The East Coast has it all!

If you're like me, you've probably heard the saying "West coast, Best coast" a time or two. And while there is something to be said about the beauty and wildness of the West, we like to think that the East Coast has its fair share of amazing places to explore. We've got everything from beautiful beaches to craggy mountain summits, ice caves, gorges, slot canyons, waterfalls, wildflowers and just about everything in between. There's so much history and rugged beauty on the trails in the East Coast, and we love sharing that with everyone we can.

In today's post, I'm going to highlight a few of my favorite states and hikes in the Northeast. This is just a small sampling of what we love, so I am sure there will be a part two to this post in the future. For this post, we're also collaborating with our friend Megan from @withourweekends (go check them out here on instagram). Megan, Liam and Apollo are based in Virginia and do an amazing job showcasing the beauty of the Southeast. In this post, Megan also highlights her favorite hiking spots in Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia!

New York

New York is the state we call home - and we have a lot more here to explore than just the big apple. A whopping 86% of the state is considered rural, and we have some of the best state parks in the country, including the single largest publicly protected area in the states. Here's a few of our favorite areas to explore and some of the trails we recommend checking out to get you started:

The Adirondacks

The Adirondacks cover 6 million acres, making it the largest publicly protected area in the lower 48. It's a mix of public and privately owned land, and there is no entry fee. In addition to amazing hiking, the region is also home to a ton of cute small towns and the Lake Placid Olympic Village. Here are a few great hikes in the region that you can do with your dog:

• Mt. Van Hoevenberg (4.3 miles, out and back, moderate): This is a very popular trail in the region, about 2 and a half hours north of Albany. This trail boasts amazing views of the high peaks, and it's not too challenging as far as ADK hikes go, so it's a great one to take in some of what the region has to offer. Keep in mind that because of its popularity and use for multiple sports, it can get very busy!
• Cascade Mountain (4.4 miles, out and back, hard): One of the ADK 46ers (the 46 high peaks in the region), this is a very popular and well maintained trail. Despite being one of the "easiest" high peaks, the trail can still be challenging, and the parking lot fills up really quickly during peak hiking season (summer/fall) so keep that in mind while planning a trip!
• Owls Head (.9 miles, out and back, easy): This hike is on private land, and is closed Friday-Sunday, so that limits when you can go, but I promise its worth it. The views are spectacular, especially in the fall. And for a short trail, there are a lot of places to take in the view. Even though its rated easy, there's still some scrambling involved so be prepared for that!

The Catskills

The Catskills are located about 100 miles north-northwest of NYC and offer plenty of waterfalls, scenic vistas and miles of beautiful hiking trails. You can become a member of the Catskill 3500 club by hiking all 33 of the Catskill peaks above 3500 feet in elevation. Here are a few of our favorite dog friendly trails:

• Black Dome and Thomas Cole (6.5 miles, out and back, moderate): We've done this hike a few times and always love it. Its very quiet and especially beautiful in the fall. There are a couple of nice view points and a lot of varied terrain to take in. With this trail you also snag two of the Catskill high peaks!
• Overlook Mountain Trail (4.6 miles, out and back, moderate): This hike is a pretty steep, continuous grade on the way up, but that just means you can coast on the way down! The hike features old hotel ruins, a fire tower and amazing views. Because of those attractions, its very popular, so make sure to go early, in the shoulder season or on a weekday if you want to experience quieter trails.
• Windham Path (2.4 miles, loop, easy): If an easier walk is more your speed, this gravel path is well maintained and open, boasting some great Windham views. Its also close to a bunch of other trails in the Windham region, so it could always be an add on if you want to check out a few things in one day!
• Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain (6.3 miles, out and back, moderate): This hikes has an amazing ridgeline trail that will give you incredible views of the Catskills. It has a nice mix of pretty steep rocky stuff and flat stuff. Rocks are basically synonymous with the Catskills, so just know you'll be encountering a lot of them in this area! Dogs can be off leash here, but must be under voice control. I definitely would recommend leashing along the ridge line and at the summit just to be safe. Parking is across the street from the trail head - this one is busy! Even on a random spring Monday there were lots of other hikers out on the trail with me.

Minnewaska State Park

This is one of my favorite areas to visit in the state. It never gets old for me, probably because there are just so many trails, gorgeous scenery and views for miles. Note that there is a 10$ parking fee to enter the park, and it opens at 9am, but there are great ammenities that come with the fee. The Shawangunk Mountains are seriously underrated when it comes to NYS scenery and this park does an incredible job of showcasing this amazing bedrock ridge.

