Being a Vermonter, the act of going on a hike is roughly the equivalent of a Manhattanite taking the subway—at some point almost everyone has to do it and the secret is in finding the best routes. The obvious difference is that where subways are crowded necessities seemingly built to deny the very concept of nature, a hike in the woods gives us solitude, beauty, and a break from our busy, man-made lives.
At some point everyone could use a break, and I was counting down the days until I had time to make a trip back to Vermont when I found out New York City had a massive state park practically in its backyard.
Only 30 miles from Manhattan, Harriman State Park is the second largest park in New York with over 200 miles of hiking trails. What was once slated to be the site of a state prison now contains a portion of the Appalachian Trail, 31 lakes, diverse wildlife, and some of the most remote wilderness in the Northeast (and a recommended place to see the stars!)
In a little over an hour you can take the train to Tuxedo, NY ($28.00 RT) and at the base of a trailhead that branches out to cover a wide array of challenging terrain. Follow our guide to the best trails to hike in Harriman and pick up a New York-New Jersey Trails Conference map ($12) from Paragon Sports at Union Square and follow a different kind of green, yellow and red line. There are plenty of great places to camp, and for a park so close to the city; the silence and solitude is a welcome reprieve.
Visit nysparks.com for tips on the best trails and picnic spots in Harriman State Park. Mappy Hour is a great group to join if you’re looking to find local hiking enthusiasts and discover nearby climbing adventures without needing a car. Check the calendar for upcoming events, and for more ideas on great camping trips, read the 17 Best Camping Sites Near NYC
Photos: ScubaBear68, Luke K., EJP Photo, prefers salt marsh
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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