There are five major hiking trails in the park.

The Putnam Trail (1.5 miles (2.4 km), easy), an unpaved trail, runs north through the woods to the east of this lawn and west of Van Cortlandt Lake, through the golf course and along Tibbetts Brook and the former New York and Putnam Railroad line into Yonkers, where it connects to Westchester County's paved South County Trailway.
The rails themselves are overrun with weeds, but they are no longer usable by trains.
The remains of the former Van Cortlandt Park station can be seen along the trail.
As part of the park's 2034 master plan, NYC Parks undertook a project to pave the entirety of the trail through Van Cortlandt Park as well as a short extension to the south, making it usable for both pedestrians and bicyclists.
A construction contract for the paving project was awarded in October 2018 to Grace Industries, and the completion date for this project is August 2020.

The Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway (1.1 miles (1.8 km), easy/moderate), was created in 1968 when the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation had bought a 26.2-mile (42.2 km) stretch of the Old Croton Aqueduct, for use as a walking trail.
It starts in Van Cortlandt Park as a grass-and-dirt trail and runs north along the route of the old aqueduct.
The trail features vestiges of an old, disused brick tunnel that brought water to Manhattan, as well as a gatehouse for the aqueduct.
Within the park, the Old Croton Aqueduct trail borders Mosholu Golf Center and Driving Range, as well as the Allen Shandler Recreation Area.
Its southern end is cut off by the Major Deegan Expressway in the southwestern end of the park.
As part of the Croton Water Filtration Plant project, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection was given $200 million to mitigate the effects of constructing the plant.
A feasibility study in 2009 found that a bridge near the location of 233rd Street was the most feasible, and would connect the two sections of the trail.
This bridge was deferred over lack of funding in 2014 before planning resumed in 2015.

The John Kieran Nature Trail (1.25 miles (2.01 km), easy), which connects to the Putnam Trail, opened in 1987 and is named after local writer and naturalist John Kieran.
The path features 13 stone pillars, each made of a different variety of stone, that were tested for the facade of Grand Central Terminal during  the terminal's construction.
The variety eventually chosen was Indiana limestone because it was cheap.
The trail hugs the edge of the Van Cortlandt Lake and Tibbetts Brook marsh.

The John Muir Trail (1.5 miles (2.4 km), moderate) is the park's only east–west trail that connects the three northern forested areas.
It was established in 1997.
Various species of trees and flowering plants can be seen along the trail, such as northern red oak, sweetgum, and tulips.
There is a large, steep hill in the center of the trail.

The Cass Gallagher Nature Trail (1.4 miles (2.3 km), moderate/difficult) is the hardest trail in the park.
It was given its current name in 1984, named after a local resident who was a fervent advocate of preserving the park's environment.
Shaped as a loop, it extends through the rocky forests of the park's northwestern portion.
It was once a "self-guided interpretive nature trail" where hikers could observe natural elements along the trail.
 Along this trail, there is a "thick undergrowth" beneath a "canopy" of deciduous trees that date back centuries.
However, logging and forest fires have killed some of these trees.
Pioneer species, which inhabit the plots of the forest destroyed by logging and fire, include sumac and black locusts.
There is also an outcropping of Fordham gneiss, the last vestige of a giant mountain chain that used to run through this area until the Wisconsin glaciation.
The exposed rocks also contain mica and quartz.
There have been many sightings of bird species along this trail, such as those of woodpeckers, owls, and pheasants.
This trail repeatedly crosses a 3-mile (4.8 km) cross-country trail.

A bikeway runs east f
There are five major hiking trails in the park.
The Putnam Trail (1.5 miles (2.4 km), easy), an unpaved trail, runs north through the woods to the east of this lawn and west of Van Cortlandt Lake, through the golf course and along Tibbetts Brook and the former New York and Putnam Railroad line into Yonkers, where it connects to Westchester County's paved South County Trailway. The rails themselves are overrun with weeds, but they are no longer usable by trains. The remains of the former Van Cortlandt Park station can be seen along the trail. As part of the park's 2034 master plan, NYC Parks undertook a project to pave the entirety of the trail through Van Cortlandt Park as well as a short extension to the south, making it usable for both pedestrians and bicyclists. A construction contract for the paving project was awarded in October 2018 to Grace Industries, and the completion date for this project is August 2020.
The Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway (1.1 miles (1.8 km), easy/moderate), was created in 1968 when the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation had bought a 26.2-mile (42.2 km) stretch of the Old Croton Aqueduct, for use as a walking trail. It starts in Van Cortlandt Park as a grass-and-dirt trail and runs north along the route of the old aqueduct. The trail features vestiges of an old, disused brick tunnel that brought water to Manhattan, as well as a gatehouse for the aqueduct. Within the park, the Old Croton Aqueduct trail borders Mosholu Golf Center and Driving Range, as well as the Allen Shandler Recreation Area. Its southern end is cut off by the Major Deegan Expressway in the southwestern end of the park. As part of the Croton Water Filtration Plant project, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection was given $200 million to mitigate the effects of constructing the plant. A feasibility study in 2009 found that a bridge near the location of 233rd Street was the most feasible, and would connect the two sections of the trail. This bridge was deferred over lack of funding in 2014 before planning resumed in 2015.
The John Kieran Nature Trail (1.25 miles (2.01 km), easy), which connects to the Putnam Trail, opened in 1987 and is named after local writer and naturalist John Kieran. The path features 13 stone pillars, each made of a different variety of stone, that were tested for the facade of Grand Central Terminal during  the terminal's construction. The variety eventually chosen was Indiana limestone because it was cheap. The trail hugs the edge of the Van Cortlandt Lake and Tibbetts Brook marsh.
The John Muir Trail (1.5 miles (2.4 km), moderate) is the park's only east–west trail that connects the three northern forested areas. It was established in 1997. Various species of trees and flowering plants can be seen along the trail, such as northern red oak, sweetgum, and tulips. There is a large, steep hill in the center of the trail.
The Cass Gallagher Nature Trail (1.4 miles (2.3 km), moderate/difficult) is the hardest trail in the park. It was given its current name in 1984, named after a local resident who was a fervent advocate of preserving the park's environment. Shaped as a loop, it extends through the rocky forests of the park's northwestern portion. It was once a "self-guided interpretive nature trail" where hikers could observe natural elements along the trail.  Along this trail, there is a "thick undergrowth" beneath a "canopy" of deciduous trees that date back centuries. However, logging and forest fires have killed some of these trees. Pioneer species, which inhabit the plots of the forest destroyed by logging and fire, include sumac and black locusts. There is also an outcropping of Fordham gneiss, the last vestige of a giant mountain chain that used to run through this area until the Wisconsin glaciation. The exposed rocks also contain mica and quartz. There have been many sightings of bird species along this trail, such as those of woodpeckers, owls, and pheasants. This trail repeatedly crosses a 3-mile (4.8 km) cross-country trail.
A bikeway runs east f
Van Cortlandt Park