The best traffic-free bike rides in Westchester County

Wonderful gravel path along the Hudson

The Bedford Oak is one of those rare living landmarks that quietly connects the past to the present. Estimated to be over 500 years old, this massive white oak has stood through centuries of change in Bedford, from Native American times to the Revolutionary War and beyond. Locals have always held it in high regard, and when development threatened its space in the 1970s, the community stepped up to save it. Thanks to their efforts, the tree and the land around it are now protected and cared for.

You can enjoy almost five miles of biking along the river on this pretty, though sometimes narrow, trail. Watch out for other trail users, and please don't try this on skinny bike tires; there are parts where some riders might rather have a mountain bike, or at least a gravel bike.

Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park is Westchester’s northernmost county park and spans 1,082 acres of rugged landscape and native hardwood forest. With five lakes and a stunning overlook, the park is a premier destination for outdoor activities including hiking, camping, and fishing, and ice skating, snow-shoeing, and cross-country skiing in the winter. During summer, the park hosts Camp Morty, offering a traditional camp experience for underprivileged children in Westchester. It is also a popular spot for weddings and other events with a spacious lodge and dining hall. The park is open year-round, from dawn to dusk and leashed dogs are allowed. While a county park pass is not required, camping fees apply. Most of the trails here are for hiking, but the main road (Mountain Lakes Camp Road, which turns into a gravel road named Pine Lake Road) through the park is a popular, challenging climb through this scenic area.

Nyack Beach State Park features a flat, two-mile multi-use path along the Hudson River, which is also part of the Hudson River Valley Greenway. The Nyack River Trail offers scenic views with the river on one side and the towering Palisades cliffs on the other. It is open for biking, walking, fishing, and cross-country skiing in the winter. The park is part of a larger network of parks including Rockland Lake, Hook Mountain, and Haverstraw Beach State Parks.

You can't ride bikes on the trails, but a nice spot for lunch (byo) when rambling in the CT/NY liminal zone. Lock your bike (or drive there) for a short but sweet hike.

This lovely smooth, paved road goes through Ward Pound Ridge Reservation over rolling hills. This is an especially pretty road to ride in the fall as the leaves change from green to orange, yellow, and red.

Cross River Reservoir is a freshwater lake in scenic Westchester County. It is in a gorgeous forest setting, and when you cycle past it here on the Old Post Road Bridge, the views are simply stunning. As you look out over both sides of the bridge, there is nothing but tranquil water and a tree-lined shoreline. In the fall, the colors are stunning!