Dater Mountain Nature Park – The Internet’s Secret That’s Not Secret Anymore
You’ve probably never heard of Dater Mountain Nature Park, but that’s exactly how local hikers preferred it. This obscure state park beat out the country’s most famous places and was the most searched hiking destination in 2024, according to Google’s Year in Search report. Located in the cute village of Sloatsburg, New York, this 350-acre park was often overlooked by visitors but now seems destined to be a trending hiking spot in 2025. Local regulars who’ve enjoyed its quiet trails for years are quietly shaking their heads at what’s coming next.
The park boasts beautiful landscapes, wildlife opportunities, and great hiking trails, with iconic features including steep inclines and rocky slopes, several mountaintops, valleys, and small streams. What makes it particularly special are eight federally designated wetlands that nature lovers have long appreciated in peaceful solitude.
Mount Loretto’s Hidden Staten Island Wilderness
Mount Loretto proves there’s beautiful hiking to be found right in New York City, but veteran hikers prefer it when people assume Staten Island has nothing to offer. The Staten Island Greenbelt contains meadows, wetlands, and hiking trails on its nearly 3,000 acres of natural greenery. Most New Yorkers speed past this borough without a second thought, which suits local hikers just fine.
The Wetlands Trail is an easy trail with eight stops where you can learn about birds, wildlife, and the local ecology, and it’s so beautiful and lush you’d never guess how close you are to Manhattan. This proximity to the city makes it a precious resource for those who know about it, but also their biggest fear as word spreads through social media.
Owl Head Lookout – The Adirondack Gem Without the Crowds
Hikers looking for a moderate route and spectacular 360-degree views should head 30 minutes south of Lake Placid to the Owl Head Lookout in Giant Mountain Wilderness. While everyone flocks to the famous 46 High Peaks, savvy locals have quietly enjoyed this lesser-known alternative. The trail is 5.2 miles out-and-back and includes a steady, but never steep incline until the last .2 mile, where you’ll hike up to the rewarding, jaw-dropping overlook.
The beauty of Owl Head lies not just in its views but in its relative anonymity compared to the heavily trafficked peaks nearby. Local hikers appreciate that while tourists battle for parking at popular trailheads, they can often have this stunning vista almost entirely to themselves.
Clear Pond Trail’s Pristine Wilderness
In the northwest corner of the Adirondack forest preserve lies the 9,856-acre White Hill Wild Forest and inside it, the 2.2-mile Clear Pond Trail, which is great for all skill levels and dog-friendly. This trail leads to one of the region’s best-kept secrets. Clear Pond is one of several beautiful little ponds in the forest, all of which are considered to be some of the calmest and quiet waters in Adirondack Park.
What makes this location particularly special to locals is its accessibility without the fanfare. While famous lakes draw thousands of visitors, Clear Pond remains a place where you can actually hear the loons calling across still water without the constant chatter of tour groups.
Wittenberg and Cornell Mountains’ Double Peak Secret
You’ll reach not one but two peaks on this 8.6-mile hike on Wittenberg and Cornell Mountains, with locals raving that the views from the Wittenberg Mountain Ledge are some of the most impressive in the state. However, experienced hikers warn that you might run into a few other people at the top but the trail should be relatively low trafficked. The key word here is “should” – locals hope it stays that way.
You’ll need to pay $6 to park at the Woodland Valley State Campground but it pays off with views worth writing home about, and expect to scramble. The scrambling aspect tends to deter casual hikers, which suits the regulars perfectly fine.
Plotter Kill Nature Reserve’s Waterfall Paradise
You’ll loop around 5.4 miles of streams and lots of dense forest throughout the Plotter Kill Nature Reserve, where elevation gains can sneak up on you but it is incredibly beautiful with several step falls and two tall waterfalls. This preserve has managed to stay under the radar despite offering some of the most spectacular waterfall views in the region.
There are smaller loop trails as well, if you want to enjoy the views and spare your thigh muscles. Local photographers particularly treasure this spot because they can capture stunning waterfall shots without having to crop out dozens of other photographers, as they might at more famous locations like Kaaterskill Falls.
