Little Stony Point State Park

What to bring

Day-hike essentials for this trail. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

LOWA Renegade EVO GTX MidGORE-TEX, 3 widths, resolableCheck price on Amazon →Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32ozinsulated, durableCheck price on Amazon →Osprey Talon 22ventilated back, pole carryCheck price on Amazon →Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .7day-hike specific, waterproofCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Spot 400-Rrechargeable, comfortableCheck price on Amazon →

Skip the crowded beaches at Bear Mountain — Little Stony Point gives you Hudson River swimming without the chaos, plus you get to cross an active railroad bridge to get there.

What to Expect

This isn’t really hiking in the traditional sense. You’re looking at a 10-minute walk through woods to reach a rocky beach on the Hudson, with the Metro-North trains rumbling overhead as you cross the trestle bridge to enter the park. It’s more like a secret swimming hole that happens to require walking through some trees first.

Once you cross the railroad bridge — and yes, trains still use it, so don’t dawdle — you’ll find yourself on a network of easy trails through typical Hudson Valley forest. The most direct route heads right after the bridge, then left toward the water. The trails are wide and well-maintained, though you’ll want to watch for poison ivy along the edges. Nothing technical here, just pleasant woodland walking on mostly flat ground.

The payoff is the rocky shoreline with views across the Hudson toward Westchester. The “beach” is more like a collection of flat rocks perfect for spreading out a towel or just sitting and watching boats go by. The water’s clean enough for swimming if you don’t mind the Hudson’s murky color — it’s actually much cleaner than it looks.

Difficulty

Calling this “easy” is generous — it’s practically a stroll. The only challenge is navigating the railroad crossing, which requires basic common sense about not getting hit by a train. The elevation gain is essentially zero, and the trail surface is smooth enough for most footwear. I’ve seen people do this in flip-flops, though I wouldn’t recommend it given the poison ivy situation.

Best Time to Go

Summer weekdays are ideal if you want the place to yourself — weekends can get busy with families from the city looking for an easy river access. Early morning or late afternoon works well to avoid crowds and harsh sun on the exposed rocks. The swimming is obviously best in summer, but the river views are solid year-round. Avoid immediately after heavy rain when the trails can be muddy and the river murky.

Before You Go

Parking can fill up on nice weekends — the lot isn’t huge and this spot has gotten more popular. It’s right off Route 9D about an hour north of the city. No fees, no facilities, no cell service to speak of. Bring water since there’s none available, and consider packing out a picnic to enjoy on the rocks. Cold Spring is just a few minutes south if you need food or bathrooms before or after.

Gear for this hike

Our day-hike checklist — the picks that show up again and again from tested gear roundups. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

LOWA Renegade EVO GTX MidGORE-TEX, 3 widths, resolableCheck price on Amazon →Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32ozinsulated, durableCheck price on Amazon →Osprey Talon 22ventilated back, pole carryCheck price on Amazon →Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .7day-hike specific, waterproofCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Spot 400-Rrechargeable, comfortableCheck price on Amazon →Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacketdurable, trail + everydayCheck price on Amazon →Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Midweightlifetime warrantyCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Polescork grip, lightweightCheck price on Amazon →Sawyer Squeeze Water Filterultralight, standard threadsCheck price on Amazon →Sawyer Premium Permethrin Insect Repellent Spraytreat clothing; kills ticksCheck price on Amazon →Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve HoodyUPF 50, hood + thumb holesCheck price on Amazon →