The Long Path Crosses Rockland, and It's Worth the Detour

Most people know pieces of it without knowing its name. The Long Path is a 358-mile end-to-end trail that runs from the George Washington Bridge all the way north to Altamont, NY, and its Rockland County section covers ground that genuinely earns the word scenic -- without any arm-twisting.

Through Rockland, the trail moves along the Palisades ridge, threading through Tallman Mountain State Park near Palisades, dipping toward Piermont and Nyack, cresting Hook Mountain, and eventually connecting into the Bear Mountain and Harriman complex to the north. That's a corridor of trail miles that shifts from river-view ridgeline to wooded climbs to open rock faces -- all within one county.

What makes this stretch particularly useful for local hikers is the side-approach access. You don't have to commit to a long linear route or arrange a car shuttle to get something meaningful out of it. The trail crosses or runs near enough to several trailheads and parking areas that you can pick an entry point close to your town, walk a few miles of ridge, and come back satisfied. Families with older kids, trail runners, and people who want a legitimate workout without driving far into the Catskills all find reasons to return to this section.

The Palisades ridge itself has a quality that's easy to underestimate until you're standing on it. The views west across Rockland and east over the Hudson show up without much warning, and on a clear day the sight lines extend well past what you'd expect this close to the city. Hook Mountain, in particular, has an exposed summit feel that's rare this far south in the valley.

If you've been looking for a trail that gives you more than a single out-and-back loop -- something with connective tissue to explore over several visits -- the Long Path's Rockland section is a good place to build that habit. It rewards return trips because you rarely see the same mile twice in the same light.

See the full listing for details on access points and how the Rockland section connects to surrounding state parks.