Six Best Hiking Spots in New York State

New York State may not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning a hike, but little do most people know, NYS is home to some incredible state parks and outstanding hiking trails. We have a little bit of everything here! From cascading waterfalls, beautiful gorges, and stunning lakes. You can find easy trails for any fitness level or more challenging hikes for the experts. If you’re looking for a perfect outdoor activity this fall, consider giving one of these incredible locations a try and experience the best hiking spots NYS has to offer.

Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park covers 14,350 acres and is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” With lush forests, the winding Genesee River below, and plenty of picturesque hiking trails, Letchworth State Park shows off some of the most magnificent scenery that the eastern United States has to offer. It has even been named “#1 State Park in the USA” and “Best New York State Attraction” in past years.

One of the main reasons people come to Letchworth State Park is to take in the beautiful nature views up close and there’s no better way to do that than by hiking one of the many trails within the park. Letchworth has over 25 different trails ranging from easy to moderate. Some of the shorter trails are between 1 & 2 miles whereas the longest trail is 24 miles!

If you’re only visiting for the day, or are tight on time, Trail 1- The Gorge Trail is considered the most scenic trail at the park. This trail is approximately 7 miles long and passes by three major waterfalls.

For more information on Letchworth State Park, check out my blog post here.

Chestnut Ridge

Chestnut Ridge is a beautiful park located in Orchard Park in the Western New York area. It originally got its name from all of the Chestnut trees that grow there. Chestnut Ridge is a great place to visit during any season. During the winter months, there’s a variety of snow activities including tobogganing, sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The summer and fall months bring about family picnic grills, children’s play areas, an outdoor athletic sports field, tennis courts, and of course, great hiking!

One of the most popular hikes in Chestnut Ridge is the Eternal Flame. This trail is 1.4 miles round trip and fairly moderate. Depending on the time of year, there can be some slippery areas to watch out for. Making it to the very end is absolutely worth it though! The Eternal Flame trail gets its name from an actual flame underneath a small shale waterfall at the end of the trail that never goes out.

Shale is a sedimentary rock made up of mud and clay minerals. Because of how soft it is, the shale crumbles easily and forms a naturally occurring grotto which releases a gas formed by the ongoing decomposition of the bedrock. The gas, which is flammable, is emitted constantly all year round, giving the eternal flame its name. How cool is that?!

Akron Falls

Also located in Western New York is Akron, NY, and home to Akron Falls Park. This is a smaller park of only 284 acres but doesn’t lack any beauty compared to the larger parks. The major feature of this park is a 40- ft scenic waterfall at the end of the trail. The trail is less than a mile and very easy. However, if you want to get closer to the waterfall, you have to be strategic and very careful about the slippery rocks that make up part of the trail.

This trail is much more about the scenery than about getting a workout. As I said, it’s less than a mile round trip- .8 mile to be exact. But at Akron Falls you will feel fully emersed in nature and beauty. Along the trail runs Murder Creek, (don’t ask me where they got the name) a small stream that flows through the entire park. Between the soothing sounds of the creek and the stunning scenery, you can’t go wrong with this place. It’s also free to enter!

Taughannock Falls State Park

Taughannock Falls is a breathtaking waterfall located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Finger Lakes are made up of multiple, long, narrow lakes, which are meant to resemble fingers. Taughannock Falls State Park is located off of Cayuga Lake and is an absolute must-visit! 

There are multiple trails within the park, which are great for different skill levels. However, the Gorge Trail is one you should not miss. It is a very easy,  flat-leveled trail that’s 1.8 miles round trip. During the winter and spring months, be aware that it does get extremely icy. The views are very stunning and at the very end of the trail, you’ll get to marvel at Taughannock Falls from up close. This waterfall plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge!

I’d also highly recommend checking out the lookout point, which is located right next to the visitor center. Here you will have an incredible view of Taughannock Falls from a distance and get to really take in the stunning surroundings. 

Green Lakes State Park

Green Lakes State Park is located in Upstate NY, just east of Syracuse. The park’s name comes from the two glacial lakes that the park is made around. These lakes have a beautiful, and unusual blue-green color which is “due to annual whitings that leave suspended mineral solids in its water. The mineral content of the water also makes the lake meromictic, which is quite rare and which has led to the intense scientific study of the lake for nearly a century.”

The Green Lake to Round Lake trail takes you around both of the lakes and here you’ll be able to take in all of the lovely scenery that this park has to offer! The trail is just under 3 miles and very easy. The park also has a nice beach, canoe rentals, picnic areas, and a golf course.

Niagara Gorge

This list wouldn’t be complete without the Niagara Gorge Rim Trail. Located within Niagara Falls State Park which is one of the world’s natural wonders, the Gorge Rim Trail is a sight to see. Niagara Falls in its self is an absolutely magnificent place that everyone should experience once in their life. However, because of its magnificence, other parts of the park get overshadowed- such as the Niagara Gorge Rim Trail.

This trail is a moderate 3.5 mile hike and runs right along the water, allowing constant views of the incredible rapids! One of the most difficult factors of this hike (in my opinion) is the endless amount of stairs which need to be climbed at the very end of the hike to get back to the parking lot. But every stair was definitely worth it!

For more information on Niagara Fallls State Park, check out my blog post here.

I hope this comes in handy for anyone hoping to do more hikes in New York State in season. New York State really has so much beauty to offer and if you hadn’t considering visiting before, I hope you do now. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave below and as always, happy travels!