Cold Spring Harbor State Park Hiking Trail (Cold Spring Harbor, NY)

The first thing that hits you when you arrive at Cold Spring Harbor State Park is that the parking lot is very small. If you don't get there early, you will have to park on the street or far away as even the street parking fills up fast. The second thing that hits you is that as soon as you begin your hike you are on a massive climb to get to the actual trails. The third thing that hits you are the crowds. I hiked this trail in the morning during the week to avoid the weekend crowds and it was still crowded. However, it is a moderately challenging trail and very good cardio workout. The biggest issue is trying to navigate all of the exposed roots from erosion. It definitely pays to have good hiking shoes or boots in order to maintain your stability. I would not recommend this trail to anyone without some hiking experience. Going downhill on some of this trail could be treacherous. Plenty of places to take great pictures, especially across the street where the harbor is located. It is part of the Greenbelt Trail should you wish to extend your hike. I only hiked this part of the trail and finished it within an hour but I was moving at a pretty good pace since I was alone.