How to Hike a Trail Less Traveled
Title
Body
This article was edited on 5/15/20 to reflect the easing of restrictions on activities in the midst of COVID-19. Specific tips for hiking in the era of physical distancing can be found here.
When you opt for a hike that sees less foot traffic, you're helping to alleviate stress on the land.
The most popular trails and outdoor destinations in our region all have alternatives that are equally spectacular—and we’re sharing our favorite trails less traveled. Bonus: When you opt for an "alternative" hike, you’re part of the solution. You're practicing Leave No Trace principles to help alleviate the overuse of popular trails, protecting the land, and helping to keep these special places from being "loved to death."
We've organized the "less traveled" list below by state, further broken down by county. Parks and trails listed as areas to "avoid" are heavily visited, do not have sufficient parking areas for crowds, and/or are already suffering from the effects of overuse. That's not to say you should never visit these places; however, avoiding them at popular times, such as weekends, is highly encouraged. Even some of these "less traveled" suggestions may still be busy in fair weather at peak times of the day, so be sure to take note of several hikes in the area you plan to visit so you have alternatives ready to go in case trailhead parking lots are full.
We're working to keep this list and our Trail Alerts page up-to-date, but closures and restrictions in regional parks and trails continue to happen. NYS parks and NJ Parks are your best resources for up-to-date information. Check these pages before you head out.
We will be adding additional hikes and other resources, including free maps, to this list. Be sure to check back periodically for updates and more resources.
New York Parks + Trails
- Dutchess County
- Greene County
- Orange County
- Putnam County
- Rockland County
- Sullivan County
- Ulster County
- Westchester County
New Jersey Parks + Trails
- Bergen County
- Essex County
- Hunterdon County
- Morris County
- Passaic County
- Sussex County
- Warren County
New York Parks + Trails
- Dutchess County
- Check Out
- Beacon Riverfront Parks
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
- Bowdoin Park
- Beacon Riverfront Parks
- Avoid
- Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve (including Breakneck Ridge and Fishkill Ridge)
- Mount Beacon Park
- Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
- Check Out
- Greene County
- Check Out
- Windham Path (Town of Windham)
- Avoid
- Catskills: North/South Lake area
- Catskills: Kaaterskill Falls area
- Catskills High Peaks (such as Hunter, Twin, Kaaterskill High Peak, Blackhead)
- Check Out
- Orange County
- Check Out
- Hudson Highlands Nature Museum
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Heritage Trail
- Huckleberry Ridge State Forest
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Algonquin Park, Cronomer Hill Park, or other local county/town park with large parking lots
- Sterling Forest State Park (less-popular parking areas)
- Doris Duke Trail
- Indian Hill area
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Furnace Loop Trail
- Red Back Loop Trail
- Harriman State Park: Silvermine Lake Parking Area
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Hudson Highlands Nature Museum
- Avoid
- Harriman State Park busy areas
- Elk Pen
- Lake Skannatati, Kanawauke Road, Lake Tiorati, Anthony Wayne
- Bear Mountain State Park
- Bear Mountain Inn, Perkins Tower, Fort Montgomery, Popolopen Torne
- Appalachian Trail
- Fitzgerald Falls, Route 17A, Harriman State Park
- Sterling Forest State Park busy spots such as Sterling Lake, Caretakers Lot, Lots along 17A
- Schunemunk State Park
- Black Rock Forest
- Storm King State Park
- Harriman State Park busy areas
- Check Out
- Putnam County
- Check Out
- Nimham Mountain Multiple Use Area
- Wonder Lake State Park
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area
- Granite Mountain Preserve (Hudson Highlands Land Trust)
- Manitou Point Preserve
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Avoid
- Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve north of Cold Spring
- Breakneck Ridge
- Bull Hill
- Little Stony Point
- Fahnestock State Park
- Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve north of Cold Spring
- Check Out
- Rockland County
- Check Out
- Children's Park, Manny Welder Park, Eugene Levy Memorial Park, or other local town park with large parking lots
- Blauvelt State Park
- Kennedy Dells County Park
- Davenport Preserve
- Avoid
- Harriman State Park (including Reeves Meadow, Lake Sebago boat launch, Lake Welch)
- Bear Mountain State Park (including Bear Mountain Inn, Route 9W parking areas)
- Rockland Lake State Park
- Buttermilk Falls County Park
- High Tor State Park
- Kakiat Park
- Tallman Mountain State Park
- Check Out
- Sullivan County
- Check Out
- Neversink River Unique Area
- Bashakill Wildlife Management Area
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Wurtsboro Ridge / Roosa Gap / Shawangunk Ridge State Forests
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Catskills: Willowemoc Wild Forest (Quick Lake/Mongaup Pond area)
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Avoid
- D&H Canal Path (Wurtsboro to Summitville)
- D&H Canal Path (Wurtsboro to Summitville)
- Check Out
- Ulster County
- Check Out
- Ashokan Rail Trail
- Non-high peak areas of the Catskills (such as Ashokan High Point, Beaver Kill Ridge, and Kelly Hollow)
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Franny Reese State Park
- Shaupeneak Ridge
- Black Creek Preserve
- Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
- Avoid
- Minnewaska State Park Preserve
- Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska
- Mohonk Preserve
- Catskills High Peaks (such as Slide, Table/Peekamoose, Graham/Doubletop, etc.)
