10 Best Fall Hikes In and Around New York

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10 Best Fall Hikes In and Around New York

Calling all fall lovers! Are you looking for the best places to view the changing colors of the season? We have rounded up the best sites for hiking and viewing the foliage this fall before we move into winter.

Whether you are looking for a hike for your kids on the South Mountain Fairy Trail or a morning trip away from the city at Bear Mountain, we have you covered!

Psst… Here are the Best Hayrides near NYC to check out this Fall!

South Mountain Fairy Trail

Millburn, NJ

45 minutes from Midtown

Level: Easy*

This hike is ideal for kids, and it is a great way to ease them into hiking! For the past decade, a local artist has been building fairy houses along the trail from natural materials in the woods. Enjoy this whimsical escape with the whole family, and be sure to follow the “leave no trace” policy of the park.

Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain, NY

1 hr from Midtown

Level: Hard*

Located in the Catskills, this nearby trail is a great option for a quick day hike! Enjoy the dense forest and the breathtaking views from the top of the mountain.

Storm King Mountain

Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY

1 hr 15 min from Midtown

Level: Moderate*

With views of the Catskills and Hudson Valley, Storm King offers easier hikes in the area with views of fall foliage to rival any other trail.

Stairway to Heaven

Vernon Township, New Jersey

1 hr 30 min from Midtown

Level: Moderate*

This 7.3-mile hike is one of the most famous and exciting hikes you could take this fall! You will go over a suspension bridge, pass cow pastures and take in stunning views on this trail.

Bonticou Crag Trail

High Falls, NY

1 hr 45 min from Midtown

Level: Moderate*

The Mohonk Preserve is one of the best weekend escapes for New Yorkers! You can hike, climb, bike, horseback ride, hunt, camp and more while staying at the resorts around Preserve. Start with this trail, and be sure to explore the rest of the area.

Ross’s Cliff Trail Loop

Dayville, CT

3 hr from Midtown

Level: Moderate*

While this is a short hike, it is steep – in a half-mile, you will climb 540 feet! Savor the experience by taking in the views of Old Furnace State Park at the many overlooks on the way up the trail.

Catskill Scenic Trail

Stamford, NY

3 hr from Midtown

Level: Easy*

This historic trail once was filled with rail lines which transported timber to NYC. Hikers with every level of experience, from beginners to experts, will enjoy this scenic hike!

Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain

Lake Placid, NY

4 hr 30 min from Midtown

Level: Hard*

Looking for something harder? Check out the Cascade Mountain Trail for a stunning 360-degree view of the Adirondack High Peaks. If you’re up for the challenge, Porter Mountain is nearby and will round out your trip nicely!

Glen Creek Gorge Trail

Watkins Glen, NY

4 hr 30 min from Midtown

Level: Moderate*

Located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, the Watkins Glen State Park has no less than 19 gorgeous waterfalls located within it! This trail is very popular and often crowded. But be sure to leave the dogs at home for this one – no pets allowed!

Letchworth State Park Gorge Trail

Portageville, NY

5 hours 15 min from Midtown

Level: Moderate*

Explore the “Grand Canyon of the East” and see stunning waterfalls on this hike! Surrounded by autumnal colors, this trail is a must for fall lovers.

*Difficulty levels taken from alltrails.com

Academics West

Academics West is an accredited high-support college preparatory school designed to meet the academic and social-emotional goals of its students. Our unique model allows for each student to benefit from a customized educational experience to ensure they are acquiring the skills necessary to navigate their post-secondary lives whether they attend college or pursue another path to future success. Students can select different tracks to construct the most beneficial program to suit their needs and goals. Unlike conventional education, this innovative model enables students to prepare for an ever-changing world that requires young people to have advanced executive functioning, interpersonal and leadership skills to become independent and resilient adults. &nbsp;

Super Soccer Stars

Soccer Stars is New York&rsquo;s most popular youth educational soccer program! With 24 years of experience under our cleats, we have positively impacted over one million kids in our local community by putting the FUN in FUNdamentals in our weekly classes and camps. At Soccer Stars, we use the soccer ball as a vehicle to help children not only improve their soccer skills, but develop self-confidence and physical literacy, improve gross motor skills, build teamwork, and hone socialization skills. Our highly trained coaches and early childhood experts lead an age-specific curriculum with a low kid-to-coach ratio so every child gets individual attention and can grow at their own pace. Kids ages 1-12+ can join our seasonal programs, including Parent &amp; Me, FUNdamentals, Development Training, and Travel Soccer. Join us at one of over 80 locations in neighborhoods across across Westchester County, Connecticut and New York, available 7 days-a-week: Connecticut: <ul> <li>Cos Cob</li> <li>Greenwich</li> <li>Port Chester</li> </ul> &nbsp; Westchester: <ul> <li>Briarcliff</li> <li>Eastchester</li> <li>Mt. Kisco</li> <li>New Rochelle</li> <li>Ridgefield</li> <li>Scarsdale</li> <li>White Plains</li> </ul> &nbsp; New York City: <ul> <li>Bronx</li> <li>Inwood</li> <li>Upper West Side</li> <li>Upper East Side</li> </ul> &nbsp; Can&rsquo;t find a class or location that fits your schedule? Soccer Stars also offers private classes for small groups or individual training. Let our coaches come to you with a completely customizable program, anytime, anywhere. Birthday parties are also available!&nbsp;

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.