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"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also." - Harriet Ann Jacobs

Trail News | March 2025

In this issue: The Long Path in Outside magazine : Trail Conference stands with federal lands employees : Join our Volunteer Dog Surveyor Program : Wildfire season in the Northeast : Breakneck Ridge closure : NEW merch : Job opportunities : Featured hike : Upcoming events

The Long Path gets some love!

We’re delighted to see Outside magazine has honored the Long Path in its 2025 Travel Awards, recognizing the long-distance trail as one of the best outdoor adventures in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

We certainly agree with their choice. The Long Path invites hikers on an extraordinary journey across New York State—and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has played a key role in its evolution and stewardship.

A One-of-a-Kind Adventure from the Heart of the City to Wild Beauty

The Long Path is one of the Trail Conference’s premier long-distance trails. Over the better part of a century, our passionate volunteers and staff have led the way in its creation, maintenance, enhancement, and growth.

Spanning 358 miles, from the West 175th Street Subway Station at the George Washington Bridge in New York City to John Boyd Thacher State Park outside of Albany, the Long Path offers a breathtaking tour of New York’s scenic landscapes and rich cultural wonders.

Its origin dates back to 1931, when Vincent J. Schaefer proposed a long-distance hiking path in New York to rival Vermont’s Long Trail. In 1934, founding Trail Conference member Raymond Torrey rallied public support for Schaefer’s vision through his popular newspaper column, “The Long Brown Path.” In the 1960s, the Trail Conference team began building the Long Path in earnest, working with community leaders to construct sections in Harriman State Park, the Palisades Interstate Park, and beyond.

Blazing a Path into the Future

Today, the Trail Conference continues to steward every mile of the Long Path, empowering volunteers like the Long Distance Trails Crew to preserve and enhance the 358-mile expanse for future generations.

Our ultimate goal is to officially extend the Long Path by an additional 65 miles to the Adirondack Mountains, creating an unrivaled public hiking corridor that connects New York’s metropolitan heart with its wild natural beauty!

The complete list of Outside’s 2025 Travel Award honorees can be found here. If you’d like to help make history on the Long Path, click below to discover how you can get involved!

Image credit: Yaya Ernst / Adobe Stock

On February 28, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference joined the American Hiking Society and a broad coalition of public lands organizations in signing a letter urging Congress to reverse the terminations of 5,700 federal land management staff and halt further workforce reductions to our public land management agencies.

Federal lands employees are indispensable in safeguarding the environment and serving the public good. The recent mass firings across the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies not only jeopardize ecosystems and restrict our ability to maintain trail lands—they also upend the lives of passionate people just like you who are dedicated to protecting our cherished outdoor spaces.

Click here to read the letter in full. If you wish to take action and help protect federal lands staff and public land funding, click below to contact your representatives using the American Hiking Society’s letter-writing campaign tool.

AWOOO! Calling all dog lovers!

Do you love exploring the outdoors with your dog? Ever wondered if your pup’s nose could help protect the landscapes you love?

The Trail Conference’s Conservation Dogs Program is excited to announce a new volunteer program for dog owners and their dogs to get involved in conservation work—no prior experience needed!

This program is open to anyone with a curious, sniff-loving dog. You’ll learn how to introduce your pup to the scent of an invasive plant species and contribute to conservation efforts, all while following leash laws and enjoying time on the trail.

Click below to learn more about the program and fill out our interest survey. Our pack is growing. We can’t wait for you and your pup to be part of it!

Officials warn of heightened wildfire risk as drought conditions persist

As springtime marks the beginning of wildfire season in the Northeast, New York and New Jersey are bracing for potential fire risks, heightened by ongoing drought conditions.

Both states are experiencing drier-than-usual weather, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor Map, increasing the likelihood of fast-spreading blazes. New Jersey is currently under a drought warning following minimal autumn precipitation and the third-driest January on record. Meanwhile, in New York, the annual statewide burn ban is in effect from March 16 through May 14.

Officials from both states urge residents to exercise wildfire awareness and practice water conservation throughout the season to curb fire outbreaks and protect our communities and vital natural spaces.

For the latest updates, refer to official state resources, including New York’s Fire Danger Map, hosted by the Department of Environmental Conservation, and New Jersey’s NJ Wildfire SMART public safety hub.

Attention Hudson Highlands hikers! 📣

Breakneck Ridge Trailhead and Wilkinson Memorial Trailhead, along with the Breakneck Ridge Train Station, are closing for approximately two years beginning April 21, 2025.

👷Why? The team at Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail is set to begin construction on the Breakneck Connector and Bridge project, which will make the area safer for hikers and motorists, organize parking, and bring much-needed improvements such as restrooms and trash and recycling receptacles to the area.

🥾 To learn more about the upcoming project and discover alternative hike recommendations, please visit breakneck.info, the official Breakneck Ridge closure hub.

You’re cordially invited!

We’re counting down the days to the premiere of The Long Path: A Journey of Becoming, a new film by Shai Ben-Dor that documents Kim Levinsky’s historic 358-mile run of the Long Path.

Levinsky, founder of Sassquad Trail Running and a longtime Trail Conference champion, set the women's supported fastest known time for the Long Path in July 2023. She completed the long-distance trail in 9 days and 10 hours, all while enduring powerful summer storms that swept through our region.

The Long Path documents Levinsky’s extraordinary journey as it explores the importance of mental well-being, the courage to ask for help, and the strength of community support.

The film is set to premiere Saturday, May 3, at 7 pm, at the historic Hawthorne Theater in Hawthorne, New Jersey, with a matinee on Sunday, May 4, at 1 pm. Click below to get your tickets!

Join our growing trail family

Are you passionate about the outdoors and excited to play a role in the preservation of our public trails?

We're currently seeking a Trail Steward Program Associate and a Front Office Associate to join our team. Click below to learn more about the positions and how to apply.

Featured Hike: Buttermilk Falls Loop in Rockland County Park

Hiking Difficulty: Moderately challenging

This pleasant, yet occasionally steep, 1-mile loop guides hikers along a creek and multi-tiered waterfalls to Fishkill Ridge, where dramatic views of the Hudson Valley and beyond await. The trek is especially rewarding after a spring rain when the falls are full! Read the full hike description here.

Friday, April 4 @ 8:30 am

Long Distance Trails Crew Workday

Tallman Mountain State Park

Piermont, NY

Saturday, April 5 @ 9 am

Trail Structures Drainage Workshop

Harriman State Park

Ramapo, NY

Sunday, April 6 @ 9 am

Habitat Helpers Workday

Trail Conference Headquarters

Mahwah, NJ

Saturday, April 12 @ 10 am

Trail Accessibility Assessment Workshop

Long Pond Ironworks State Park

Hewitt, NJ

Have an inspiring story or trail experience to share? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected].