This Riverfront Treehouse Is the Perfect Home Base for New York’s Best Hiking Trails

It’s the perfect time of year to spend your days outside, tackling New York’s best hiking trails. Now, I know everyone has a different answer for where the best trails reside, and there are no wrong answers! New York is blessed to have an endless array of epic hiking trails that will take you to summit peaks, waterfall views, old-growth forests, and more. 

For me, the perfect hiking trail takes me to unique views with few other hikers on the trail. If you’re on the hunt for remote trails in New York where you’re often the only person around, I’ve got just the spot. There’s a riverfront treehouse in Boonville, a tiny village in Oneida County with about 2,000 residents, that would be the perfect home base to explore some of New York’s finest hikes.

You’ve got the Sand Flats Forest, Poppel Pong State Forest, Hogsback State Forest, and Whetstone Gulf State Park to the north and east, and Jackson Hill State Forest, Webster Hill State Forest, and Pixley Falls State Park to the south. You’re surrounded by wilderness and some of New York’s best hiking trails from every direction!

The adults-only treehouse is ideal for an off-grid getaway. The one-bedroom, one-bath Airbnb sits on top of a hill and overlooks the beautiful Black River. It’s a place where solar lights illuminate the space, the sun heats the water for showering, and the soundtrack of songbirds scores your day.

Guests are welcome to explore the trails on the 19-acre property, but if you want to hop in the car, you’ve got plenty of trail options in every direction.

Pixley Falls State Park is a no-brainer. The main attraction is the 50-foot waterfall, which can be viewed via a short 0.7-mile trail. For a longer trek, combine the Pixley Falls Nature Trail with the Red Loop Trail (1.4 miles).

For more of a challenge, head over to the Woodhull Mountain Trail near Old Forge. Old Forge is about 40 minutes away from Boonville, which is nice because you won’t be spending too much time in the car. This 14.4-mile trail takes about five hours to complete, so plan accordingly! The trail isn’t super steep; it’s more of a gradual climb (1,177 feet elevation gain), and the views from the fire tower are worth it. 

About 20 minutes north of the treehouse is Whetstone Gulf State Park. There are a few different trails here, but my top pick would be the Whetstone Gulf Trail (followed closely by the Observation Tower and South Trim Trails). The Whetstone Gulf Trail is just about 5.5 miles, and the north side has the better views (in my opinion). 

After an exhausting day of hiking, return to the treehouse and start a fire. Cook yourself a meal over the fire, and then look up at the sky and do a little stargazing. Despite the remote location, there is a grocery store and restaurants about three miles away.

Could you see yourself staying in this vacation rental in Boonville, New York? Visit the Airbnb listing to learn more, and don’t forget to share this article with someone you want to embark on this epic adventure with.