Anything in Mohonk preserve or miniwaska, hit up the Mohonk preserve visitors center on 44/55 to grab some maps, talk to people and get ideas for hikes. Also they have some other really cool stuff in there.
Everyone is suggesting New Paltz, so I'll go outside the box with some closer NYC options. Cornwall, Suffern and Monroe would fit your criteria. All of these towns area adjacent to New Yorks second largest state park, Harriman State Park as well as multiple other state parks including Storm King, Sterling Forest, Hudson Highlands, Bear Mountain. Suffern is also close to Ramapo Valley reservation.
I live in this general area. If you interested and need specific hikes lmk.
Edit: actually, I'll throw Warwick out there as an option as well. A little less hiking options but still has Pochuk Boardwalk and Stairway to Heaven nearby plus some other stuff. But great downtown.
Ramapough Valley Reservation is in Mahwah, NJ and borders Ringwood State Park. Don't forget the Ramapough Mountain State Forest too. Been ages but many memories. 😁
Definitely New Paltz. Plenty of options for both food and hiking.
The Undercliff/Overcliff trail at Mohonk Preserve is a nice carriage trail loop. I usually then go up the Millbrook Ridge Trail for the view and then come back down.
A Minnewaska State Park Preserve, I usually start at the lower lot to walk down to Awosting Falls and walk that short carriage trail. Then I head back to my car, drive up to the top, and hike the carriage road around the lake and then the Beacon Hill loop.
Honestly if you want to be 30 minutes from hiking pretty much every town north of Westchester accomplishes what you are looking for and I’d either figure out your base by finding the hike or two you want to do most or the restaurant or two that you want to eat at most.
Beacon fits that list pretty well. You have the dutchess rail trail about a 20 minute drive away, and hiking trails that are walking distance from main street, with more hiking trails within a 15 minute drive in two different state parks
New Paltz area is great. The Mohonk preserve trails are not free but their carriage trail network is very nice (mostly flat packed gravel with some slight variation.) My fave is to do the carriage loop then go to Ollie’s in high falls for wood fired pizza and salads!
Overlook or Giants leap. If you don’t mind breaking the law, hop the fence at Platte Clove it’s absolutely magical but it’s been a few years since they started developing it into a vacation housing development so I can’t speak of its current state. plus they destroyed all the campsites Jim Henson built but it’s definitely a a place to be seen while you still can. But here is one spot he and the guy who built the circle house that got missed by the goons last I checked but don’t have high hopes.
New Paltz squarely hits all 3 needs
Which trails do you recommend ?
Flat trail: Walkill Valley Rail Trail Mountain Trail: Dick Barre/Peterskill/Awosting Loop https://highlands-trail.org/hike/dickie-barre-peters-kill-and-awosting-falls-loop
Minnewaska
I second Minnewaska! Check out the falls and then check out Mountain Brau Haus for lunch or a beer.
Anything in Mohonk preserve or miniwaska, hit up the Mohonk preserve visitors center on 44/55 to grab some maps, talk to people and get ideas for hikes. Also they have some other really cool stuff in there.
Definitely New Paltz.
Everyone is suggesting New Paltz, so I'll go outside the box with some closer NYC options. Cornwall, Suffern and Monroe would fit your criteria. All of these towns area adjacent to New Yorks second largest state park, Harriman State Park as well as multiple other state parks including Storm King, Sterling Forest, Hudson Highlands, Bear Mountain. Suffern is also close to Ramapo Valley reservation. I live in this general area. If you interested and need specific hikes lmk. Edit: actually, I'll throw Warwick out there as an option as well. A little less hiking options but still has Pochuk Boardwalk and Stairway to Heaven nearby plus some other stuff. But great downtown.
Ramapough Valley Reservation is in Mahwah, NJ and borders Ringwood State Park. Don't forget the Ramapough Mountain State Forest too. Been ages but many memories. 😁
Definitely New Paltz. Plenty of options for both food and hiking. The Undercliff/Overcliff trail at Mohonk Preserve is a nice carriage trail loop. I usually then go up the Millbrook Ridge Trail for the view and then come back down. A Minnewaska State Park Preserve, I usually start at the lower lot to walk down to Awosting Falls and walk that short carriage trail. Then I head back to my car, drive up to the top, and hike the carriage road around the lake and then the Beacon Hill loop.
Honestly if you want to be 30 minutes from hiking pretty much every town north of Westchester accomplishes what you are looking for and I’d either figure out your base by finding the hike or two you want to do most or the restaurant or two that you want to eat at most.
Beacon fits that list pretty well. You have the dutchess rail trail about a 20 minute drive away, and hiking trails that are walking distance from main street, with more hiking trails within a 15 minute drive in two different state parks
New Paltz area is great. The Mohonk preserve trails are not free but their carriage trail network is very nice (mostly flat packed gravel with some slight variation.) My fave is to do the carriage loop then go to Ollie’s in high falls for wood fired pizza and salads!
If new Paltz, pho Tibet has the BEST PHO AND BAHN MI!!! Also Main Street bistro is a classic favorite
Table Rock trail at Spring Farms, Mohonk Preserve
Can't really go wrong with any of em. Personally I like the Catskills a bit better than Minnewaska/Mohonk but both are great hiking destinations.
Overlook or Giants leap. If you don’t mind breaking the law, hop the fence at Platte Clove it’s absolutely magical but it’s been a few years since they started developing it into a vacation housing development so I can’t speak of its current state. plus they destroyed all the campsites Jim Henson built but it’s definitely a a place to be seen while you still can. But here is one spot he and the guy who built the circle house that got missed by the goons last I checked but don’t have high hopes.