High Banks Preserve

Scenery:
Difficulty: 3 out of 10 (friendly stroll with gentle inclines)
Highlights: beautiful trails, lake, small view, that new preserve smell
Distance: 3.1 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 1.5 hours
Total ascent: 370 ft
Max elevation: 294 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take a nice stroll in the woods around a new, well-maintained preserve with varied terrain and interesting trails.

Teatown Lake Reservation

Scenery:
Difficulty: 4 out of 10 (winding, rolling, relatively flat hike)
Fees: **UPDATE April 2018** Cheapskate alert! “To help manage increased visitation to our preserve Teatown charges $5 to non-members for parking. We appreciate our members, who will always park for free.” (Thanks to Jeff Kent for pointing this out in the comments. Five bones well spent.)
Highlights: beautiful trails, floating bridge, lakes
Distance: 4.2 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 2.5 Hours
Total ascent: 542 ft
Max elevation: 606 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take a pleasant stroll in a beautiful preserve with interesting things to see all around. Also, you have a thing for lily pads.

Wittenberg Mountain

Scenery:
Difficulty: 10 out of 10 (long climb up a big fat mountain with some very steep sections and light rock scrambling toward the top)
Fees: Cheapskate alert!  The day-use fee at Woodland Valley Campground (where you’ll park to tackle this hike) is $6 per car as of this writing in 2015, during camping season only (mid-May through mid-October). Money well spent.
Highlights: amazing views at the top, beautiful trails, light rock scrambling
Distance: 7.2 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 6 Hours
Total ascent: 2,645 ft
Max elevation: 3,780 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to see one of the best views in the Catskills, and you’re prepared to climb a big fat honking mountain to see it.