Ditch the pavement for some nature. istock.com/boruttrdina

Spring has sprung and it’s time to ditch the pavement for some nature. Head north of New York City for spectacular hikes that will take to from the estate of Samuel B. Morse to an abandoned railroad line with an artsy vibe. Here are seven of my favorite hikes north of New York City.

Turkey Mountain, Rt. 118, Yorktown Heights

Go up the blue trail 771 feet to the top for beautiful views of the NYC skyline and the Croton Reservoir. Go down on the white trail. The trail on the way up gets a bit strenuous. You’ll get a workout. Total distance is 2.1 miles. Go.

Samuel B. Morse (Morse Code) Estate, Poughkeepsie

North on Route 9, just before Poughkeepsie you’ll find five miles of hiking trails, some of which overlook the Hudson River. It’s beautiful and you can also tour Samuel B. Morse’s estate, Locust Grove. Wait until it gets a bit warmer and you can visit the vegetable and flower gardens. Go.

Teatown Lake Reservation, Spring Valley Road, Ossining

Fifteen miles of trail will take you around the lake. Try the Waterfall Trail and the Overlook Trail for an interesting and beautiful hike that is not very strenuous. Go.

Fahnestock Park, Carmel

With 50 miles of marked trails on 14,000 acres you’ll find plenty of variety at Fahnestock Pack. Take a trail around the lake and look for the remnants of old mines and railroad track beds from the mining days. Go.

Breakneck Ridge Trail, Nelsonville

This moderate to strenuous hikes will give you magnificent views of the Hudson River. But be warned you may have to scramble uphill over some rocks (boulders). It’s a tough hike but worth it. Go.

Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie

Eighty-five miles north of NYC, Walkway Over the Hudson is one of the most interesting hiking tails. You walk across an old railroad bridge 200 feet above the Hudson River. The views are magnificent as it the artwork. Go.

North County Trailways, Westchester County

Built on the old rails for the former New York Central Railroad, the North County Trailways runs 22.1 miles from Eastview to Baldwin Place. It’s fairly flat and paved making it a great spot for biking, jogging and all around fitness. Go.

For updates or if you want to suggest an addition(s), call me at 631-727-9895 or jim@nullpeconicpaddler.com.  Jim Dreeben, Peconic Paddler, 89 Peconic Ave, Riverhead, NY, 11901.