New York is home to a plethora of scenic mountains, woodlands, waterfalls and parks that make for perfect winter hiking destinations. If you’re looking to get outdoors during the cold weather, grab your boots and bundle up for these winter hikes in New York! Each is the ideal setting to experience the great outdoors, New York style, immersed in the crisp winter air and with the soft crunch of fresh snow under your feet!
1. Letchworth State Park
Hailed as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth State Park is one of the most popular destinations for all-season, all-terrain hiking in Western New York. The park’s trails follow the Genesee River, with beautiful cliffs, gorges and lush forests surrounding it. Take any number of snowy trails to explore the gorge’s three major waterfalls. These landmarks are often frozen over during the winter months for a truly breathtaking sight. Letchworth also provides outdoor opportunities to those with special needs with its Autism Nature Trail! It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon with your kids.
Glen Iris Inn, located in Letchworth State Park, offers accommodations year-round at three beautiful properties: Stone House, Chalet House and Caroline’s Cottage. Each property offers beautiful rooms with stunning views for a charming overnight stay.
2. Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain is a winter haven for those who enjoy skiing, sledding, ice skating and challenging winter hiking. Take a trek up the 10-mile, dog-accessible Summit Trail for incredible views of Lake Placid and alpine glaciers on one of the highest peaks in the Adirondack Mountains. From the 4,867-foot summit, you might even see Montreal’s skyscrapers on a clear day!
3. Bear Mountain State Park
For hiking just outside of New York City, Bear Mountain State Park stretches over 5,200 acres along the west side of the Hudson River. Traverse this rocky terrain for tremendous views of a snowy Hudson Valley and lots of scenic photo spots. Choose from the park’s numerous pet-friendly trails, where you can meander along the river, hike to the mountain’s summit or travel through the surrounding snow-covered forests.
4. Keuka Outlet Trail
Located in New York’s Finger Lakes region, Keuka Outlet Trail and Preservation Area make for a perfect winter day hike with seven miles of wooded trail following an abandoned railroad corridor. Gorgeous winter woodland scenery, creeks, lakes, abandoned buildings and possibly a few snowmobilers will accompany your hike. Hike these trails later in the winter and you just might catch a glimpse of the waterfalls majestically frozen over.
5. Fahnestock Winter Park
Nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Fahnestock State Park is a hot spot for generous snowfall and winter hikes in New York. Experience the beauty of the Hudson Highlands in the park’s 16,000-acre territory designated for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Winter Park offers a leisurely path as well as a challenging uphill hike that follows the Appalachian Trail.
6. Cascade Mountain
The Adirondacks offer experienced hikers a more challenging and rewarding hike with an exciting collection of over 2,000 miles of trails, rivers and peaks. Cascade Mountain near Lake Placid is a good winter option for beginners. Highly popular, this High Peaks trail covers 5.6 miles out and back and is heavily trafficked even in winter. If you’re looking for a little less traffic, Scarface Mountain in Ray Brook has a 7.4-mile trail. The trail offers a moderate hike in winter up to the summit, which is beautifully enclosed with snow-covered trees.
7. Golden Hill State Park
Veteran hikers in Western New York are likely to be familiar with Golden Hill, a popular state park and hiking ground just an hour outside of Buffalo. Nestled along Lake Ontario, hikers and snowshoers have the opportunity to take in the famed Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse as well as trek down the Lakeshore Trail.
8. Mohonk Preserve
Level up the breathtaking beauty unlocked by a New York winter hike by making it an overnight getaway at the Mohonk Mountain House, a premier setting for you and your travel companions to enjoy time together in snowy solitude. Access more than 30 miles of curated winter trails on groomed private grounds for near-limitless hiking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing across the picturesque Hudson Valley landscape. These trails will keep you coming back year after year with difficulties ranging from beginner to advanced, perfect for anyone from families to hardcore outdoor enthusiasts.
9. Harriman State Park
Join couples, families and avid solo hikers venturing to the underrated Harriman State Park. With just a 90-minute drive from NYC, your winter hike can be part of a rewarding weekend away or an afternoon in the refreshing outdoors. Based on its appearance, you’d be forgiven for thinking Harriman’s landscapes belong on the rocky shores of the British Isles, with its serene rolling terrain and dense forests interrupted only by winter’s icy streams and frozen lakes. The snow may subdue these wild lands, but they remain home to dozens of wildlife species including deer, river otters and pileated woodpeckers, a birdwatcher’s delight, even during the coldest months.
10. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Outdoor enthusiasts and naturalists cherish this wonderful example of local habitat conservation within the dense riverine ecosystem of Five Rivers. Once an agriculture center feeding New York’s citizens, Five Rivers is now a bounty of elevated views and rare Northeastern flora found in very few places elsewhere for an educational and recreational hiking experience. Contribute to the noble goal of sustainable outdoor recreation by supporting this beautiful 450-acre plot of protected land by hiking, snowshoeing or cross country skiing its 10 miles of meticulously groomed paths. Hikes in Five Rivers range from easy to moderate difficulty, making them ideal for families seeking a reason to be outside during cooler winter months.