• Lake Minnewaska Loop Trail (1.9 miles, loop, easy): This is a nice, easy loop trail that takes you around Lake Minnewaska and is a perfect introduction to the park. There is a huge network of carriage trails that branch off from this loop, so you can also make a whole day of it and explore that additional trail network. Because of its popularity with bikers, runners and families, this can be a busy trail. I've done this loop and the surrounding carriage trails on a week day and seen no one, so it can be quiet too if you hit it right! At some of the carriage trails branching off, you'll literally see gorgeous views of the ridge every few feet on the trail!
• Sam's Point and Verkeerderkill Falls (8.3 miles, loop, moderate): This trail is MAGICAL. Its got everything from gravel roads to waterfalls to rock ledges to ice caves (which you can do with your dog but may be too challenging - I haven't taken Willow on this part yet). There is some scrambling involved and some parts where you need to be able to jump up or down from rocks so keep that in mind when planning your hike and make sure your dog is up for that kind of technical trail.

Vermont/ New Hampshire

While these states border each other, I actually find them to be incredibly different in terms of community and landscape. We visit Vermont quite a bit since we're so close to the state line, and we have a summer lake camp up in New Hampshire, so we love exploring both spots, especially in the summer and fall. If you're looking for that quintessential New England fall, VT and NH are where its at!

Green Mountains

The Green Mountains are exactly as you would imagine - the most gorgeous shade of vibrant green, rolling across the state. Stretching 250 miles from the VT/MA border all the way up to Quebec, they boast epic ski resorts and the well known Vermont Long Trail, which overlaps with the AT and covers all of the major peaks. In the summer, I love crossing the VT/NY border on Route 7 and seeing the green peaks rising up all around you. Here are a couple of hikes in the Green Mountains to give you a range of areas to see:

• Mount Mansfield (7.3 miles, loop, hard): Mt. Mansfield is the highest peak in Vermont at 4,395 feet, and while this is a challenging hike, its well worth it for the views above treeline. This route is also popular for camping and backpacking (which I want to try sometime soon!) and there is a 4$ per person parking fee. There are bathrooms and potable water at the trailhead. I did this hike after a rain storm and I would not recommend it because the rocks get really slippery and its hard to find purchase on the way up. However, in good conditions its very manageable (although may not be suited for your dog depending on their ability level) The part above treeline to the summit is really cool, and the views of Lake Champlain and the surrounding area are worth the hard hike.
• White Rocks Recreation Area (4.0 miles, out and back, moderate): I feel like when you see pictures of White Rocks, you'd think it would be a trail out west. It has a very identifiable loose-looking white rocks visible at the summit that gives it something of a Colorado feel. It's a pretty gradual uphill and boasts all the good New England things - rocks, mud, water and a stunning cliff vista. Bonus points that you can access it from the AT/Long Trail and get that experience. The views in the fall are not to be missed!

White Mountains

The Whites are the place to go in New Hampshire for hiking and views. These are probably the most rugged peaks in New England, and are home to the Presidential Range, a series of peaks named after US Presidents and other prominent Americans. Mt. Washington is famous for not only being the highest peak in the Whites (6,288ft), but also for having the world's highest recorded wind gust speed at 231mph. If you are visiting the area in early June, be sure to stop by the town of Sugar Hill to see the lupines. There is a gorgeous field full of them with amazing views of the White Mountains in the background. Here are a few great spots to take in with your dog in the Whites:

• Artists Bluff Trail (1.5 miles, loop, moderate): This is probably one of the most Instagrammed spots in the white mountains, but it's for a reason. The trail is short and not too challenging, and the view is nothing short of spectacular. If you go early, you might be the only one at the summit, but if you go later or try for sunset, expect crowds. Some people say the top even smells like pee (yuck!) - I haven't experienced that, but I also got there before anyone else when I went and watching the fog roll over the mountains was absolutely incredible. The parking lot for this trail is huge, so you'll likely be able to find a spot, even when its busy,
• Bridal Veil Falls Trail (4.8 miles, out and back, moderate): This trail is not far from the lupines in Sugar Hill, so it could be a great day to do both. Sections of the trail are rocky, but it is generally an easier hike and a great introduction to the Whites. The
• Lonesome Lake (3.1 miles, loop, moderate): Another hike with a steady incline, but not too challenging. Awesome views of Lonesome Lake and the Franconia Ridge. A neat feature is the Lonesome Lake Hut, maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club. As with all of these hikes, microspikes are definitely recommended into the spring because of ice and snow. There is an entry fee for Franconia Notch State Park.

