Skip to content

Hiking Trails Under 5 km near New York City

We track 130 routes that match this search near New York City. They average 1.8 km and 40 m (131 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 4.8 km.

That is 76 percent of the 171 routes we map near New York City. They are shorter than the local average, 1.8 km against 4.5 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 40 m (131 ft) against 99 m (325 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Short routes for a spare couple of hours, an evening walk, or a day when the weather only gives you a window. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
91 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Dam on Mianus River in Mianus River Park near Old Mill Lane in Stamford, CT.
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Dam on Mianus River in Mianus River Park near Old Mill Lane in Stamford, CT.
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
64 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
56 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
107 m
Typical duration
1 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Dam on Mianus River in Mianus River Park near Old Mill Lane in Stamford, CT.
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.2 mi
Typical duration
5 min
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
60 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
101 m
Typical duration
1 hr 7 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
94 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
83 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
92 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
48 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
44 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
95 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
30 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
51 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
101 m
Typical duration
1 hr 6 min
  • Coastal
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
74 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Coastal
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
63 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
17 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New Jersey · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

New York · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
102 m
Typical duration
1 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Hemlock Falls LoopNew Jersey1.1 km24 m16 minEasyApril to October
Summit TrailNew Jersey4.1 km91 m1 hrEasyApril to October
Summit TrailNew Jersey1.3 km29 m19 minEasyApril to October
Crossover TrailConnecticut0.6 km8 m8 minEasyApril to October
Green LoopConnecticut4.2 km108 m1 hr 2 minEasyApril to October
Preserve Shoreline Loop TrailNew Jersey2.5 km54 m35 minEasyApril to October
Shore TrailNew Jersey2.9 km64 m42 minEasyApril to October
Beech Mountain-Clove TrailNew Jersey4.2 km93 m1 hr 1 minEasyApril to October
Fire Tower Ridge TrailNew Jersey3.9 km86 m56 minEasyApril to October
Pierson RidgeNew Jersey1.5 km33 m22 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Summit Trail, Hemlock Falls Loop, Summit Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

People also search for