Popular Ulster County Hiking Trail Voted Best in The US

Ready to hit the trails? The Hudson Valley is now home to one of the 10Best Hiking Trails in the US!

Popular Hudson Valley Hiking Trail Named Best In US

Every so often US Today will announce they are accepting votes in their 10Best segment.

The USA Today experts travel across the nation collecting data on some of the most talked about towns, shops, attractions and more. They then use that data to create lists in which the public will then vote on to narrow down to the "10Best."

Recently, USA Today announced the 10Best Hiking Trails for 2025, and of course a Hudson Valley trail made the cut.

This year, The Trapps at Mohonk Preserve in Ulster County took the #2 spot. Here's what US Today had to say about Mohonk Preserve and why it's so popular:

The Trapps trail system at Mohonk Preserve provides access to one of North America's premier rock-climbing destinations. This easy 5-mile loop through the hardwood, mid-mountain forest offers sweeping views of New York's Hudson Valley. More of a 2-hour-walk than a hike, visitors can even bring kids in strollers to appreciate this Shawangunk wonderland.

 

The honor is pretty impressive considering The Trapps didn't make the cut last year.

2 New York Trails Make The 10Best Hiking Trail List 2025

Last year not a single New York trail made the 10Best Hiking Trail list. However, things are looking up for 2025.

This year not only did Mohonk Preserve make the 10Best list, but so did Watkins Glen Gorge Trail.

Watkins Glen is located in Schuyler County, New York and has 19 waterfalls in a 2.2 mile round trip hike. It's filled with "stone staircases, arched bridges and fern-draped walls."

Hudson Valley: The Home to Several Dangerous Hikes

While the hikes picked by US Today readers may be considered casual and on the easier side, the Hudson Valley is home to some dangerous trails too.

Every hike comes with it's dangers, but there are a handful that are way more dangerous than others.

Kaaterskill Falls has been named in every dangerous hike list in New York you could think of.

READ MORE: DEC Rescues Hiker After Slippery Incident at Kaaterskill Falls

Rightfully so, over the years there have been a handful of deaths at the falls. It seems like every month we get a detailed statement from the DEC about Forest Rangers having to rescue hikers who have fallen or wandered off the trail and have gotten hurt.

Much like Kaaterskill, Breakneck Mountain in Beacon - Cold Spring also has quite the reputation for being one of the more dangerous hikes in the region.

Recently, a hiker was hit by a fallen tree and ended up with serious injuries.

Which hiking trails do you like to take on?