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Within a 50-mile radius of Columbus Circle in NYC lie scores of wild forest & mountain trails. Public transportation can get you out of the city & into the woods in 30 to 90 minutes! Weekday service is more frequent on most routes. The NY Walk Book  &  NJ Walk Book  are an invaluable sources of information on trails & transportation in the entire NY/NJ hiking area. For service, call the listed numbers or visit the referenced web sites.  Be sure to inquire for return times & 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 direct connection from PATH trains).  About an hour's ride or less by bus or train from these points can get you to a trailhead. Trail Conference maps will help you find your way to the trailhead as well as along the trail.

Links for schedules and information

• NYS Travel Information Gateway Current info on closures and delays
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority Homepage Trains, Buses, Subways
• Metro-North Railroad One Day Discount Getaways Biking/Hiking
• New Jersey Transit Train Schedules Regularly updated train and bus schedules
• NJTransit maps of surrounding areas of stations
• PATH rapid transit trains between New Jersey and New York City. Connects to bus and rail service in NJ. Official web site.
• PATH rapid transit trains between New Jersey and New York City. Connects to bus and rail service in NJ. nj.com site
• NY Waterway ferry service between Hoboken and the World Financial Center
• Morris County Metro buses serving Morris County
• PATCO rapid transit trains between New Jersey and Philadelphia
• SEPTA service in Pennsylvania
• Amtrak to Boston, Washington, and other cities nationwide
• Connections at major stations The unofficial NJ Transit pages
• TransOptions - Morris, Sussex, Warren, and suburban Essex, Passaic, and Union counties. 
• Bus Companies Southern New York
• Bee-Line Bus Westchester County
• Rockland Coaches
• The Leprechaun Connection White Plains, Poughkeepsie mostly along Route 9, weekdays
• Red and Tan Schedules
• ShortLine Bus transportation New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
• Red and Tan 9 - 9A North
• AMC NY-NoJ Transportation Codes AMC leads lots of hikes that use public transportation. Even if you don't go on their hikes, the information on this page suggests good buses or trains to catch.
• Greater Ulster County

  • City of Kingston Kingston Citibus (845) 331-3725;

  • Ellenville & Kingston Shortline (800) 631-8405;

  • New Paltz, Highland, Poughkeepsie Mulligan (Arrow) (845) 658-8312; No Web Address.

  • Woodstock, Phoenicia, Kingston, Rosendale, New Paltz, Albany and New York City
    Trailways (800) 858-8555 or (800)776-7548.

  • Newburgh, Beacon Leprechaun (845) 565-7900.

  • Saugerties & Kingston Laidlaw (845) 338-5809; No Web Address.

  • Dutchess County Dutchess Loop (845) 485-4690;

  • Ulster County Area Transit, (845) 340-3333, Severing the Kingston, New Paltz, and Ellenville areas. (Ulster County).

  • Catskill Lodge Shuttle

Embarkation Points

Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT), 8th Avenue at 41st Street; 212/564-8484.

George Washington Bridge Terminal (GWBT), Broadway & West 178th Street, (212) 564-1114.  If you can't wait for a bus, the south pedestrian walk of the GW Bridge is for both walkers and bikers, affording views of the Hudson River and greater Manhattan.  The north sidewalk of the bridge is closed for maintenance.  Walk about 1.5 miles across to the start of the Long Path on the north side of the bridge.  

Grand Central Terminal, Park Avenue & 42nd Street. (212) 532-4900; (800) 638-7646 (outside NYS).  Hudson Line and Harlem Line trains also stop at 125th Street and designated Bronx stations along each line. From northern Manhattan, take the subway to Marble Hill and transfer to the Hudson Line (not all trains).

Staten Island Ferry, at South Ferry, Manhattan; call (718) 390-5253.  See NY Walk Book (7th ed.), for trails & buses on Staten Island.

Long Island Railroad Terminal, Penn Station at 34th Street & 7th Avenue, (718) 217-LIRR or (516) 822-LIRR (Nassau); (516) 231-LIRR (Suffolk), (718) 558-3022 (TTY). Also departs from Jamaica and Flatbush Avenue Stations. Services Long Island.

NJ Transit trains and buses from Hoboken (with direct connection from PATH trains); PATH Info: (212) 466-7649, (800) 234-PATH; NJ Transit info: (800) 626-7433, (973) 762-5100. Penn Station has connecting service to Hoboken for service in New Jersey. MetroNorth's west-of-Hudson lines and many buses all leave from Hoboken.

Where you can go!

