With rolling mountains, deep river gorges, and abundant waterfalls, Upstate New York is a playground for hikers. From the soaring High Peaks of the Adirondacks to the plunging chasms of Letchworth State Park, this region offers some of the most spectacular trails in the Northeast. Whether you’re looking for a short nature walk through meadows and wetlands, a half-day trek to a remote waterfall, or a challenging summit climb with 360-degree views, Upstate New York has an adventure for you.
In this blog post, I’ll highlight five of my favorite hiking destinations that showcase the diversity and beauty of Upstate New York’s natural landscapes. From the Finger Lakes to the Buffalo area, I’ll take you on a tour of water-carved gorges, old-growth forests, winding creeks, and panoramic vistas that will inspire your next hiking vacation in New York. Lace-up your boots and join me on the trails through the wild heart of Upstate!
Giant Mountain (High Peaks Region)
This popular Adirondack hike offers spectacular 360-degree views from the summit at 4,627 feet. The 6.8-mile roundtrip hike starts from the Garden trailhead. There are a few different trail options to the summit, but the standard and most direct is from the Garden trailhead, just south of Keene Valley.
The hike starts steeply and includes some rock scrambles, ladder climbing, and exposed ledges, so it is a moderate to difficult hike. But the views open up early on and get better and better as you climb higher.
Highlights along the way include Bald Peak, Rocky Peak Ridge, Green Lake, and of course, the expansive summit views of the Great Range, Dix Range, and beyond.
The summit can get quite crowded on nice days, but the views of the surrounding 46 High Peaks are worth it. You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world. Summer through fall is the best time to hike for the easiest access and best views. It’s highly challenging as a winter hike.
Be sure to bring proper hiking gear, as the weather can change quickly in the Adirondacks. With amazing panoramic views few other Adirondack peaks can match, Giant Mountain is considered one of the classic must-do hikes in the High Peaks Region of Upstate New York.
Watkins Glen State Park (Finger Lakes Region)
Walk through the magical gorge with 19 waterfalls cascading over 400-foot cliffs along the 2-mile gorge trail. It’s considered one of the best hikes in the Finger Lakes. It’s famous for its gorge trail that leads hikers through a mystical world of waterfalls and towering cliff walls.
The main gorge trail is approximately 2 miles long and includes over 800 stone steps that wind through the natural gorge, with 19 waterfalls cascading over the 400-foot cliffs surrounding you. The trail runs over Glen Creek, passing highlights like Rainbow Falls, Central Cascade, Spiral Gorge, and the Mile Point Bridge overlooking Lucifer Falls.
The gorge has etched its way through soft shale layers over thousands of years, creating the unique u-shaped, cliff-walled gorge. The rocky walls are covered in green mosses and dripping with springs.
The best time to hike is spring through fall, with the highest water volume. But it’s picturesque any time of year. Icicles in winter also make for dramatic scenery. The gorge trail is quite popular, so try to visit at off-times if seeking more solitude. Early morning and late evening are good options.
Be prepared for many stairs, inclined hiking, and slippery rocks. Proper footwear is a must. The magical Watkins Glen gorge trail transports hikers into a world of water-sculpted cliffs, cascades, caves, and bridges – providing an unforgettable hiking experience.
Kaaterskill Falls (Catskills Region)
Kaaterskill Falls is a massive 260-foot waterfall in the eastern Catskill Mountains, in the towns of Hunter and Palenville. It’s one of the highest waterfalls in New York.
Hikers take the Kaaterskill Falls Trail from Route 23A in Palenville to view the falls. It’s a moderate 1.5-mile hike with a steep, rocky uphill section before reaching the base of the falls. The two-tiered waterfall drops 180 feet over the upper falls, then cascades 80 feet over the middle ledge, offering stunning views.
You can hike beyond the middle pool to the top of the falls via a challenging scramble over boulders and rocks. This brings you to the most dramatic overlook right above the two-tiered falls.
The best time to visit is in late spring or early summer when water volume is highest. In summer, swimming in the plunge pools below the falls is popular on hot days. The area has a fascinating history, including being one of the nation’s first major tourist attractions in the 1820s and 1830s, when hotels lined the valley.
Be prepared for a lot of rock scrambling and steep, rugged terrain. Good hiking shoes are a must.
With its immense height and beauty, Kaaterskill Falls is considered one of the most scenic waterfalls in the Catskills and all of New York state.
Letchworth State Park (Western NY)
Letchworth State Park is near Castile, NY, along the Genesee River. It’s nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the East” due to the stunning gorge carved out by the river. Over 60 miles of hiking trails allow visitors to take in the dramatic views from above and within the gorge, which is up to 600 feet deep.
At Letchworth State Park, must-do hikes allow you to enjoy the dramatic gorge scenery. For example, the moderate Gorge Trail is a 2-mile loop. Along the way, it combines high cliffs and waterfalls at the gorge rim with descending steps into the gorge bottom. Additionally, the Bear Caves Trail is a 1-mile loop. It passes by cascades and caves carved into the gorge walls. For beautiful panoramic views of the valley, hike the Rim and Gorge Trail. Or go up the trail to Mt. Morris Dam, the former stopping point for river barges. Beyond the gorge vistas, the park has meadows, forests, and the Genesee River to explore.
Spring is great for seeing roaring waterfalls and blooming wildflowers. Fall offers spectacular foliage colors reflecting off the river below. The park has an interpretive center, campgrounds, and a 70-mile scenic drive for taking in the landscape when not hiking.
With its triple-tiered waterfalls, profound gorge, and wealth of hiking trails, Letchworth State Park deserves its title as one of the highlights of western New York.
Beaver Meadow Audubon Center (Buffalo Area)
Beaver Meadow Audubon Center is located just north of Buffalo in North Java, NY. It consists of 585 acres of diverse wildlife habitat. Eight miles of hiking trails wind through meadows, forests, and wetlands. The trails range from easy to moderately difficult.
The Woodland Loop is a peaceful 1.5-mile trail through shady forests and along the banks of Beaver Meadow Creek. It’s perfect for bird watching. The Wetland Trail is a 1-mile loop with boardwalks that take you through marshy areas filled with cattails and wetland wildlife like frogs and turtles. The Meadow Trail is a flat, easy, 1-mile trail that crosses open fields filled with wildflowers and grasses with panoramic views.
Observation towers and platforms are located throughout the trails, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Interpretive signs describe the local flora, fauna, and habitat along the trails. Guided nature walks are also available.
The best times to visit are spring and early summer, when migratory birds flock to the wetlands, and summer into fall for meadow wildflowers. With its diversity of easy, family-friendly trails showcasing wetlands, meadows, and woodlands, Beaver Meadow Audubon Center is a hidden gem for nature lovers in the Buffalo area.
Hike the peaceful wooded trails and take the boardwalk to Beaver Meadow Creek. You can spot birds and wildlife along the way. The trails are easy for all skill levels.
With gorges, waterfalls, mountain summits, and peaceful wooded trails, Upstate New York is a haven for hikers. These adventures showcase some of the best hiking destinations that New York has to offer.
With its diversity of landscapes, from deep river valleys to high mountain peaks, Upstate New York presents boundless hiking adventures. As this post showcases, the diversity of premier hiking destinations makes Upstate New York a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts. So grab your boots and walking stick to experience the wild heart of New York along its magnificent trails and vistas.