- Check Out
- Westchester County
- Check Out
- Butler Memorial Sanctuary / Westmoreland Sanctuary
- Brinton Brook Sanctuary
- Sylvan Glen Park Preserve
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Avoid
- Anthony's Nose/Camp Smith Trail
- Rockefeller State Park Preserve
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Teatown Lake Reservation
- Croton Point Park
- Check Out
New Jersey Parks + Trails
- Bergen County
- Check Out
- Campgaw Mountain County Reservation
- Great Oak Park, Old Mill Woodlands, or other local town park with large parking lots
- Ringwood State Park
- Avoid
- Palisades Interstate Park
- Ramapo Mountain State Forest: Skyline Drive
- Ramapo Valley County Reservation and adjacent Continental Soldiers Park
- Local towns and parks + preserves with small parking lots like Tenafly Nature Center and Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
- Check Out
- Essex County
- Check Out
- Avoid
- South Mountain Reservation (busy spots, including Locust Grove and South Mountain Recreation Complex area)
- Eagle Rock Reservation
- Mills Reservation
- Brookdale Park
- Hunterdon County
- Check Out
- Musconetcong Gorge Preserve (including newer parking lot on Cyphers Road)
- Voorhees State Park
- Point Mountain Reservation
- Shick Reserve, Hoffman Park, Teetertown Preserve, or other small county parks
- Holland Township Park or other local town park with large parking lots
- Avoid
- Round Valley Recreation Area
- Columbia Rail Trail
- Spruce Run Recreation Area
- Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park
- Check Out
- Morris County
- Check Out
- Silas Condict County Park
- Silas Condict County Park White Trail
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Silas Condict County Park White Trail
- Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Schooley's Mountain County Park
- Silas Condict County Park
- Avoid
- Morristown National Historic Park
- Pyramid Mountain
- Check Out
- Passaic County
- Check Out
- Back Beach Park access to Ramapo Mountain State Forest
- Norvin Green State Forest: Northern section, Manaticut Point/Lake Sonoma area
- Newark/Pequannock Watershed (permit required; permits must be obtained in person on weekdays at Echo Lake office)
- Highlands Preserve
- Ringwood State Park: Ringwood Manor Area
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Avoid
- Long Pond Ironworks State Park: Visitor center
- Ringwood State Park: Skylands Manor area
- Wawayanda State Park
- Terrace Pond/Clinton Road
- Main parking at Wawayanda Lake
- Norvin Green State Forest: Southern section, Otterhole, New Weis Center
- Abram S. Hewitt State Forest
- High Mountain Park Preserve
- Garret Mountain Reservation
- Check Out
- Sussex County
- Check Out
- High Point State Park
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Stokes State Forest
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Swartswood State Park
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- C O Johnson Park (Byram), Woodburne Park (Wantage), or other local town park with large parking lots
- High Point State Park
- Avoid
- Pochuck Boardwalk (Appalachian Trail in Vernon)
- Stairway to Heaven (Appalachian Trail in Vernon)
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- Kittatinny Valley State Park
- Allamuchy Mountain State Park
- Check Out
- Warren County
- Check Out
- Jenny Jump State Forest
- Download the Avenza Maps app map
- Pequest Wildlife Management Area
- Jenny Jump State Forest
- Avoid
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- Worthington State Forest
- Allamuchy Mountain State Park
- Check Out
The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volunteer-powered nonprofit founded in 1920 to help people discover the restorative benefits of nature. We are a resource to ensure you have all the information you need to have a safe, enjoyable experience outdoors.
You'll find us on the trail or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.