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North Mount Loretto State Forest
4.6 ★★★★★ 334 Google reviews · Running trail in Staten Island, New York · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from North Mount Loretto State Forest's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Sizable natural area with forests & wetlands, offering hiking, fishing & birdwatching opportunities.
What runners say about North Mount Loretto State Forest
“This place is beautiful, peaceful,serene, well kept and much better cared for than the Conference House Park.”
“This place is beautiful, peaceful,serene, well kept and much better cared for than the Conference House Park.”
“This place is beautiful, peaceful,serene, well kept and much better cared for than the Conference House Park.”
“As long as you are careful to search for the trail markers, it's a great easy hike!”
Great place to walk. Avoid the paths not paved after inclement weather. Accessible to everyone for free. Many informative billboards along the way giving the history of Mt. Loretto, the pavilion, the grotto and wildlife. In the Raritan Bay you may see seals resting on the rocks or swimming by. Bird watching!
Pleasant late fall walk through hardwood forest. Trails are marked but are not easy to follow since there is no underbrush to form visible trail. Easy parking on weekend. You can extend the hike by accessing unmarked trails of adjacent Long Pond park.
This place is beautiful, peaceful,serene, well kept and much better cared for than the Conference House Park. Wish it was bigger but it's still a great place to go for a walk and spy on nature. Looking out over the water to the Highlands you would swear you were a hundred miles away. A real treasure.
Gorgeous grounds! Lovely trails and much beauty to be seen. Many types of wildlife and different types of ecosystems all in one huge park. Very relaxing and a great place to take a walk and unwind with nature.
Trail conditions & character
“This place is beautiful, peaceful,serene, well kept and much better cared for than the Conference House Park.”
“This place is beautiful, peaceful,serene, well kept and much better cared for than the Conference House Park.”
“The parking areas for this park are relatively small, but it's a very rarely crowded and generally not an issue.”
“During the fall it is pretty difficult to follow the trails as they are muddy and covered in leaves.”
Plan your run at North Mount Loretto State Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitedec.ny.gov
- Phone(718) 482-4900
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
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