Hoof to It This Spring on the Best Hikes in the Northeast

Need to stretch your legs after that long winter? Lace up your hiking boots and check out some of the best hikes in the Northeast.

Easy

Alley Pond Park
Queens, New York 

The second-largest park in Queens has several trails that wind through forest, and along ponds and a salt marsh. Saunter on the Tulip Tree Trail, which passes the Alley Park Giant, a tulip tree that might be New York City’s oldest organism at between 350 and 450 years old.

Moderate

The Appalachian Trail
Western Connecticut

More than 50 miles of the Appalachian Trail cut a scenic swath west of the Housatonic River. There are more than 10 parking sites, from Salisbury to Kent, where hikers can leave their vehicles and set out for a day hike. If you’re up for a challenge, climb Bear Mountain, the state’s highest peak at 2,326 feet.

Challenging

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation
Sutton, Mass.

Glacial meltwater carved out this natural granite playground sometime during the Ice Age. The resulting 70-foot-high cliffs and craggy valley are a blast to climb, full of cleverly named rock formations like Fat Man’s Misery – a narrow crevasse – and the Devil’s Pulpit. Be careful after rainstorms; the rocks can be slippery.

Any new exercise routines should be approached with caution. Consider your physical limitations and always consult your doctors.