hours to complete. It has scenic overlooks and a beautiful waterfall.
Little Stony Point
Little Stony Point is the ideal trail for beginners. It is a 1 mile loop and takes approximately one hour to complete. There are clifftop views in addition to walking along the Hudson River beach. It has a difficulty of 2 and is easy for almost any skill level to manage.
Black Rock Forest
The trail at Black Rock Forest is one of the longer trails in the area. It is a 5.4 mile loop that takes over 3.5 hours to complete. It ranks a 6 in terms of difficult, with steeper than average sections that may require climbing skills. There are wooden bridges, creeks, reservoirs, and many scenic viewpoints.
Bear Hill Preserve
The trail at Bear Hill Preserve is relatively easy, ranking a 3 out of 10. The trail is flat but does offer rock climbing for those who are interested. The trail is 1.5 miles up-and-back taking approximately 2 hours to complete. There are several scenic viewpoints with a variety of natural elements.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Ranking a 6 out of 10 for difficulty, this 6.4 mile loop can take up to 4 hours to complete. The trail includes access to a swimming beach, waterfall, lake, and several scenic overlooks. The trail is full of hills although there is very little climbing experience needed.
Indian Ladder Trail
Indian Ladder Trail is mostly flat but has a staircase on either end. The trail is 2.5 miles long and can be traversed as a loop or up-and-back trail. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete. The trail has a difficulty of 3 and offers cliffs, overhangs, and waterfalls. Extremely scenic and well worth taking a camera for.
Storm King
The trail at Storm King has several scenic overlooks and viewpoints. It is a 2.5 mile loop that takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete. The trail has several rocky sections as well as steep areas that require moderate hiking skill. The trail is rated 6 out of 10 for difficulty.
Wittenberg Mountain
Wittenburg Mountain is one of the most difficult trails in the area. Ranking 10 out of 10 for difficulty it is 7.2 miles long, up-and-back. There are several trails, steep sections, rock scrambling and amazing views. It takes approximately 6 hours to complete the trail. Although it is one of the most beautiful trails in the area, it is one that should be attempted by those who have moderate to high skill levels when it comes to hiking.
One of the best ways to regain health is to spend time in nature. Hiking trails and breathing in the fresh air is both relaxing and invigorating at the same time. The sights and sounds of nature have a way of soothing the soul, while the fresh air offers a boost to the immune system that improves both physical and emotional health.
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