Keep this in mind for that next sunny summer morning, when the fresh air inspires an adventurous romp through the woods. Without leaving the five boroughs and while still avoiding the crowds, the best place to embrace the verdant landscapes is Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, a 35 minute ride from midtown to the last stop on the #1 train at 242nd street.
Home to the Riverdale Equestrian Centre, the occasional lively cricket game, Van Cortlandt Municipal Golf Course, a historic mansion, and the Croton Aqueduct, the fourth largest park in New York City has a variety of peaceful trails worth exploring during the height of the fall foliage season. John Muir and Cass Gallagher Nature Trails are two such options for leisure hikes.
The Cass trail is 1.4 miles in length and moderate in difficulty. In mid-October, the route is yellow and crimson-colored and lined with century old oaks. Walking through a portion of the park’s 1,000 acres, one soon discovers how easy it is to be alone in a Frost-like solitude–except perhaps, for the distant hum of the Henry Hudson Parkway. (To access Cass, go a short walk in from the intersection of Broadway and Mosholu Avenue, near the horse stables.)
A popular path among runners, the 1.5 mile John Muir trail is dense with 100-foot trees and follows the Van Cortlandt’s only east-west course across steeper terrain and wetlands. Observant trailblazers will tend to spot frogs, salamanders, and songbirds. (To access Muir, enter either at Broadway and Mosholu Avenue or Van Cortlandt Park East and Oneida Avenue.)
How to get there: Take the 1 train to 242nd Street Station, and proceed north along the east side of Broadway, until you reach 246th Street and turn right onto a wide path. You’ll see the park’s House Museum built in 1748 where George Washington once slept – open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Header photo: Steven Pisano
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram