New York’s Most Underrated State Forest You Need to Visit

When it comes to New York, I spend most of my time in the city, but I've really fallen in love with some of the more isolated upstate regions of the state. Not only do they contain some underrated towns, attractions, and dining destinations, but they're also home to some of the most beautiful natural areas in the country. A perfect example is New Paltz, less than two hours outside of the city, which is home to the famous Mohonk Mountain House, one of the most luxurious places to stay in the entire state.

This slice of heaven is smack in the middle of the Mohonk Preserve, a stunning nature preserve that may be the most underrated forest in New York. It's home to a whopping 45 hiking trails, including Lemon Squeeze and Eagle Ridge, a challenging seven-mile trail that takes you to some of the best views in the Empire State. It's quite the journey - but it's one everyone should take.

Mohonk Preserve might be one of the state's most iconic natural landscapes, thanks to its stunning on-site hotel, many mountains, and beautiful forest hiking trails. You could easily spend days exploring the woods.

The most memorable view has to be the towering mountain that leads to the labyrinth and some of the state's other best trails, including the Lemon Squeeze and Eagle Cliff trails. This seven-mile hike is challenging due to its 1,381-foot elevation gain and jagged terrain.

You can expect to encounter stairs, rocky spots, and tight cliff-hugging trails. Dogs aren't welcome on the trail, so leave Rover and Fido at home for this one. You'll need a good pair of hiking boots and some experience for this loop trail, but it's worth the journey.

Near the top, you'll encounter one of the most amazing overlooks in the state, complete with a little gazebo for the best possible view of the overall preserve. This is definitely the spot you want to be before the sun goes down.

Trust us, the sunset view from this overlook is one of the most amazing in the entire northeast! There are plenty of other trails in this preserve, but this is definitely one of the most rewarding.

Have you gotten to explore the Lemon Squeeze and Eagle Cliff Trail? If not, this challenging hike is best tackled with a partner, so tell your best hiking buddy about this article and plan an adventure! You can see more pictures of the hike on the official AllTrails trail listing, and you can find out more about the nature preserve on the official Mohonk Preserve website. This is a pretty complex hike, so we highly recommend a subscription to AllTrails +, thanks to its downloadable trail guides and point-by-point directions that are incredibly helpful in remote areas.

For more unforgettable hiking trails, take a look at our ultimate guide to hiking in New York or do some virtual exploration using our Travel Planner!