Massachussetts

As with a lot of these Northeastern states, I feel like most people think of Boston when they think of Massachusetts. But beyond the big cities, there are so many wild parts of the state that are home to amazing hiking and other cultural attractions. Here are just a few of the spots we enjoy visiting. Note that most are on the Eastern part of the state, although there is plenty to do out near Boston and Cape Cod as well!

The Berkshires

The Berkshires are located in western MA and are a very popular vacation area because of the great hiking, farm-to-table food scene, and arts festivals. In addition to the hikes below, you can check out places like MASS MoCA, Hancock Shaker Village and Tanglewood for some amazing art, history and performances! Mt. Greylock is the highest peak in the Berkshires at just under 3500 feet.

• Mount Greylock and Saddle Ball Mountain (7.5 miles, loop, moderate): This trail is such a gem, with lots to see along the way. If you time it right, you start the hike in a field of wildflowers. There's some rocky, challenging sections, and a beautiful pond vista with a little hut that is pretty neat. The final climb to the summit is the hardest part, but you get to summit the tallest peak in MA (Mt. Greylock). You can also drive to the top and park but it's always nice to get there on foot!
• Olivia's Overlook via Charcoal Trail (2.0 miles, loop, moderate): Located near Richmond, MA, this is a short hike with some nice ups and downs and scenic overlooks. You do get a look at the view when you start the hike, so that may take away from the challenge of getting to it at the end, but sometimes its nice to have an easy effort trail in New England!

Mount Washington State Forest

This is a publicly owned forest area that is very popular for dispersed camping and backpacking. The forest is right at the corner of MA/NY/CT making it convenient for a lot of New Englanders to travel to. The forest has 30 miles of trails, including portions of the Appalachian Trail and the South Taconic Trail.

• Bash Bish Falls Trail (2.1 miles, out and back, easy): This is a great introductory hike to the area, and a popular trail because it's fairly easy and family friendly. Not far from the border with NY, Bash Bish Falls is the largest waterfall in MA, which makes it a big destination in the summer and the fall when the colors are beautiful. You can avoid crowds by going on a weekday. I've had the falls and trail to myself for hours. Because its nice and short, you could easily tack on another hike in the Mt Washington area if you wanted to make a day of it. Keep in mind that swimming is not allowed in the pool at the base of the waterfall.
• Mount Everett, Bear Mountain and Alander (17.5 miles, loop, ): This is the loop you do if you want to do a multi-day backpacking trip in Mt. Washington Forest. I have friends who have done this, and I plan to do it with Willow this year! I've done parts of these trails individually, but never together for the full route. The terrain is You do need to worry about rattlesnakes when it gets warm as they can hide in the rocky areas.

Mount Holyoke Range State Park

This park boasts 3,000 acres and a 7-mile mountain ridge line. It's farther east of the Berkshires, near Amherst/Springfield MA. I recommend stopping by the cute town of Northampton if you make it out for a hike - it has great beer and lots of fun shops!

• Mount Norwottuck (3.4 miles, loop, moderate): This is the spot to see as it's the highest point in the range. The trail offers a little bit of everything, with some rolling sections and a little scrambling. The summit boasts beautiful views of the Pioneer valley, and the horse caves section is neat to explore. One thing to note is that there is a shooting range nearby, which could be scary for certain dogs who are noise sensitive.

Virginia

Ahhh, Virginia. While mostly know for its dead presidents and proximity to Washington, DC, it also is rich in natural beauty! Here are my top three areas for hiking, along with a few trail names to get you started.

Shenandoah National Park

One of the limited national parks over on the east coast, Shenandoah is home to about 200,000 acres of protected lands. It's also one of the very limited dog-friendly national parks!

• Hawksbill Summit Trail (1.5 miles total, out-and-back): Hawksbill is the tallest peak in the park, standing at 4,049 feet. This trail is short with a big payoff at the end - sweeping views of the Shenandoah Valley below. Be sure to arrive early to make sure you snag a spot in the lot, as it gets busy quickly!
• White Oak Canyon to Upper Falls (4.9 miles total, out-and-back): White Oak Canyon is home to a series of beautiful waterfalls. This trail takes you all the way to the upper falls. Definitely the best waterfall hike in the park and because of that, the parking lot often gets filled!

