Biggest City Near AT
What is the biggest city near the trail?
By near I mean, 30 miles or less.
"... I know it is wrong, but I am for the spirit that makes young men do the things they do. I am for the glory that they know." --Sigurd Olson, Singing Wilderness.
AT '12, LT '13, CT '14, PCT '15
New York - I think at the Palisades Parkway crossing
Last edited by Blissful; 01-21-2012 at 21:26.
This is a good trivia question. The closest that I can think of is Duncannon, PA, which is about 15 miles from Harrisburg, PA
I think NYC is outside that 30 mile radius by quite a bit. It's over 60 from the Metro North AT train station and probably some 50 or so from Waywaywanda in NJ or from the Bear Mtn Bridge.
The 60 miles though is to Grand Central Station in the heart of the city. I thought if you beelined it down the Palisades it was less than 30 to the first borough. But I could be wrong.
Yeah, probably right around 30 to the Bronx - but that isn't exactly where I want to go when I visit NYC ;-)Originally Posted by Blissful
As the crow flies it's 35 miles from the Empire State Building to the AT
I checked on Google Earth. NYC is 40+ miles as the crow flys from Harriman. Disappointing to an old New Yorker. I'd guess Roanoke, but I haven't been there in a few decades.
"It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss
It's pretty easy to get to though too. I know there's a bus from the DWG area (granted a ways out), and a bus from up around Bear Mtn, and there's Metro North RR. Pretty accesible by AT standards.
As the crows flies, it's closer to a spot on the AT near Greenwood Lake than Harriman
Depends on how you define "big" - Harrisburg & Roanoke aren't small towns but they're not exactly metropolises either. However you count the miles to whatever point in NYC, I consider it the most accessible "big" city with all the pubic transporation options.
Although timewise, the train or bus rides to NYC aren't much faster than the trains from Harpers Ferry to Washington, D.C.
Within 30 mile window it is likely Roanoke . Not exactly a major city but still a decent size with population of 100,000 plus .
Hey Cookerhiker , it was within 20 miles -from Rt.311 , wouldn't you say ? Where's Hikerhead when you need him .
Getting lost is a way to find yourself.
Yup, still the scariest moment I've had on the A.T. was crossing the Palisades at 4:30 on a Friday. No crosswalk or anything.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=47697&catid=member&imageuser=26465 I
I think NYC counts as being close to the trail just because of the train stop that's direct from Grand Central. Folks from the city can get to the trail for a day hike by train. In my opinion that counts as close.
Last edited by Sarcasm the elf; 01-22-2012 at 17:30.
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My gut instinct was Rt. 220 was closer than 311 - I guess because 220 is on the the same side of I 81 as Roanoke. But you're probably right re. 311. I'd say no more than 20 miles.Within 30 mile window it is likely Roanoke . Not exactly a major city but still a decent size with population of 100,000 plus .
Hey Cookerhiker , it was within 20 miles -from Rt.311 , wouldn't you say ? Where's Hikerhead when you need him .
Allentown, PA is larger than Roanoke (city limits basis), more than twice the size of Harrisburg, and within 20 miles of the A.T. any way you slice it.
I could be wrong, but a little before harpersferry, you get right about 30 miles from DC/ arlingtonva/alexandriava.... its 3 towns but really just one large city, DC and arlington are pretty much only speprated by the river (potomac)
>30 miles
NYNY is the only really, and I do mean really, large city within your parameters. Atlanta, Boston other large X hubs, but just further away.
Springfield, MA which is bigger than Allentown is less that 30 road miles via I-90
From the trail to the outer beltway near Dulles is 36 miles atcf.
I'd venture to say Springfield, Mass. Less than 30 miles and 150K+ people.
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