Upstate Hiking — Local services in Town of Hurley

I can't say enough good things about Brian and Cliff at Upstate Hiking. I was supposed to hike with them in October but it ended up being intense downpours that day and I didn't feel safe hiking. They kindly gave me a rain check for any future date. I returned for a winter hike on President's Day weekend. They had gear for us like spikes and trekking poles, and even brought some surprise snacks for us (plus all the necessary safety gear you could need).

They were great guides and gave us historical facts about the area along the way, as well as tips to improve our hiking skills (particularly on the ice and snow). The pace was consistent and not slow, but manageable (the more cardio stamina and stronger legs you can have going into it, though, the better). They are both also great photographers, which I so appreciated. As a solo traveler and photographer, I rarely get any photos of myself on adventures. Brian & Cliff took great, high-quality posed and candid shots throughout the hike of all participants, giving me a ton of printable memories from this personal achievement, while enabling us to keep our phones in our pockets and focus our attention on maintaining our footing/enjoying the view. They both had great energy and adjusted the pace as needed. They clearly knew their stuff both in terms of trail knowledge and hiking safety.

I love hiking but usually feel super unsafe doing it alone. In my opinion, this is the best (and most enjoyable) way to do it. Will definitely be returning for a future hike!

Tip if this is your first winter hike (or first hike of a substantial distance), based on my experience: if you have time before your hike, start to do some consistent movement to help with inclines and general endurance. Hills, lunges, even just walking. 3-4 miles may not seem very long but a hiking mile isn't the same as a mile on flat ground, especially if you're new to hiking! Also helpful to have your water accessible if possible - we didn't take many breaks (and with the incline of the particular trail we did + the ice, there weren't many places to stop and open your backpack).

(photo courtesy of...

You thought Brian’s IG pictures looked amazing?

What if those could be on YOUR Instagram and Stories? You don’t really know what it’s like to have an Instagram boyfriend who’s also an adventure photographer until you’ve gone hiking to a frozen waterfall with a certified guide and wilderness explorer like Brian.

For context, I’ve always captured my own content. So we hired Brian for my siblings and their partners. But within five minutes of getting on trail, my GoPro froze to death. Then I realized that the ice and snow required both hands or else I would plummet to my death. There was no way I could hold any camera on this hike.

But Brian casually snapped incredible candids. He caught our reactions to each section of the waterfall. And he ran up and down different WALLS of ice and rock to get wide shots, drone shots, and even yelled at illegal drone operators who endangered our lives (and other hikers who were not in our party).

The man, the myth, the legend is a true conservationist and friend of the wild places. He educated us about the history of the waterfall, the park, and geology plus kept us safe. And when we dropped something in the ICE CAVE, he ran back and found it for us.

Upstate hiking will go above and beyond to make your adventure one for the books. It was a once in a lifetime trip that we hope to repeat again in the fall when the colors change. And we will definitely return...

THE BEST hiking experience I’ve had in NY. I’m an avid hiker and wanted an adventure that would be a little off the beaten path and take a little more skill. Brian went well above & beyond my expectations. We went down this really unique canyon, the conditions weren’t necessarily in our favor as it was really wet but Brian was prepared for anything and everything. There were moments throughout the hike that required careful footing or the use of a rope for extra leverage, and Brian took the extra care & time to make sure I felt very safe and capable of taking on whatever obstacle we were facing. The journey was so epic I almost forgot about the gorgeous waterfall we were hiking to! Such a treat to have it to ourselves too.

And above all that, the photos I received after our adventure was over, were phenomenal. He captured the entire hike, the candid moments as well as the big ones, and I’m so glad he did that so I felt like I could just put my phone away and be fully present while we were out there. I couldn’t recommend Upstate Hiking more to anyone wanting to explore the area, it truly was the greatest experience of my entire NY trip....