Tongue Mountain Range’s Challenging Solitude
The Tongue Mountain Range and Northwest Bay Trail is not only a long hike at approximately 12 miles, but you’re passing over three mountain peaks, making it great for an overnight camping trip. You’ll get lake views, a glimpse of little islands, and rock scrambles – it’s hard, underrated, and rewarding. The difficulty level naturally filters out casual hikers, creating an exclusive club of those committed enough to tackle the challenge.
What local hikers love most about this trail is that its length and technical difficulty mean they rarely encounter overcrowding issues that plague easier, more accessible peaks. It’s a natural barrier that maintains the wilderness experience they’re seeking.
Tupper Lake Triad’s Family-Friendly Secret
The Adirondacks’ most family-friendly option is this three-mountain effort that’s the perfect entry for new and inexperienced hikers, with Mount Arab, Coney Mountain, and Goodman Mountain all a short drive from Tupper Lake with trails that range in duration from one to 1.7 miles with ascents up to 750 feet. Those who complete all three hikes can fill out a form (with $8 fee per registrant) to receive a Tupper Lake Triad patch.
Local families have discovered this gem offers manageable adventures for children while still providing that sense of accomplishment from summiting actual peaks. The patch system adds a fun element that keeps kids motivated, but locals worry that too much publicity could turn these peaceful family outings into crowded events.
Sundown Wild Forest’s Endless Possibilities
Sundown Wild Forest spans 30,100 acres in the southeast Catskills and offers so much more than just hiking trails, from waterfalls to meandering trout streams. It’s a favorite spot of outdoor enthusiasts, anglers, mountain bikers, and those in search of solitary walks in the woods. The vastness of this area means that even local hikers are still discovering new corners and hidden valleys.
What makes Sundown special is its diversity – you could spend years exploring different sections and still find new surprises. Local hikers appreciate that its size means they can always find solitude, even if certain areas become more popular.
The Weekend Versus Weekday Strategy
Many experienced hikers suggest avoiding weekend crowds, noting that trails are much more pleasant on weekdays. Since many falls and popular destinations are so accessible, you can expect to find crowds, but going early in the morning helps beat them. This timing strategy has become essential knowledge among local hiking communities.
Popular hiking spots not too far from NYC can get quite crowded depending on when you go, so arriving early to avoid crowds is recommended. The early bird mentality has created an informal network of dedicated hikers who’ve learned to adjust their schedules to preserve their wilderness experience.
The Growing Challenge of Overtourism
Throughout 2024, various efforts by tourism authorities and frustrated locals to curb the sheer number of visitors in the world’s most popular destinations continued to grab headlines, as overtourism is poised to remain a critical challenge for visitors, residents and affected destinations. While this global trend primarily affects international destinations, New York’s hiking community is beginning to feel similar pressures.
There are many popular hiking trails in New York State and popular trails are popular for a reason, but New York also has lots of hidden treasures just waiting to be explored. Local hikers increasingly find themselves caught between wanting to share the beauty of these places and wanting to preserve the very qualities that make them special.
The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media Discovery
The spike in interest for places like Dater Mountain Nature Park came towards the end of 2024, between December 22nd and December 28th, showing how quickly social media can transform unknown locations into trending destinations. Google’s unveiled search trends show that more people are seeking off-the-beaten-path trails, but this paradoxically threatens to destroy the very “off-the-beaten-path” nature that makes these places appealing.
The irony isn’t lost on local hiking communities who’ve watched their favorite quiet spots become increasingly crowded as outdoor recreation has boomed. What once felt like personal discoveries are now tagged locations on Instagram, complete with GPS coordinates and detailed directions that remove any sense of adventure or discovery for newcomers.
The tension between sharing natural beauty and preserving it continues to grow as more people seek outdoor experiences. Local hikers find themselves guardians of places they never asked to protect, watching beloved trails transform from peaceful retreats into busy thoroughfares. For those who know where to look and when to go, New York’s mountains still offer solitude – but perhaps not for much longer.
