sub-24 hr overnight hikes near New York City?

August 27, 2019 8:43 PM

I'd like to do more hiking, but in NYC that typically means rising at 5 a.m. to ride the subway to the train to the trailhead for a 9 a.m. start. It'd be cool if we could instead camp near the trailhead overnight and be right there in the morning. So, are there any trails accessible by public transit from NYC where we could camp out overnight near the trail head?

I'm happy to stealth camp, as long as it's the "nobody bothered to build a camp ground" kind and not the "super fragile ecosystem" / "regularly patrolled by indignant locals" kind.

posted by meaty shoe puppet to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (6 answers total)

In September, the Circle Line does weekend trips up to Bear Mountain State Park. Plenty of trails there and connecting Harriman State Park. Cruse up Saturday morning, come back Sunday night.
posted by Marky at 9:21 PM on August 27, 2019

Here's some information about camping at Croton Point Park which, I believe is right by the Croton Hudson Line railroad station. You could camp there, then catch a train to Cold Spring, a short ride, where there are trailheads for the Hudson Highlands. Or check to see what's around Cold Spring camping wise.
posted by Elsie at 3:18 AM on August 28, 2019

You can get to this place from the train station in Beacon.
posted by pinochiette at 4:56 AM on August 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

Brooklyn Brainery has a class that’s all about distance hikes around the city from time to time.
posted by wowenthusiast at 6:20 AM on August 28, 2019

Speaking as one who's taken the Brooklyn Brainery classes, that packages itself mostly as day trips, which it sounds like the OP would like to avoid (although, this does allow me to ask the question - assuming you've considered the obvious alternative of just getting to the trail later?...I feel you on the early-rising to get to the train, but that's how I solved it.)

It looks like HipCamp linked above is a good option; a lot of the "camping next to the trailhead" options might be on private property as it is. Bear Mountain also seems promising.

But if you're using public transit, it seems like you're going to have issues getting the gear from the train station to the campsite anyway, and then you'll have to lug it along with you on your hike. So I'd also just consider looking into campgrounds that have hiking trails in them, like at Harriman State Park or up by North/South Lake in the Catskills. Rent a car and car camp for the weekend, and you'll be within walking distance of a whole bunch o' trails in the parks.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:45 AM on August 28, 2019

Response by poster: Quick clarification: I have a pretty portable backpacking setup, so hiking my gear in won't be a problem. Or, any more of a problem than hiking on its own---don't recommend me a 10 mile hike from the train to the camp site.

And, yes, starting later is what I'll do if this doesn't work out, but starting later means shorter hikes or more worry about finishing before dark, and probably no opportunity to nap through the hottest part of the day.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 9:27 PM on August 28, 2019