Labor Day’s approach reminds us that fall is on the way. So we asked Fordham staff and faculty for their favorite hikes in the region to take in the soon-to-be red-and-gold trees. Below are a mix of challenging hikes and not-so-strenuous walks within an hour or more from New York City. Before you head out, make sure you bring all the essentials and pick the right hike for your skill level. Happy trails!
Clover Brooke Farm
Hyde Park, New York
Miles from Midtown: 90
You’ve heard of goat yoga. How about alpaca walking? Sophia Town, PhD, assistant professor of organizational behavior at the Gabelli School of Business, celebrated a memorable birthday this year by taking a guided walk with an alpaca through the trails and pastures of this Hudson Valley farm. “It was the perfect way to spend the day,” said Town. “There was fresh air, beautiful scenery, and plenty of laughs with my alpaca hiking buddy.” Book in advance for an hour and a half walk, which costs $55.
Pyramid Mountain National Historic Area
Montville, New Jersey
Miles from Midtown: 34
Gabelli School Professor Dawn Lerman, PhD, enjoys hiking Pyramid Mountain in northern New Jersey for the views—and a gravity-defying boulder balanced upon three smaller rocks called Tripod Rock. “I love introducing it to friends and experiencing it anew through their eyes,” said Lerman, who recently took marketing professor Yuliya Komarova, PhD, to see it. The geological marvel makes for some great photos—even New Jersey senator Cory Booker, a childhood friend of Lerman’s, has posed beside it. The 3.3-mile hike includes a moderate climb with roughly 450 feet of elevation gain and can be extended to take in more geologic features or an additional hike up nearby Turkey Mountain.
Minnewaska State Park
New Paltz, New York
Miles from Midtown: 90
If you’re seeking a more challenging hike, music professor Nathan Lincoln-DeCusatis has you covered. The composer regularly backpacks through wilderness areas in the West to inspire his compositions. His suggestion for a perfect nearby day hike is a 9-mile loop in the Hudson Valley’s Minnewaska State Park (there is a $10 day-use fee). “This is a great intro tour of hiking in the Gunks and has a little bit of everything: stunning waterfalls and great views both north over Roundout Valley toward the Catskills and south off the Shawangunk Ridge,” said Lincoln-Decusatis. He mapped the “lollipop” hike here (so called because it resembles one), which has around 1,500 feet of elevation gain. You can also use the park’s map—leave from the lower parking area and head east toward Rainbow Falls and then Castle Point before looping back—or shave miles off the hike by taking a shorter route.
Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park
North Salem, New York
Miles from Midtown: 55
Holly Curtis, assistant provost for corporate relations, recommends any hike in Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park. “In addition to great trail options, it is also home to the highest natural point in the county (982 feet above sea level), which has beautiful views of nearby lakes and the region,” she said. The hike to that peak—Bailey Mountain—is an easy, 3.5-mile loop.
Shadmoor State Park
Montauk, New York
Miles from Midtown: 116
To experience a different side of Montauk on Long Island’s East End, Graduate School of Education Professor Akane Zusho, PhD, enjoys Shadmoor State Park. “It has beautiful coastal trails, ocean views, old military bunkers tucked into the landscape, and a path that eventually leads down toward Ditch Plains, where you can often see surfers out in the water.” Shadmoor has roughly 2 miles of trails throughout and holds a special place in Zusho’s heart: It was the backdrop of a winning photo she submitted of her dog, Biscuit, in a local paper’s “Cutest Dog” contest. [Ed. note: See more cute dog photos from your colleagues here.] “So while I recommend Shadmoor for the views, the trails, and the odd mix of history and surf culture, Biscuit would probably recommend it for the lighting,” she joked.
