jillmurray

Just wondering if anyone know where the best place to hit for walks/hikes in NY is? So used to having the highlands so nearby

Jill

Englishtart

Hi Jill, glad you found us As I said, lots of folks here in your neck of the woods, lots of Scots too (don't listen to Ray) They will be along soon to help you with your questions and give you some ideas

elfman

Where in NY are you? Do you mean New York State or New York City, and do you have a car?

jillmurray

We are near the City, but distance not an issue as I like long drives (as long as its in the state ) hopefully sorting out a rental car soon so any suggestions would be great.

elfman

If you’re near New York City then I can recommend a few areas which have pleasant hilly hiking trails, but if you’re looking for a substitute for the Scottish Highlands you’re probably going to be a little disappointed: pretty as it is in these areas, 95% of the time you’ll be walking through woods and you don’t often get the open views that you do on British hills. Anyway; here goes:

Harriman State Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrima...Park_(New_York)

Sterling Forest State Park
http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/74/details.aspx

Those are within an hour’s drive of the city, then further afield (more like two hours drive from the city) there are The Catskills, where there are some pretty decent sized hills with well-marked trails:
http://www.catskill-3500-club.org/

Hope this helps

Nutmegger

Bear Mountain might be good for a start. Google state parks for more.

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/13/details.aspx

Manc

AT at Delaware Water Gap.

www.backpacker.com is an excellent resource

jillmurray

Wow! Thanks everyone. I can't wait to get myself organised and do some exploring- though I still need to finish the tourist trail of NY as well haha.

Rete

Google is your friend. A one minute search gave me this:

http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=10424

None of these places in the Hudson Valley are far from NYC. In some you don't even need a car but can reach your starting destination by train.

and this:

http://www.nynjtc.org/product/50-hik...-hudson-valley

The mountainous area should remind you of the Highlands.

Optimus Prime

There is only one place to go in NY if you really want to see the most beautiful parts of the state.

The Adirondacks. You'll get your long drive but you wanna think more about spending the weekends up there. There are literally hundreds (possibly thousands) of trials to hike. Its the biggest park in the US (dwarfing Yellowstone and Yosemite the Adirondacks is 6 million acres). You can hike all 46 peaks and become an "ADK 46er". If you dont like it there I'll eat my hat.

Forget the rest, the Adirondacks is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, especially in Autumn.

Manc

Wrangell St Elias NP is 13 Million acres.







but the larger context of your post is not lost...... the Adirondacks are fantastic.....

Rete

The guys reminded me of the Appalachin Trail:

Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,175-mile long public footpath. Conceived in 1921 and completed in 1937, private citizens built the trail and thousands like you each year volunteer to maintain its footprint. From Maine’s Mount Katahdin and Georgia’s Springer Mountain, this footpath traverses scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild and culturally resonant lands through 14 of the eastern United States.

http://www.nps.gov/appa/

jillmurray

Wow I can't wait to tackle them! Wish I had brought a kilt with me now so I could pretend i'm back in the highlands!!

Thanks so much for the comments everyone

Jill