You Don't Need a Car | Local Hikes, Parks and Trails via Public Transportation

No Car header

Within a 50-mile radius of Columbus Circle in New York City lie scores of wild forest and mountain trails. Public transportation can get you out of the city and into the woods in 30 to 90 minutes! Weekday service is more frequent on most routes. For service, call the listed numbers or visit the referenced web sites. Be sure to inquire for return times and locations. Scheduled train and bus times do change and also vary seasonally. Always call ahead.

There are five points of embarkation from Manhattan, all reachable by subway (plus a train from Hoboken with a direct connection from PATH trains).

And don't forget that Trail Conference books and maps are invaluable sources of information on trails and transportation in the entire New York-New Jersey hiking area. Visit our online store to find the books and maps you need.

 

Note: Red and Tan Lines

Many hiking guides refer to the Red and Tan Lines for public transportation along the Rt 9W corridor. They are now part of Coach USA, which in turn is part of the Stagecoach Group. As part of the changes routes have changed.

  • Most buses are out of PABT
  • Weekday service from GWBT continues
  • GWBT weekends: two early buses on Sat. and one on Sun. but all returns are to PABT.
  • From GWBT you can take any bus across the bridge. Make your way to Rt 9W. Then walk north on Rt 9W to pick up the bus at its first stop in Fort Lee in front of the parking garage just south of the CNBC sign and across the road from the Red Oak Diner.

Comments

Ride Sharing, 11/28/2012

On November 28th, 2012 horicon@post.com says:

Is there ride sharing from the New Paltz Bus Station to Minnnawaska or Mohonk?

Meeting Times for Hikers In Ulster County.

On June 27th, 2012 horicon@post.com says:

When do groups meet in New Paltz, NY??? At the bus Station???

 Has any one taken the taxi to Mohonk or Minnawaska???

 

Does any one meet in Kingston, NY????  Bus Station or at the Park and Ride??

 

Stone Ridge, NY??  at Suny Ulster??  There is a parking lot there and the college permitts parking.

 

Meeting Times in New Paltz

On July 29th, 2012 mountaincreek@u... says:

There are some hiking groups that meet in New Paltz at the Trailways bus station at 10 AM on saturdays.

meeting locations

On July 27th, 2011 horicon@post.com says:

Do hiking groups meet at bus locations in Ulster County???

Trailyways? Kingston, Woodstock??

Ulster County Public Transport? SUNY Ulster(Stone Ridge), Kingston?

meeting locations

On July 28th, 2011 k2malkin@optimum.net says:

If you don't get any other replies, your best bet is to check out the clubs at http://www.nynjtc.org/content/member-clubs and the hike schedules at http://www.nynjtc.org/content/scheduled-hikes.

Red & Tan bus sked to/from GWBT

On October 1st, 2009 zostrin@yahoo.com says:
Web Editors: I think that the following comment on your site concerning the Red & Tan bus may be incorrect (see webpage "Plan a Hike/You don't need a car"): "Note: Red and Tan Lines "•GWBT weekends: two early buses on Sat. and one on Sun. but all returns are to PABT." The schedule for that bus (9A) posted on their webpage--"effective from June 1, 2009 onward"--shows that on weekends there are several return trips to the GWBT. The sked in front of me (printed out last week before I hiked along the Hudson river trail) shows trips from Alpine returning to the GWBT at 1:27, 3:27, 5:27, and 7:27 PM. Except at 1:27PM, the same bus continues on to PABT. The schedule also shows 9:40 & 10:40 AM buses leaving on weekends from GWBT--i.e., on both Sat. & Sun. Sincerely, Zvi Ostrin