John Gouzos What are the best hikes near New York City and accessible via Metro North?

There are a ton of hikes that are just a train ride away from NYC via the Metro North. I’ll offer just a few, but with such sort proximity to nature, there are truly endless trails to be hiked in the area.

Breakneck Ridge
This is a popular favorite and a moderate hike. The Metro North “Breakneck Ridge” train stop about 0.5 miles north of the trailhead. It is located between the road (Route 9D) and the river. The “Breakneck Ridge” sign is not visible from the road. There is a pedestrian bridge located not far from the road (there is a very very short and unmarked access trail from the road to the bridge) which safely takes one from the road to the train and vice versa.

From the website:

Total Distance: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: medium — difficult (multiple rock scrambles, 1,670'+ total elevation gain)
Estimated hiking time: 4+ hours — 2 people, 5–6.25 hours — group

The hike begins on west (southbound) side of the road just north of the underpass where you will find the Breakneck Ridge Trail (white blazes). This first section of the hike involves 1.5 miles of sometimes difficult climbing and rock scrambling.

The Notch trail (blue blazed) will merge with the Breakneck Ridge trail. Continue following the combined trails. The trails will make a left onto an unpaved, unmarked and rough woods road. Very soon after you will reach a fork in the road where the Breakneck Ridge and the Notch trails will take the right fork. You should take the left fork. About half a mile later make another left onto the Wilkinson Memorial trail (yellow blazes — some of which may have faded to white). In about 1.5 miles you will reach two nice views (and good lunch spots!) from atop Sugarloaf Mountain. Continue on Wilkinson trail until it takes you back to the road.