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Palisades Interstate Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 5,817 Google reviews · Running trail in Alpine, New Jersey · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- 30 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Palisades Interstate Park'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.
2,500-acre riverfront park offers 30 miles of hiking & ski trails, playgrounds & a nature sanctuary.
What runners say about Palisades Interstate Park
“The day we went was a bit accidental since it was supposed to rain, but we decided to stop at one of the scenic views and then just started walking.”
“Gorgeous cliffside views alongwith the views of the Hudson river itself, peaceful trails, and perfect spots for a picnic or riverside walk.”
Beautiful scenic place to hike for beginners, intermediate and advance, make sure to carry snacks and ample water. The giant stairs is extremely challenging (hiking footwear highly recommended) well marked trails.
🥾 Hiking in Palisades Interstate Park — Long Path North to Peanut Leap & Giant Stairs Attempt (June 2025). We hiked yesterday in Palisades Interstate Park, starting on Long Path North and reaching the Peanut Leap Cascade. The trail was beautiful — peaceful forest, clean air, birds singing.
This location was breathtaking, easy to get to and had lots of dope hiking paths. Def a break away from city life and whats dope is you can park up at key locations and have a cookout with your family with no charge. Def clean and needs to remain that way for future generations to continue enjoying.
We went on Oct. 5th and got to enjoy the peak fall foliage! We hiked for about 8.5miles including the giant steps that were quite a challenge! The shore trail was also very nice! We absolutely enjoyed it and can’t recommend it enough!! What a beauty nearby!
Trail conditions & character
“The day we went was a bit accidental since it was supposed to rain, but we decided to stop at one of the scenic views and then just started walking.”
“It's difficult if you're heading downward from the parking lot to Giant Stairs.”
“Gorgeous cliffside views alongwith the views of the Hudson river itself, peaceful trails, and perfect spots for a picnic or riverside walk.”
“The trail, already challenging with its boulder scrambles and steep terrain, became even more intense in the rain.”
“Breathtaking park along the Hudson River with dramatic cliffside views, peaceful wooded trails, and scenic overlooks.”
“The giant stairs is extremely challenging (hiking footwear highly recommended) well marked trails.”
“We hiked for about 8.5miles including the giant steps that were quite a challenge!”
Plan your run at Palisades Interstate Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- Distance30 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitenjpalisades.org
- Phone+1 201-768-1360
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8:30 am–4:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30 am–4:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30 am–4:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8:30 am–4:30 pm |
| Friday | 8:30 am–4:30 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Running trails near Alpine
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Van Der Donck Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 531 reviews
Riverfront park featuring benches, fish and turtles.
Grant Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 162 reviews
Relaxed outdoor space with a playground and basketball courts, along with shaded seating.
Palisades Interstate Park Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 355 reviews
Scenic outdoor experience destination offering hiking trails, picnic areas and lookout points.
