Delaware Water Gap

[Mrs Baggins]

I had to cancel my plans to join a friend in VA. Now I want to try to meet her at the Delaware Water Gap in mid-July. What's the situation on being able to SAFELY park and leave a car near there?? Shuttle services that will let me leave my car with them? I'd go north for a couple of weeks, probably not more than 120 miles, and would need a shuttle back to my car. Would
Amtrak stop anywhere near DWG so I could avoid driving up from South Carolina? I really hate bus services.

[Cookerhiker]

According to the NPS website for DWG (http://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/get-to-the-park.htm), you can catch a bus from either NYC or Philadelphia. I realize you'd like to avoid buses, but if you take AMTRAK to NY or Philly, your ride isn't too long. It makes sense to avoid driving your car up from SC and returning home is easier becaue you're close to NYC.

For returning home, you have several options as you hike through NJ and NY. Mileages shown from DWG:

79 miles - Greenwood Lake, NY Rt 17A - bus to NYC
90 miles - Southfields, NY Rt. 17 - commuter trains and buses to NYC (the trains via Hoboken, NJ)
108 miles - Bear Mountain, NY - bus to NYC or take cab across Hudson to Peekskill where you can get a train
154 miles - Rt. 22 in NY - train from Pawling to NYC.

[Old Grouse]

No train through DWG, but it's a 1.5 hour bus ride from NYC.

Last year LIHikers posted this in response to a similar question:

There is a large, public parking lot in the town of DWG. It's just a short walk down from the outfitters there. My wife and I left our car there for 2 weeks with no problem a couple of summers ago.

Of course if you drive there and leave your car, you may have to take that bus ride to get back to it.

[Old Grouse]

Following up on Cookerhiker's post, if you wanted to bail out at Rte 17 and take the Port Jervis train line to its Hoboken terminus, you could then switch over to another NJT train to Newark and pick up the Amtrak, rather than cross the river to Penn Station in NYC and then back out. Check the schedules as to which would be quicker or cheaper.

[faarside]

How does approx. 150 miles grab ya??

If that sounds ok, here's a possibility...

You can meet your friend at the Martz Trailways Bus Depot at the Delaware Water Gap and drive over to Worthington State Park in NJ, where Trail Head parking for the AT is available. Hike NoBo approx. 150 miles to the Appalachian Trail Railroad Station (Amtrak) @ Rt.22. Take the Amtrak into NYC. Once in NYC, subway or taxi to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and catch a Martz Trailways bus back to the Delaware Water Gap. From the Bus Depot, hike your way over to the Church of the Mountain Hostel where you can shower and get a good night's sleep, then hike over the Gap back to Worthington State Park where you parked your car.

There are a few things you obviously need to check into first, such as:

1) Is the Hostel open (re-opened) due to recent renovations. If closed, choose a local hotel/motel.
2) Get current Amtrak train schedules/fares for the related stations.
3) Get current Martz Trailways Bus schedules/fares for the related depots.
4) Contact Worthington State Park and verify parking arrangements.


I simplified this a bit; however, I hope it gives you a taste for something possible.

Happy Trails!

[LIhikers]

You can find info on public transportation between New York City and various trails, including the A.T. at http://www.nynjtc.org/trails/no-car.html And of course you can take Amtrac to NYC

All of that being said my wife and I have gotten shuttles from the Pack Shack, an outfitter in DWG, on two occasions that worked out OK. http://www.packshack.com/

[LIhikers]

Oh and if you decide to drive there's plenty of parking near DWG between the public lot in town, the NPS site and the state parking lot on the other side of route 80. We've left our car in all of those places for various lengths of time....Have a great hike!

My advice would be to take the train to NYC, then the bus to DWG, hike north and then a train back into NYC for the trip home.

[Nomad94]

I haven't had a problem leaving my car overnight at the DWG parking lot on the NJ side. It is heavily frequented and immediately off of I-80. I have seen leos drive through. I don't always feel comfortable leaving my car there, but, I haven't had any problems either.

How about leaving your car at the metro north station in NY and backtracking to DWG (train/bus) at the beginning?