For East Hudson Trails (Putnam County) & alternate route to Bear Mt. and the Appalachian Trail use Metro-North/Hudson Line.  From Grand Central, making stops at 125th Street in Harlem and Marble Hill in The Bronx, the trains make five stops near trailheads:

• Peekskill: Peekskill is reasonable access for the Camp Smith Trail (south end).
• Manitou: for Anthony's Nose or Bear Mt.: walk 2 miles south on Route 9D & across bridge.  The Appalachian Trail is accessible along the Hudson Line via the Manitou station (close). 
• Garrison: for Sugarloaf South & connections to other trails including the Appalachian Trail.
• Cold Spring: for Washburn & Notch Trails.
• Breakneck Ridge: for Breakneck Ridge Trail, Wilkinson Trail & others. Breakneck is a special stop established for hikers by the Conference. About a half hour walk from Cold Spring if you miss the trains that stop here.
• Beacon: for Fishkill Ridge Trail (with a 2.5 mile walk in Beacon).

On Saturdays, Sundays & holidays, the two trains (departing about 8am and 9am - see schedule)  from Grand Central will stop, by request only, at Manitou & at Breakneck Ridge north of the tunnels.  Tell the conductor that you want to get off at Manitou or Breakneck & the train will make a stop for you.  The other three stops are regularly scheduled.

Return trains will stop, if the engineer sees you, at Breakneck (about 4:40 and 6:30) and about 10 minutes later at Manitou. TRAINS RUN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS ON BOTH TRACKS, SO STAY ALERT. The engineers do look for you: just stay visible.  All return trains will stop at the Peekskill Station, taxi service is available out of Peekskill which is close to both the Appalachian Trail and Bear Mountain.

For the Appalachian Trail in Pawling, NY.  See Appalachian Trail Guide NY/NJ, Dutchess County section. The stop is right on the trail. By train from Metro North, Harlem Line--weekend trains leave Grand Central.

For Bear Mountain + other trails on the eastern & southern side of Harriman State Park including the Long Path. See the Conference's Harriman-Bear Mt. and Hudson Palisades maps. Take the Short Line bus, West Point route (several morning buses - buy ticket at Short Line, 212/736-4700)  from PABT (early-bird bus, 7am, NOT AVAILABLE in winter). The current return bus departs at approximately 5pm, but a 1 mile walk over the Bear Mountain Bridge to Manitou enables you to flag a Metro-North train to Grand Central (as noted at top of this page). Another option is to stay at Bear Mt. Inn or motels in Fort Montgomery.

• Suffern: for Suffern-Bear Mt. Trail
• Route 202/Viola Road: for Kakiat Trail Mt. Ivy, for Long Path (both north and south)
• Tompkins Cove: for 1777 Trail
• Jones Point (flag stop must ask driver): for Ramapo-Dunderberg and Timp-Torne trails
• Bear Mt. Inn: for AT, SBM, Major Welch & other trails.

For the western side of Harriman Park, use these stops on the Short Line bus (NYC-Middletown NY route) from PABT. Buses leave early in the morning, returning late in the afternoon from Southfields, (212) 736-4700.

• Suffern: for Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail.
• Sloatsburg: for Pine Meadow Trail (1 mile roadwalk) & connections to 7-Hills, Reeves Brook & Kakiat Trails, etc.
• Tuxedo: for Kakiat, Ramapo-Dunderberg & Triangle Trails; connections to Blue Disk & TMI Trails.
• Southfields: for Nurian Trail & connection to Dunning & other trails.
• Arden: for Appalachian Trail, Arden-Surebridge Trail, & other connecting trails.

You can also reach the western side of Harriman by train, from Hoboken Terminal (take PATH train from 33rd Street to Hoboken).  NJ Transit Port Jervis Line, (212) 532-4900 or (973) 762-5100, has trains running from Hoboken to Suffern, Sloatsburg & Tuxedo.  These trains run all week and several times each day. Return trains from Tuxedo, Sloatsburg & Suffern run into the evening, but may run express depending upon the train.  There is limited service to the Harriman Station--inquire with officials.  Check with the Metro-North Jervis Line information for all train times. The Short Line bus service is much faster and frequent on weekends and holidays.

For The Long Path in NJ & NY's Rockland County, see Conference's Long Path Guide and/or Hudson Palisades maps. Bus #9 of former Red & Tan Buses (see below), (212)  564-1114, makes several stops along Route 9W that serve the Long Path on the Palisades: Englewood Cliffs, Alpine (Closter Dock Road), Stateline, Piermont & Upper Nyack. Return service to PABT is hourly. You can also walk across the GW Bridge to reach Fort Lee, southern entrance to the NJ Palisades.  For Long Path north into Harriman or south to High Tor & the Palisades, use Short Line (West Point Route) to Mt. Ivy: Early mornings from PABT, return late afternoons. 

