If you’re planning a romantic city break, consider one of these three day hikes near NYC that will take your breath away, and not just because you’ve conquered a dramatic climb. Pull on your boots, pack a picnic, and discover how easy it is to enjoy a great outdoor adventure without a car.
A Great Catch at Ken Lockwood Gorge
Find paradise in the Ken Lockwood Gorge. When you make your escape from the city, don’t forget to pack your fly fishing rod. This easy 7.5 mile hike will wind along the banks of the South Branch of the Raritan River—passing by train ruins from the nineteenth century—allowing plenty of opportunities to cast your rod a couple of times before enjoying a picnic among the colorful canopy of trees.
Transportation: NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line to High Bridge, NJ
Trail information: New York – New Jersey Trail Conference: Ken Lockwood Gorge and the Columbia Trail
Sunset On Schunemunk
Pack a bottle of wine for sunset on the ridgeline. You and your hiking partner are about to spend dusk crossing over cascading streams and among staggering ridgelines with magnificent views of the northern Hudson Highlands. With 25 miles of trails to choose from, this hike can be as short or as long as you wish.
Transportation: Short Line bus 733 to Mountainville, Orange Co., NY
Trail Information: New York – New Jersey Trail Conference: Schunemunk Mountain State Park
A Rocky and Rewarding Path to Love
With gorgeous panoramic views of the Hudson River, this Breakneck Ridge hike will bring you into the eastern Hudson Highlands. After a challenging, but well worth it climb, take a quick trek up the road to the town of Cold Spring. Celebrate the climb with a rewarding meal by the fire at Le Bouchon before catching the train home.
Transportation: Metro-North to Breakneck Ridge Station. From Cold Spring Station, take Metro-North back to New York City.
Trail Information: AMC’s Best Day Hikes Near New York City “Hudson Highlands State Park- Breakneck Ridge and Bull Hill” page 96-101. New York – New Jersey Trail Conference: Breakneck Ridge Loop
Photos: dan Kong, simonov, AMC, Chinkerfly
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