Giant Stairs (Palisades)

Scenery:
Difficulty: 10 out of 10 (long hike with very steep climbs and a one-mile section of boulder scrambling)
Fees: Cheapskate alert! New as of 2023, it’s now metered parking here. $1.5/hr weekdays; $2.50/hr weekends. Money well spent. (First hour is free; Wednesdays are free.)
Highlights: boulder fields, clifftop views, rock scrambling, waterfall
Distance: 5.2 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 4 hours
Total ascent: 1,269 ft
Max elevation: 542 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to scramble over a mile-long stretch of boulders while taking in some gorgeous Hudson River views. Also, you LOVE climbing stairs.

Breakneck Ridge: Short Loop

Scenery:
Difficulty: 9 out of 10 (short, ridiculously steep climb)
Highlights: gentle-ish descent, insane views, rock scrambling
Distance: 1.5 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 1.5 hours
Total ascent: 646 ft
Max elevation: 584 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take in some of the best views in the Hudson Valley, and you’re not afraid of doing some serious rock scrambling to see them. (Also, you want to bail out less than halfway up the mountain.)

Popolopen Torne

Scenery:
Difficulty: 8 out of 10 (a few very steep sections, some rock scrambling)
Highlights: amazing views, monument and benches at summit, rock scrambling
Distance: 4.7 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 3.5 Hours
Total ascent: 1,308 ft
Max elevation: 931 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take in some amazing Hudson Valley views, and you’re not afraid to scramble up some rocks to see ‘em. Also, you have the ability to pretend that road noise is just really loud wind rustling through the leaves. Oh, and you want to do every hike in the area that sounds like a Harry Potter spell. POPOLOPEN TORNE! (You’re a porcupine now.)

Mohonk Mountain House: Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze

Scenery:
Difficulty: 9 out of 10 (squishing yourself between rocks, ladder climbing, rock scrambling, plus a two-mile-each-way stroll between parking lot and Labryinth)
Fees: 5-alarm cheapskate alert! As of 2022, this hike costs $35 PER HIKER ($30 for kids 4-12 years old)
Highlights: crazy rock labyrinth, great views, rock scrambling, stone tower
Distance: 5.5 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 4 Hours
Total ascent: 973 ft
Max elevation: 1,617 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to see some of the coolest sights in the Hudson Valley and you’re not afraid to crawl under (and around, and through, and over) some rocks to see ‘em.

Bonticou Crag and Table Rocks

Scenery:
Difficulty: 8 out of 10 (long hike with one extremely steep section)
Fees: Cheapskate alert! $15 fee per hiker. Money very well spent.
Highlights: multiple awesome views, rock scrambling, stunning cliffs, Table Rocks
Distance: 6 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 4 Hours
Total ascent: 1,215 ft
Max elevation: 1,195 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to climb one of the coolest rock scrambles in the area, marvel at some of the best views and walk across some of the table-iest rocks.

Breakneck Ridge: Long Loop

Scenery:
Difficulty: 10 out of 10 (crazy steep hike)
Highlights: insane views, rock scrambling
Distance: 3.7 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 4 Hours
Total ascent: 1,442 ft
Max elevation: 1,207 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take in some of the best views in the Hudson Valley, and you’re not afraid of doing some serious rock scrambling to see them.