3 Trails Along the Appalachian Mountains
This summer I spent some time in Pawling, NY! And aside from finding an amazing pizza joint, I explored some trails and lakes in the area. If you ever find yourself nearby and interested in exploring the Appalachian trail, then I highly recommend the following trails!
Cat Rocks Trail
Even though this is a 1.7-mile out and back trail, many have described it to be fairly steep! It is suggested to have trekking poles simply because of the incline.
The trail offers two routes, so select the one that best suits your group. Overall, it leads to a scenic overlook of the town of Pawling. If you are in the area, I would recommend this for a sunrise hike.
Also, be careful of Poison Ivy, it is everywhere!
Green Mountain Lake Loop
This is a short 1.9-mile loop trail. The trail offers scenic views of the lake and little hidden gems along the way. If you have small children, then this hike has been reviewed as suitable for the little ones. Dogs are permitted on this loop as well.
Please note there have been some recent complaints about trail markers being missing. So, if you attempt, I highly suggest downloading the map from Alltrails first.
Empire State Trail
This is a 9-mile walking trail that passes through the Appalachian Mountains. Majority of the trail goes off-road, but you will be greeted with tons of great scenery. I accessed it from Pawling, NY and only did a third of the overall trail. The portion that I did included abandoned train tracks and a lakeside view.
To note, some parts are paved, which makes it a great place for biking and running. Check out the Empire State trail map to find the entrance that best suits you.
Happy Traveling!