For some New Yorkers, their daily hike is the one between their subway station and their office, or up and down the flights of stairs in their walk-up apartment building. But for those who feel nature calling to them and want to indulge their wanderlust, the Empire State offers hundreds of miles of trails for the aspiring hiker — and not just upstate. Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and even the five boroughs offer winding paths through trees and meadows, up mountains and next to rivers. Best of all, you don’t need a car to reach them. Here are some of the best hikes that you can access using public transit. 

New York City 

Hudson River Greenway 

Most every park in the city offers a hiking loop for the would-be explorer, but for something unique to New York, consider the Hudson River Greenway, which runs from Battery Park all the way into Inwood Hill Park along the west side of Manhattan, clocking in at just shy of 13 miles.

It’s not exactly far from the beaten path, and your wildlife exposure will be limited to the occasional squirrel, pigeon or seagull. On the other hand, it’s an easy route, with close to no incline and lots of places to sit or rest, and there’s no need for special gear beyond a comfy pair of shoes and a water bottle. The wide two-lane path allows you to go at your own speed without having to worry about blocking bikes or runners.

The scenery is fantastic, too: Manhattan’s skyscrapers on one side, the Hudson River and the Palisades on the other, and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade, and the George Washington Bridge along the way. And there are plenty of access points that are close to public transit, so you can start or stop wherever you want, or jump off the trail if a hankering for a slice and a soda hits.

Subway

Take the 1 to South Ferry, the 4/5 to Bowling Green, or the W to Whitehall St to reach Battery Park and the start of the Hudson River Greenway

Plan Trip

Central Park

New York's biggest park has multiple trails ranging from long excursions to short strolls. The East and West Drives can be combined into a six-mile loop that will take you all around the park, but you’ll be sharing your walk with lots of cyclists and runners on wide paved roads.

READ MORE: The Ultimate Transit-Friendly Guide to Central Park

For something quieter and in nature, hike the North Woods trail that runs close to four miles between 86th Street and Central Park North, taking you past the Reservoir and the Pool. It’s an especially good walk for birdwatchers.

Subway

The 86th St B/C station and the Central Park North (110 St) 2/3 stations allows easy acces to Central Park's North Woods

Plan Trip

Long Island 

Belmont Lake State Park 

For a pleasant combination of pretty and peaceful, or if you’re looking to add some birding or fishing to your hike, take the LIRR to Babylon and explore the trails around Argyle Lake Park and Belmont Lake State Park. There’s a loop just shy of a mile long that goes around Argyle Lake, located just south of the Babylon station. From there, you can head north on a path alongside the Carlls River that will take you to Southards Pond, where you can drop a line and fish for bass, carp, trout, and more. Keep going north, crossing the Sunrise Highway and the Southern State Parkway, and you’ll reach Belmont Lake State Park, a 483-acre green space with playing fields and playgrounds, plus boat and kayak rentals. The park is a great place to spot waterfowl and other birds, too.

In short, this trail, which runs roughly eight miles in total, has something for everyone. And if you would rather not make the trek back to Babylon, the Wyandanch LIRR station on the Ronkonkoma branch is about two miles away from Belmont Lake State Park.

Nassau-Suffolk Trail | Long Island Greenbelt Trail

If you want a real challenge or a multi-day excursion, Long Island has two massive trails that run north-south: the Nassau-Suffolk Trail, which spans 20 miles between Cold Spring Harbor and Massapequa, and the Long Island Greenbelt Trail, which connects Heckscher State Park in East Islip to Sunken Meadow State Park in Smithtown and is over 30 miles in length. You’ll need to hire a car to take you from the closest LIRR stations to the trailheads for the Nassau-Suffolk Trail or to Sunken Meadow State Park, but the southern end of the Greenbelt is a short walk from the Great River LIRR station on the Montauk branch. Keep in mind, too, that the northern section of the Nassau-Suffolk Trail is hilly and difficult, and not recommended for novices.

Edgewood Oak Brush Plains Preserve
For a more contained trek, take the LIRR on the Ronkonkoma branch to Deer Park and walk half a mile from the station to this 813-acre pine barren that has a three-mile loop for hikers and multiple trails for mountain biking.

Hudson Valley & Westchester 

Croton Point Park

Stretching along the Hudson River from Yonkers up past Peekskill, the Westchester RiverWalk is a 52-mile paved trail that connects 14 towns, most of which are on the Metro-North's Hudson line.

Our recommendation: Stay on the train until you reach Croton-on-Hudson and then tackle the nearby Croton Point Park loop, situated on a small peninsula jutting out into the river. The park itself is the star of this short but scenic hike: Covering 508 acres, it boasts playing fields (including a cricket pitch), a boat launch, campgrounds, playgrounds, beach access for swimming and sunbathing, and spots to fish.

There’s also the Croton Park Nature Center, which has educational exhibits on the local plants and animals and the history of the area; archaeological evidence suggests that Native Americans inhabited the peninsula as many as 7,000 years ago. The trail around the park is paved and flat, making it great for a family outing.

Blue Mountain Reservation

A 1,500-acre park near Peekskill, Blue Mountain Reservation is a popular spot for local hikers, offering two small mountains (Blue Mountain and Spitzenberg Mountain) that you can summit for gorgeous views of the Hudson River. Take the Metro-North's Hudson line to Peekskill, where you can either hire a car to take you to Blue Mountain or walk roughly two miles to the park. Blue Mountain also provides access to the Briarcliff-Peekskill Trail, which runs 12 miles south to Ossining and will take you to Croton Gorge Park, which has scenic vistas of the Croton Dam.

Breakneck Ridge

This mountain trail along the Hudson between Cold Spring and Beacon is probably the most popular hiking destination outside of New York City, with thousands upon thousands of trekkers descending upon it every year, and it offers some of the best scenic views in all of the Hudson Valley. You can take Metro-North to either Cold Spring or Beacon on the Hudson line but be prepared to hire a car to get to the trailhead and be ready to brave serious crowds if you go during the spring, summer or fall. Please note, too, that Breakneck Ridge will be closed starting January 2, 2025, due to construction of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, with no current date set for re-opening.