Even if you're not training for the upcoming marathon, fall in New York is for running. Sunny days accompanied by cooler temperatures mean that conditions are practically ideal for putting sneaker to pavement.
Still, it's not always easy to find a route where you won't have to dodge fellow New Yorkers, excitable dogs, and everything else that defines city sidewalks. That's where the runner's track at Riverbank State Park comes in.
This under-the-radar spot has everything a jogger could want. Looping around a pristine football field, the quarter-mile track–you won't need a gadget to monitor your mileage, imagine that!–has seven surfaced lanes you can access almost any time (the park is open seven days a week, from 6am to 11pm). In other words, you'll rarely find yourself competing for space or hours.
Best of all, because the track is outdoors–it's part of a larger 28-acre sports complex high above the Hudson River–there's nothing but gorgeous skies overhead. And if that's not enough, sweeping river views are steps away–the perfect place for a relaxing cooldown.
