From NYC To Harriman State Park: Public Transportation
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, 03-15-2012 at 15:27 (5024 Views)
The trouble for me with living in New York City is that I don't have a car, so getting out of the city for a weekend trip into the wilderness can necessitate rather out of the way transportation routes. There are websites that mention that access to state parks is possible, but none that I have seen explains in any detail how to do so. In this post, I will outline getting to and from Harriman State Park in New York.
The park is vast and takes at least two days to hike through. There are routes that traverse the mountains from east to west, and these are the most accessible by public transportation. The park does expand quite far south, but the lack of trains and buses in that part make exploring those regions untenable unless one wishes to backtrack.
The easiest way to access the park is via the Short Line bus that departs from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on the west side of Midtown Manhattan. If you wish to start on the west side of the park, take the Middletown, NY bound bus to the Arden stop on route 17. This stop is, seemingly, in the middle of nowhere, but it provides direct access to the Appalachian Trail via the Elk Pen area just up the road to the east. For access to the east side, take the West Point bound bus to the Bear Mountain stop. This will drop you off just outside the Bear Mountain Inn with direct access to several trails, including the Appalachian Trail.
The most difficult part of hiking Harriman State Park is the return trip to NYC. On a multi-day backpacking hike, it's difficult to know what time you will exit the park. The way I suggest planning the hike is to start at Bear Mountain, hike through the park, and instead of hiking to the Appalachian Trail intersection at Elk Pen, take the Ramapo-Dunderberg trail south (just past the Fingerboard shelter), then take the yellow and white trails toward Southfields. Southfields is a better choice to catch the bus back to the city because it is better lit, has amenities like a gas station (junk food is a nice reward after a long, two day hike) and a motel.
Map of the west side of Harriman (purchase at nynjtc.org)
The white trail that leads down a hill to interstate 87 where the trail makes a left turn south and parallels the highway. After a short walk, you come to a pedestrian bridge over the highway. Take this bridge, and when you reach the other side, take a left turn, walk a short distance, then follow the white blazes right (west) toward a creek. There is a metal bridge that takes you over the creek, but it has been severely damaged by hurricane Irene. It is still passable with extreme caution as many of the boards are missing and there are no stairs the other side of the bridge.
The trail then leads toward the town. It intersects with an active railroad line. I suggest taking a left (south) turn here and walking along the tracks (carefully, trains running northbound) until you arrive at Railroad Ave. Cut through to the road, then climb the hill to route 17. Take a left (south) on route 17 toward the Valero gas station. Treat yourself to a snack and a drink, then check the return bus schedule to NYC.
The hardest part of the entire trip is not climbing the mountains, it's flagging down the speeding bus. There are no signs indicating where you should stand. My suggestion is standing by the north side of the yellow concrete box with shrubs in it just outside the Tuxedo Motel, and when you see the bus coming, wave your hands like mad. You will have to pay the bus driver in cash.
This last weekend, the bus sped right by me at 60 mph (in a 30 mph zone) and I was left outside in the freezing cold with 2 hours until the next bus, which may or may not see me. This is why Arden is a poor choice to catch the bus back and Southfields is superior because Southfields has the Tuxedo Motel. For $50 a night, including tax, you get a decent room, plenty good enough for the weary hiker. The man I met at the front desk was incredibly friendly, and I highly recommend this motel.
After spending the night at the hotel, flagging the bus in the light the next morning was easier. Just make sure you have enough money to spend the night in case you reach Southfields at night when it's cold. Either that, or plan to camp out at the gas station!