Explore the Trail: New York

The Appalachian Trail through New York is much less secluded than nearby Trail areas, but is more wooded and removed from civilization than one might expect considering its proximity to the large population centers.

The section through Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park, where in 1923 the very first new section of the Appalachian Trail was completed, gets a lot of visitors. As the Trail passes through the Trailside Museum and Zoo at Bear Mountain, it drops to its lowest elevation point—124 feet.

Elevation changes are generally moderate and vary from relatively flat and gentle to short, steep rocky pitches. Natural water sources are scarce and sometimes polluted.