I am looking for hikers and outdoor lovers based in or near New York City and/or Los Angeles who hit local trails often, have thoroughly explored the area, are intimately familiar with surrounding trail systems, and who could provide recommendations for one or two hikes in these regions for a roundup article on Terradrift.com. I am looking for info from people who have personally hiked these trails and genuinely think they're some of the best near these cities. I'm not looking for PR text (though PR folks who have personal experience with the trails in question are welcome to reach out with original text). I need the name of the hike, a link to the AllTrails route (for confirmation), a few sentences describing the trail and what to expect, ideally a photo of a view from the trail, plus what makes you an expert on the area. Please also include a link to your blog, website or preferred social if you have one as I will include a link in the article.

My all time favourite near NYC is the Labyrinth Hike. It's less than 2 hours drive from NYC. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-york/the-labyrinth-trail The Labyrinth Hike, located at Mohonk Preserve near New Paltz, New York, is one of the Hudson Valley's most unique and thrilling trails. Winding through a maze of narrow rock crevices, ladders, and boulders, the route offers variety that few other trails near New York can. The trail culminates at the iconic Sky Top Tower, rewarding hikers with panoramic views of the Shawangunk Mountains and surrounding forests. Though it's a relatively short hike, the scrambling and climbing sections make it both challenging and exhilarating. I lived in NYC and New Jersey for many years and become well frequented with many hikes all over the tri-state area. I'm now a mountain guide based in Cape Town for most of the year, but still come back to NYC a few times a year to visit family and friends. https://capetrek.co.za/