When I moved to NYC from Wyoming five long time ago , I went from a state with a population compactness of six masses per solid mile to a New York apartment with six roommate . I knew if I was going to keep my sanity , I ’d need to find way to lam the gang and breathe in the out-of-doors – which has become impossible to do in the metropolis ’s green and beach . 42 million people will inflict Central Park this year , according to anew report in theNew York Times , up 7 million from 2011 , and crowds on the High Line have tripled since 2010 .
Fortunately , there are flock of ways to get out , even if you do n’t have access to a car – I mean , a railcar definitely help ( and if you ’ve get one , hit theseupstate NY tramp spots ) , but any of the follow places can be reached without one . If you ’re willing to stuff a wheel onto a Metro North geartrain , your outdoor possibilities will flesh out quite a bit . But even if you ’re just going to stick to public transit and your own two understructure , there are great deal of places to search . If you want to get more creative , or just want to make some unexampled friends , also consider fall in an outdoorsy Meetup ( more on that below ) . There are many groups around the urban center that organize carpools for hike , camping , and other out-of-door jaunt .
Forest Park, Queens
This elephantine wooded ballpark in Queens is one of NYC ’s best little - know precious stone . The park , which also includes gymnastic battleground and an 18 - hole golf game course , has 165 Akko of timber with hiking paths that make you feel like you are miles out of doors of the metropolis . But you ’re not – you ’re in Queens ! The woods are rarely crowded , even on beautiful days , and it ’s the expert seat in the metropolis to permit your dog run costless , leave that you keep it from spooking the horses . Oh – and there ’s horses ! Lynne ’s Riding Center maneuver a private stalls on the edge of the park and offers riding lesson on the Forest Park track . If you ask a woodland reprieve from the city without the hassle of actually leave the city , Forest Park is a godsend .
How to get there : The Q21 and Q53 buses come right to the parking area , and the J train come within a half stat mi , at the 85th St - Forest Parkway stop . Driving can take anywhere from half an 60 minutes to an hr from Manhattan , depending on dealings . bet for parking on Myrtle Ave , after you cross over Woodhaven Blvd .
The Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights
If you ’re into medieval religious art , the Cloisters museum is one of the unspoiled place , if not the good place , in the US to take it in , since the whole museum was build in the architectural stylings of a knightly monastery . But if , like most people , you could kind of take or leave gothic religious art , a trip up to Washington Heights / Inwood is well deserving it just to take the air around the ground of the surround Fort Tryon Park . With eight mile of pathways , and heavy views over the Hudson River , it ’s one of the quiet , most unbend fleeceable spaces in the city . It ’s much further uptown than Central Park , which cuts forth all of the crowds and tourist – and aim there is half the fun , if you bike .
How to get there : The park is approachable off the A train , at hundred-and-ninetieth St. But the best way to get there is to pedal up the Hudson River Greenway , which you may wheel in an hour from Downtown , on almost uninterrupted greenway bike lane for most of the way .
Harriman State Park, Hudson Valley
Harriman State Park is the best protagonist of anyone in NYC who gets desperate for regular time out from the concrete jungle . The second - large state park in New York , Harriman has 225 miles of trail , including piece of the Appalachian Trail , and is by far the best one - stop shop class in the area for hike , cross - country skiing , boating , fishing , and tenting . With more than 47,000 acres of forest , lake , and great deal tops , Harriman is marvelously large for being so close to the metropolis – big enough that there is interminable territory to explore ( and not toooo many people ) , but close enough to be worth it for a daylight misstep or overnight camp . It ’s got leafage worth trip for in the drop , great views through the bare trees in wintertime , and in July and August , you may even find furious blueberry bushes to pasture on . Lake Sebago is a democratic destination for swim and canoeing , and if you ’re looking for hiking trails , you ca n’t go wrongly anywhere – arrest outMyHarriman.com , a dandy resource for info about specific hikes and activities .
Where to tent : If it ’s camping you want , there are plenty of options , but keep in psyche that sites more approachable to roads and parking lots will also have more crowds . For motorcar camping with facilities and plenteousness of company , check outBeaver Pond Campground . For rustic bivouacking with just a little tramp in , try the overnight parking quite a little off Kanawaukee ( position GPS or Google map to 41.23038 N , 74.13996W ) that accessesTom Jones shelter a half statute mile in , or Bald Rocks shelter , which offers some of the unspoilt views in the car park on the 1.5 - nautical mile hike in . Or , for more secluded lakeside tenting , attempt out the countrified camping area surrounding Pine Meadow Lake , where there ’s plentifulness of heartsease and quiet , and gravid swim . Park your gondola ( or cycle ) at Lake Sebago ’s south shore off Seven Lakes Drive and make the two to three mile hike in to get hold your getaway .
How to get there : Harriman is easiest accessed by elevator car – the park is just 25 international mile north of the George Washington Bridge and can be turn over in just an 60 minutes in good dealings on Saturday mornings . But the adventurous can find it even without a car . Take the Metro - North Port Jervis telephone circuit to Sloatsburg ; from there it ’s a two - mile walk or wheel ride to Reeve ’s Meadow parking lot on Seven Lakes Drive , which has trail head access to plentitude of just hiking trails , including trails that take you another three to four miles to campsites on Pine Meadow Lake .
View of the Hudson river from Breakneck Ridge|Ruben Martinez Barricarte/Shutterstock
Breakneck Ridge, Hudson Valley
The best public theodolite - accessible hike in the NYC area , Breakneck Ridge Loopis correctly off Metro North , and presents a challenging 2.8 - mile hike , with some epical view of the Hudson River that you definitely have to earn . From the trailhead , the loop begins with a rugged and strenuous rock scramble that you ’ll likely want all four limb to climb . But you ’re quickly rewarded with numerous scout points that make the rise well worth it . The promiscuous access off Metro North control that you ’ll have stack of company on your hike , but it still stupefy the underworld out of fight the crowds walking up Broadway .
How to get there : The Metro - North Hudson phone line stops right at the Breakneck Ridge Loop trail head – hence the crowds – but it only do that stop on weekend and holiday . Otherwise , it ’s about an hr to an hour and a one-half drive from the city .
Schunnemunk State Park, Hudson Valley
If you want a hiking trip in which it is quite possible not to see another person the whole time , Schunnemunk in the Hudson Valley is the under - the - microwave radar choice that can surrender that kind of solitude . With forests , meadow , and stack tops , it has the same topography of more frequently visit Hudson Valley destination like Harriman , Bear Mountain , and violent storm King State Parks , but there ’s one big thing Schunnemunk is missing : all the people .
How to get there : get to Schunnemunk without a car is n’t as cut - and - dried as Breakneck Ridge , but it can unquestionably be done , especially if you ’re willing to bring a bike onto Metro North . Take the Port Jervis line to Salisbury Mills - Cornwall , which gets you within three miles of the Otterkill Road trailhead ( put your GPS to 41.425755 N , -74.101685 W ) , where a six - mile iteration with some unconscionable climb and gracious views awaits you . With a car ( Schunnemunk is about a 90 - arcminute effort ) or bike , there are a turn of other easily accessible trails in the car park , but this is the close one to multitude transit .
Fire Island, Long Island
Unlike the inhabited westerly side of Fire Island , the about derelict eastern end of this narrow roadblock island offers a reclusive getaway for camping or day hike and swim . You ’ll have to take a train and a boat to get there – and you ’ll need to book your summer camp fleck well in cash advance – but the reward is the most remote and pristine seaboard camping in the NYC area , where you could slant a tent on the George Sand at the Watch Hill campsites , and heed to ocean waters wrap you to sleep . Watch Hill is also a worthwhile twenty-four hours - trip terminus – if a bit far from the city – with a lifeguarded beach , and backcountry dune hikes along the water supply ’s sharpness .
Where to camp : There are 26 collapsible shelter site at Watch Hill bivouac , right on the other side of the ferryboat , or you could get backcountry permits for dispersed camping further down on the eastern tip of the island , which you also get at via Watch Hill . Both options require progression reservations , and the limited spots fulfill up chop-chop , especially for weekend .
How to get there : Take the LIRR Montauk line to Patchogue , then walk over to the Watch Hill Ferry ( $ 17 dollar orotund - stumble , operated by Davis Park Ferry ) to get to the island . There is no driving allowed on Fire Island .
Hiking trails of Forest Park|Flickr/Atomische * Tom Giebel
Storm King Art Center, Hudson Valley
Though not as strictly innate an outdoor dodging as the spots listed above , Storm King is one of the skillful outdoor activities in the NYC arena . The 500 - Akka carving Mungo Park of Wood , meadows , and fields is a truly unique prowess experience , and a great situation to walk around , get fresh air , and see more than 100 carving well - locate in a beautiful setting . tempest King is a somewhat popular address , so do n’t await to find solitude here , but it ’s more than big enough to handle crowds without ever feeling crowded , particularly if you head to the southern end of the park , where the sculptures are more spread apart .
Offseason beaches
There are dozens ofbeaches around NYC you’re able to touch without a gondola , but if you go during the summer , the beach are good for citizenry - watching than they are for get forth . Not so in the offseason – psyche to any of the New York area beach in the spring or fall and you ’ll have the place middling much all to yourself , even at some of the closer ones like Jones Beach on Long Island or Rockaway Beach in Queens . you’re able to even bring your dog with you to Rockaway Beach after Labor Day and before Memorial Day .
Find carpools by joining a Meetup
If you do n’t have a railway car but want to get into more elevator car - only slur , your best selection is to set out dating someone who has a car . But yoursecond - best option is to link up a Meetup . There are tons of outdoorsy groups around NYC that organize events and carpools to all kind of outdoor activities around the NYC area and the intact Northeast . There are plenty of events for all levels of ability and adventure level . Here ’s a few groups to check out :
Sign up herefor our everyday NYC electronic mail and be the first to get all the food / drink / fun New York has to offer .
Fort Tryon Park|Francis Roux/Shutterstock
Harriman State Park has 32 lakes and ponds|Marcia Crayton/Shutterstock
Breakneck Ridge has the best views in the region|i-m-a-g-e/Shutterstock
Schunnemunk State Park has the view without the crowds|Flickr/dankong
Fire Island|Michael Rega/Shutterstock
Southern fields at Storm King|Flickr/joeshlabotnik
Rockaway Beach, Queens|Flickr/stefan georgi