There is no walkway on the Tappan Zee Bridge for return to the city via the Metro-North Hudson Line.

For The Shore Trail in the NJ Palisades Interstate Park, use the Long Path information listed above.

For Long Island Greenbelt Trail. See NY Walk Book. For northern section, take Long Island Railroad, (718) 217-LIRR, to Smithtown. For southern section take LIRR to Great River. There is now just 1 campsite along the trail; permit required, call Suffolk Parks @ (516) 854-1320.

For Nassau-Suffolk Trail. See NY Walk Book. For northern section, take LIRR to Cold Spring Harbor. For southern section, take LIRR to Massapequa. No hiking permits needed for this trail.

For the West Hudson Trails... If you really want to test the limits of a 50-mile radius, catch a morning Short Line Express bus from PABT to the Mountainville stop for Schunemunk Mountain & Black Rock Forest. Return buses leave from late afternoon until approximately 7pm from Mountainville.  See the Conference's West Hudson Trails maps.

For the Shawangunk Mountain Trails (Mohonk Preserve, Lake Mohonk Resort, Minnewaska State Park Preserve), call Adirondack Trailways for New Paltz, (800) 858-8555.   Lengthy taxi ride needed to get to trails.  For Ellenville side of ridge (Smiley Carriageway access), Short Line (212) 736-4700.

For New Jersey Trails (mostly Passaic County, with some trails in Bergen & Sussex Counties). See Conference's North Jersey Trails maps. Use NJ Transit, (973) 762-5100, or call PABT at (212) 564-8484. Hours may vary seasonally, especially in summer. Call ahead!

NJ Transit Bus #197 leaves PABT Saturday and Sunday mornings for:

• Pompton Lakes (Library or Acme Supermarket, mile before Station Plaza), for Cannonball Trail.
• Haskell, at Doty Road & Route 511, for Post Brook Trail.
• Wanaque, at West Brook Road & Route 511 for Stonetown Circular Trail & many trails in Norvin Green State Forest (Wyanokies). (If driver won't stop at West Brook Road, ask for 511 & Skyline Lakes Drive, Citgo station). This stop requires a road walk to trails.
• Cupsaw Lake Plaza for Skylands section of Ringwood State Park (8 & 10:30am on Saturday, 11am on Sunday). See Note Below.
• Ringwood Borough Hall, for Ringwood State Park (only on Saturday, none on Sunday). NOTE: Not all buses go to Cupsaw & Ringwood. Inquire carefully for both directions!
• Hewitt, at East Shore Road & Greenwood Lake Turnpike (Route 511) for Sterling Ridge & Hewitt-Butler Trails (must request this stop).
• Greenwood Lake NJ (near intersection of Routes 511 & 513), for access to Bearfort Ridge & Terrace Pond trails.
• Greenwood Lake NJ (State Line stop), for State Line & Appalachian Trails on ridge (must request this stop).
• Bellvale (Mt. Peter), for Appalachian Trail. You can then hike & link to return public transit. Hike south on AT to State Line Trail (6 miles) or Greenwood Lake NJ (12 miles) or north to Arden NY (12 miles).

NJ Transit Bus #194 leaves PABT on Saturday, Sunday & six holidays to:

• Pompton Lakes, for Cannonball Trail.
• Butler (Park & High Street stop), for Hewitt-Butler Trail (1 mile walk on road) towards Norvin Green State Forest. Afternoon service is every 2 hours on the hour (both ways).

Generally too long for a Day trip, but...

For the Catskills. Call Adirondack Trailways/Pine Hill Trailways, (800) 858-8555. Many trailheads require a long road walk but backpacking opportunities abound. See Conference's Catskill Trails maps & Guide to Catskill Trails. Central Catskills, Balsam, Eagle, Big Indian Range, Belleayre Mountain, etc.; Northeast Catskills, Blackhead Range, Hunter Mountain, Devil's Path. See Ulster County transportation above.

For the Western Catskills (Delaware County), Trout Pond, Little Pond - use Short Line at (212) 736-4700.

For the Kittatinnies. See Kittatinny Trails map set & Appalachian Trail Guide NY/NJ. Some backpacking opportunities. Bus services: Delaware Water Gap, call Martz Trailways (800) 233-8604. Blairstown, call Real Transit (973) 627-6488.

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.