Bear Mountain State Park

Scenery:
Difficulty: 8 out of 10 (rugged climb with some steep rock-clambering)
Fees: Cheapskate alert! The parking fee here is $10 per vehicle. Money well spent.
Highlights: awesome views, cool trails, stone tower, vending machines
Distance: 4.5 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 3.5 Hours
Total ascent: 1,208 ft
Max elevation: 1,319 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to tackle a beautiful, steep climb to one of the most wide-open panoramic views in the Hudson Valley. Also, you can ignore the fact that you could have just driven to the top.