Grayson Highlands State Park

Did someone say wild ponies? This park is unique in that you hike amongst wild ponies in the Virginia highlands area. They were released in the park in the 1970s to held maintain the beautiful mountain balds. Now, they roam free and are quite accustomed to humans! Please, no feeding or touching the ponies.

• Mount Rogers via the Appalachian Trail (10.5 miles total, out-and-back): This is the perfect hike if you're visiting the park. Mt. Rogers is the tallest peak in Virginia and it will take you right through Massie's Gap where the ponies frequent. Feel free to explore some of the large boulders to get sweeping views of those Blue Ridge Mountains! It also makes a great backpacking trail (you can only set up camp once you hit the Mount Rogers Recreation Area, though).

George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

Technically overlaying a bit into Kentucky and West Virginia, these national forests are mostly encompassed in the state of Virginia. They are home to about 1.8 million acres of public land and a great spot to explore! There is no way I could highlight even a fraction of my favorite hikes within this area, but I'll leave you with two.

• Cole Mountain via the Appalachian Trail (5.9 miles total, loop): This trail is one of my favorites in all of Virginia. It's the perfect length for a day hike OR A beginner backpacking loop. Cole Mountain is one of the very few 'bald' mountains, a staple of the Appalachians, here in Virginia. Make sure if you do backpack this loop that you don't set up on the bald!
• High Knob Tower Trail (2.7 miles total, out-and-back): High Knob actually sits on the border of VA and WV and the trail runs through WV - but I love it so much, it was worth mentioning! This is a short hike that leads to an awesome fire tower that you can climb. The fire tower isn't too tall, so it's very dog friendly. Gives you sweeping views of the mountains below!

North Carolina

If you had to choose an east coast state to hike, I'd personally recommend North Carolina. Home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most visited park in the country!), NC has the largest mountains here in the east. While I won't be talking about the Smokies below, they're definitely worth a mention and a visit if you don't have a dog! Here are my favorite dog friendly hiking areas in North Carolina.

Linville Gorge Wilderness

Created by the Linville River, Linville Gorge is sometimes referred to as "the Grand Canyon of the Southeast." Because it's a wilderness area, these trails are often not super well marked and may not be for beginner hikers. If you plan on backpacking, you need to get a permit for weekends between May and October!

• Hawksbill Mountain Trail (2.4 miles total, out-and-back): "But Megan, you just mentioned this was in VA!" Well, this is a different Hawksbill! This beautiful trail has about 700 feet elevation gain in a little over a mile, so I'd consider it moderate. It's an awesome choice for a sunset hike! Keep in mind, to get there, you need to drive a fairly rocky gravel road.
• Shortoff Mountain (5.5 miles total, out-and-back): If you want amazing views of the gorge, this is your trail. Once you climb about 1200 feet in elevation, you're treated with a ridgeline walk along the side of the gorge! Please bring a map or download the Alltrails map, as this is not marked and there are lots of side trails that could mislead you.

Black Mountains

Named for the dark spruce and fit trees that top them - this is the highest mountain range in the Eastern US! It is also home to Mt. Mitchell State Park, which is home to the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.

• Deep Gap Trail (8.6 miles total, out-and-back): This trail is within Mt. Mitchell State Park and is not for the faint of heart - I highly encourage you to do further research before hiking this trail! You'll hit several of the peaks in the Black Mountains while going through amazing spruce and fir forests with lush moss undergrowth. If you'd like just a quick day hike, try taking this trail just to Mount Craig or Balsam Cone to make it shorter.
• Mount Mitchell Summit Trail (0.4 miles total, out-and-back) OR Mount Mitchell Loop (6 miles total, loop): I wanted to include both of these because you can either just walk to the Mount Mitchell viewpoint and touch the sign to say you got to the highest point or you can make it a full day hike loop! The loop trail is very technical with rope assist sections, so please keep that in mind.

Blue Ridge Parkway

I wasn't sure if I wanted to include this as a whole section because the parkway is SO long (469 miles and stretches through VA and NC), and there are just way too many hikes to highlight...but here are two of my favorites in North Carolina that I've tried so far. We try to do a new one each time we're down there!

• Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain Loop via Art Loeb Trail (4.6 miles total, loop): I always recommend this trail to people when they ask where to hike if they're visiting Asheville - it's such a perfect day hike. I absolutely LOVE the bald mountains of the southeast and this is a great hike to showcase them. Bald mountains = views almost the whole time. A lot of other people like this trail too, so in peak season the parking lot can get VERY full and there is potential to not find a spot.
• Craggy Pinnacle Trail (1 mile total, out-and-back): You want to know what else screams southeast Appalachia? Rhododendrons. If you time it right, this is such a good hike to see them bloom - aim for June! You walk through a "rhododendron tunnel" where you're completely surrounded by the plant until you emerge to a small rocky viewing platform and are treated to 360 degree views of the mountains below. It's unforgettable! This trail gets busy too, so it is a good sunrise hike since it's short and you'll avoid the crowds.

West Virginia

The last state I will be highlighting here in the southeast region is what I fondly refer to as a hidden gem! West Virginia gets overlooked quite a bit, but there is SO much to love about it. It's the third most forested state in the US (only surpassed by Maine and New Hampshire, two other amazing east coast locations). It also is still pretty 'wild' and covered in a lot of public land. Here are some of my favorite areas!

Dolly Sods Wilderness

Dolly Sods is an incredibly unique high-altitude plateau. Because of the winds, elevation, and effects of logging in the 1900s, the landscape is filled with sphagnum bogs and red spruce trees. If you add that plus the climate (which is reminiscent of southern Canada), you really do not feel like you're in the southern US anymore! It's beauty is starting to lead to overcrowding, especially near the famous Bear Rocks Preserve.

• Bear Rocks to Raven Ridge to (~8 miles total, out-and-back): This is the first trail I've recommended that you cannot find on AllTrails. You could probably find the "Bear Rocks to Raven Ridge Trail and Dobbin Grade" but I do NOT recommend that loop. Dobbin Grade is notorious for being one of the boggiest trails in Dolly Sods and there are plenty of photos of people sinking into mud up to their waist. If that's your thing, then go for it, but my suggested day hike is starting at Bear Rocks and then taking the Raven Ridge trail all the way until you hit the Rocky Ridge junction. Please bring a map as these trails are *not* marked and people get lost here frequently. It'll take you through the best Dolly Sods has to offer!
• Rocky Ridge from Freeland Rd (7.5 miles total, out-and-back): This trail starts at the less popular side of Dolly Sods. Be careful, as there are two parking lots - a day lot and a backpacking lot. If you're using the backpacker lot, you'll need a permit from the Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge. If you're doing a day hike, you're fine, but FR 80 is a pretty rocky road! The hike starts out on an old fireroad but eventually you may you way up to one side of the plateau overlooking the Canaan Valley. Amazing views, windswept boulders and rock formations, and amazing flora!

Highland Scenic Highway/Cranberry Wilderness

This is another high altitude area of West Virginia that treats you to that unique Canandian-esque wilderness. The Highland Scenic Highway is a nice, paved road weaving through the highlands with several beautiful overlooks - please note it is not maintained in the winter! But it's absolutely stunning to take a drive in the fall. If you plan on venturing into any of the longer trails in the Cranberry Wilderness, please be prepared. These areas are very remote, often not maintained, and no signage.

• Red Spruce Knob (2 miles total, out-and-back): A short, but absolutely beautiful hike through a lush mossy forest reminiscent of areas in the PNW. It truly feels like a fairytale. No real sweeping vistas, but the forest setting will keep you wanting to stay a while.
• Falls of Hills Creek Trail (1.4 miles total, out-and-back): This is a boardwalk trail through the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. There are a lot of stairs as it leads you up through the narrow gorge to view three different waterfalls, increasing in size.

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

It's America's newest national park! While hiking is a great past time here, if you're visiting, see if you can make time for some of the other recreation activities here - it's an amazing rock climbing or white water rafting destination too!

• Long Point Trail (3 miles total, out-and-back): This is a nice hike winding you through the forest and some rhododendrons before leading you to a beautiful rock outcropping overlooking the gorge, bridge, and the river below! It's a popular choice for families because the terrain is fairly easy - fun fact, when we hiked this, a man got the viewpoint with a whole birdcage because he didn't want to leave his bird in the car!
• Endless Wall Trail (2.3 miles total, out-and-back): If you can only get one view of the gorge, this is the trail you want to take! You start by weaving through the woods before eventually getting a cliff side with several viewpoints of the river below. You might even see some rock climbers while you hike, as you will see plenty of unique rock formations along the way!