Sweeping views of the huge cliffs of the Palisades and New York, a rocky hike along the shore, and the castle-like Women’s Federation Monument.
6.4 or 5.2 miles, total round trip. Surface ranges from easy path to rocky trail. Shore trail is rough and uneven stone in some areas. Connector between upper and lower trails are steep.
| 6.4 miles | This hike guide: Detailed instructions and photos follow below. |
| Shorter | 5.2 – Out-and-back to castle, skipping the lower trail descent/ascent. Noted below. |
| Longer | This is a loooong park – Long Path or Shore trails extend in both directions, with other connector trails between them for longer loops. |
| Nearby, same lot | Alpine to Huyler’s Landing – heads south instead. |
| Nearby | Peanut Leap Cascade, The Giant Stairs, Tenafly Nature Center and Lost Brook Preserve. |
Our two cents:
This is one of those hikes where there are so many vistas that it almost gets old. Almost.
While not a wilderness experience, hikes in the Palisades are worthwhile due to the abundant views and the uniqueness of a sliver of nature tucked between a river and a parkway.
There is considerable road noise along Long Path and the park can be popular, but the Shore Trail feels a million miles away – even though New York is in constant view.
The upper (Long Path) and lower (Shore Trail) sections are generally level but there is a very steep descent via old and potentially super slippery stone steps on Forest View (BLUE/WHITE).
There is another uphill later on Closter Dock (ORANGE) to get back to the upper trail. In wet or icy conditions consider reversing this route so you climb up Forest View, or do an out-and-back section and skip descending at all.
NOTE! We haven’t hiked this recently. The route remains the same but some details could have changed.
Updated: 10/2026 – Page refreshed, not re-hiked. 4/2020 – Page refreshed, not re-hiked.
Hike Info:
Map:
Hudson Palisades Trails or the map on the park site. Follow along on your smartphone with our Interactive Map link above.
Books:
This hike without the side trails and done in the opposite direction can be found in 50 Hikes in New Jersey.
Other hikes in the area can be found in: Hiking New Jersey (2023), Hike of the Week and Take a Hike New York City. Trail descriptions are in The New Jersey Walk Book.
Parking: N40.95321° W73.92099°
1 Alpine Approach Rd, Alpine, NJ 07620. Alpine Park Headquarters lot. Exit 2 off the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
Restrooms:
Inside the Park Headquarters building. There should also be a water fountain/bottle refilling station and a vending machine in there.
Hike Directions:
Overview: Long Path (TEAL) – Forest View (BLUE/WHITE) – Shore (WHITE) – Closter Dock (ORANGE) – Long Path (TEAL)
0.0 – Start following the Long Path (TEAL) from the north end of the parking lot. (When in the parking lot facing the HQ building, the trail head is on the left end of the lot).
0.7 – Optional side trail on the right leads to Grey Crag, the first of many viewpoints.
Cross a large ditch on a concrete slab. Not difficult but there are no railings and enough of a drop off to get hurt.
1.6 – View, and looking down.
Tree sweater? (2014)
1.8 – View.
1.9 – Ruckman Point. Many viewpoints have fences, but not all.
Looking down through the fence.
Fancy old timey graffiti.
Shortly after the trail turns sharply left, watch on the RIGHT for an unmarked side trail. Take this out-and-back for additional views.
// Option: skip this first unmarked trail (or if you miss it) and stay on the Long Path. This removes about 0.4 miles from the hike.
Retrace back to Long Path (TEAL) and turn RIGHT to continue.
2.4 – After a very brief time back on the Long Trail, turn RIGHT onto another unmarked side trail for additional views.
Continue following this unmarked trail to its intersection with the Long Path (TEAL) and Forest View (BLUE/WHITE).
// Option: Skip turning down this second unmarked trail (or if you miss it) and stay on the marked Long Path (TEAL) – at the next step below, continue straight to follow the co-joined trail]
2.9 – Turn RIGHT, now following the co-joined Long Path (TEAL) and Forest View (BLUE/WHITE).
3.0 – Arrive at the Women’s Federation Monument, a small, castle-like stone building with a few steps to climb up into it – but the view is better from below.
Fun Fact: The monument was dedicated in 1929 to honor the role that New Jersey Women’s Clubs played in preserving the area, stopping the cliffs of the Palisades from being blasted into crushed stone to use in railroad beds and concrete. [Source: the Women’s Federation Monument page of the park’s web site]
Fun Fact: The castle design is meant to evoke medieval watchtowers along the Rhine River in Europe as poet’s had dubbed the scenic Hudson River, “America’s Rhine”. [Source: park’s web site]
Continue following Long Path (TEAL) and Forest View (BLUE/WHITE).
Shorter version, 5.2 miles total, round trip: Instead of continuing, retrace Long Path (TEAL) back to the lot, skipping the side trails from earlier.
3.1 – Continue following just Forest View (BLUE/WHITE) as it descends STEEPLY on old, stone steps. [Long Path (TEAL) leaves to the left]
3.4 – Turn RIGHT and now follow Shore (WHITE) as it hugs the shoreline. [Forest View (BLUE/WHITE) ends].
Guess that was STEEP… Forest View descends 520 feet in .3 miles.
4.5 – Keep following Shore (WHITE) as it hugs the shoreline where an unmarked Upper trail goes off the right.
// Option: The Upper trail to the right is an easier option than the rocky shore trail and leads to a picnic area – but is in the forest with limited views.
Looking up at the Palisades from the Shore trail:
5.3 – Continue following Shore (WHITE) where the Upper trail comes in from behind and to the right, at a painted rock.
5.8 – Start following Closter Dock (ORANGE) uphill. [Shore (WHITE) continues straight]
6.1 – Turn RIGHT and now follow Long Path (TEAL) back to the parking lot. [Long Path (TEAL) and Closter Dock (ORANGE) also go left]
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Hiked: 11/9/14.