Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in New York with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 36,499 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
New York compresses Adirondack High Peaks, Catskills, Finger Lakes gorges, Long Island shoreline, and Hudson Highlands into one state. The Adirondacks alone are larger than several Western parks. Mount Marcy (5,343 ft) and the High Peaks Wilderness routinely deliver 3,000-4,000 ft of gain from trailhead to summit. Hypothermia in shoulder seasons (Adirondack weather changes fast), ticks (Lyme endemic), and slick rock on exposed High Peaks routes.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 36,499 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in New York — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Rodney Pt Lean-Tos
Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Rodney Pt Lean-Tos ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Long Lake in Hamilton County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Rodney Pt Lean-Tos trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Cold R. Lean-Tos
Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Cold R. Lean-Tos ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Newcomb in Essex County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Cold R. Lean-Tos trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Plumley Lean-Tos
Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Plumley Lean-Tos ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near Long Lake in Hamilton County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Plumley Lean-Tos trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Appalachian Trail;Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail
Appalachian Trail;Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Bear Mountain in Orange County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in New York, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Appalachian Trail;Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Rock Lake
Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Rock Lake ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Caroga Lake in Hamilton County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Northville-Placid Trail Spur To Rock Lake trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Appalachian Trail;Anthony Wayne Trail
Appalachian Trail;Anthony Wayne Trail ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Bear Mountain in Orange County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Appalachian Trail;Anthony Wayne Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Pulpit Rock Trail / Appalachian Trail
Pulpit Rock Trail / Appalachian Trail ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Hamburg in Berks County. Expect rock surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Rocky tread punishes thin-soled shoes; bring stiff hikers and pace yourself on the descents to spare your knees. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Pulpit Rock Trail / Appalachian Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail
Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near Kempton in Berks County. Expect rock surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Rocky tread punishes thin-soled shoes; bring stiff hikers and pace yourself on the descents to spare your knees. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Appalachian Trail/Pochuck Boardwalk
Appalachian Trail/Pochuck Boardwalk ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Glenwood in Sussex County. Expect wood surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in New York, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Appalachian Trail/Pochuck Boardwalk trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Ramapo-Dunderberg/Appalachian Trail
Ramapo-Dunderberg/Appalachian Trail ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Arden in Orange County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ramapo-Dunderberg/Appalachian Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your New York trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for New York. May-October for high routes; black flies in late spring; fall foliage in early October is the visual peak. Hypothermia in shoulder seasons (Adirondack weather changes fast), ticks (Lyme endemic), and slick rock on exposed High Peaks routes.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More New York hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our New York coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in New York — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in New York — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in New York — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in New York — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in New York — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in New York — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in New York — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in New York last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
