New York · Hiking · Near Mount Kisco

Switchback

0.8 mi
one way
130 ft
climb
250 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Switchback is a short, easy hike in New York, on county land in Westchester. The route is a point-to-point trail of about 0.76 miles with a total elevation gain of 130 feet, rising from about 110 feet to around 250 feet. It's an easy outing that can be completed in about half an hour, and the trail is open to both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and riders on horseback. The most comfortable months for a visit are late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Shrub Oak show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 75°F, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. The trail sits in a cluster of outdoor spots. Lower Stinger, Stinger and Rocky Glen Pond are all about 0.1 mile away, and Blue Mountain Park is about 0.2 mile off. Paddlers can reach the Croton River, roughly 4.8 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Graymoor Hiker Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 5.7 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsDaniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Fort Montgomery

    Museum

    Museum · 5.5 mi from Mount Kisco

    American Revolutionary War fort near West Point on the Hudson River

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Mount Kisco

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Switchback

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 17°

    2. Feb

      39° / 20°

    3. Mar

      48° / 26°

    4. Apr

      60° / 36°

    5. May

      71° / 47°

    6. Jun

      79° / 56°

    7. Jul

      84° / 61°

    8. Aug

      83° / 60°

    9. Sep

      75° / 52°

    10. Oct

      64° / 41°

    11. Nov

      52° / 31°

    12. Dec

      41° / 24°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Shrub Oak, NY, 6.2 mi away at 462 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

RiverwalkPhoto: Bryan Pocius, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Fire Tower TrailPhoto: Original uploader was CharlesHBennett at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Valeria LoopPhoto: Original uploader was CharlesHBennett at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Highland TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Richards WayPhoto: Original uploader was CharlesHBennett at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Richards Way

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Jones TrailPhoto: Russ Nelson, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~6 min drive

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HIKE

Blue Mountain Summit Trail

~1 min drive

0.51-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 183 ft gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors