6 Easy Hikes around Woodstock NY

​So the word “hike” may be an overstatement, 

​I’d be more likely to call these trails a nice flat walk in the woods. Clearly if you clicked this post you’re my kind of hiker. Um, walker? Uh….stroller??? 

Whatever your title, you want to come to the mountains, you want to see nature, you want to say you went on a hike but you don’t actually want to buy gear and break a sweat. Me, personally, I like to hike on concrete, past shop windows, stopping to hydrate on cocktails in a bug free zone. But I live here in Woodstock and am surrounded by the beauty of the Catskills every day.

So I’ve compiled a list of 6 sweet walking trails in and around Woodstock for you. With love, from one non-hiker to another…. read on….

Photo: Robert Rodriguez JR

​No Car Needed

Photo: Will Nixon

So you’ve come to Woodstock by Trailways bus or the new luxury bus, Line or by thumbing a ride. Either way you plan on spending your time, IN TOWN Woodstock and you’ve got no car. That’s fine. My first suggestion is an easy walk from anywhere in town Woodstock.

The hardest part of the Comeau Trail is the walk up the paved hill to the trailhead. If you do have a car there’s a lot right up top. From the parking lot you exit out into a beautiful field that runs along a ridge, you get breathtaking views of Overlook Mountain. The trail eventually leads into the woods, down along a creek and pops you back out by the lot. Bonus: you may catch a soccer game in progress as our town soccer field is on the Comeau property.

Short Drive Out of Woodstock

Starting with the closest out of town walk and definitely the most artsy, Opus 40 Sculpture Park is an easy 15-minute drive from Woodstock. This site boasts a 6-½ acre bluestone sculpture built over a 37 year period by one man, Harvey Fite. There’s plenty of parking, shade and grassy fields, port-a-pots, a museum and the stunning sculpture. 

Another great walk with historic interest is the Ashokan Reservoir Promenade. This will take about 18 minutes to drive to from Woodstock. Once you’ve crossed the Reservoir Bridge, turn left and then left again onto 28A east. After one mile look for a “public parking” on left. Park and pick up the trail that takes you across the Beaverkill Dike. Enjoy stunning views of the Catskill Peaks reflected in the smooth waters.

photo: Bluesguy

For a well-rounded day in nature, you can drive the 13 minutes out to Kenneth Wilson State Park. Here you will find an easy nature hike trail by the day area (next to a wooden “Beaver Pond” sign). Make sure you’ve located the right path as this state park does offer over 35 miles of hiking trails. In addition to walking in the woods, day visitors can enjoy canoe rentals, soccer fields, horseshoe throwing, picnic tables and more. Dog friendly! No swimming. 

Cooper Lake is just an 8-minute drive from the Village Green. It’s the least ”hikey” hike. The lake sits just to the south of Rt. 212 between Shady and Lake Hill areas of the town of Woodstock. There are no true nature paths through the woods surrounding most of the lake, as it is the main reservoir for the nearby city of Kingston. You can park your car on the south side and walk on the back roads around about half of the lake. It’s a nice walk, flat with great views. When you’re done you can venture a bit further west and grab coffee from The Pines or brunch from Phoenicia Diner.

​Across the River

I’m adding this one in even though its not super close to Woodstock. However for its stunning views of the Hudson River, cool landscaping and wonderful raw branch "cathedral",  I truly love it. Its not that far out of town.  Poet’s Walk is about a 25-minute drive from Woodstock, across the Rhinecliff Bridge to the other side of the Hudson River. It’s a gorgeous bit of land, once owned by the Astor and Delano family’s who commissioned a landscape artist to plan the property. Poets Walk offers two miles of trails through woods and meadows with rustic cedar pavilions, footbridges, and benches. There is a long rolling hill you need to walk up in order to get the stunning vista of the Hudson River but it’s totally worth it and not hard at all.