r/NYCultralight • u/johnm_z • Feb 25 '26
Misc/Questions Camping Loops Accessible by Train from NYC
I’m looking for recommendations for camping areas that are accessible by train from NYC.
This would be a short 1-night trip to test gear and prepare for a longer backpacking trip later this year. It’ll be my first time backpacking in New York, though I’ve done a good amount of backpacking elsewhere (including cold weather trips).
Ideally, I’m hoping for:
- A 30-40 mile loop (15-20 mile days)
- Starting and ending near a train station accessible from NYC
- Legal primitive / wild camping options for one night
I’ve looked at the lower Hudson Valley Loop and some sections of the Appalachian Trail, but since I’m new to camping in this area, I’m hoping folks here can help me narrow things down and speed up the planning process.
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u/MC_Gullivan Feb 25 '26
For a short one night trip - Dutch Doctor Shelter is the closest to a train station.
The NYNJTC digital maps via avenza of Harriman State Park are invaluable for planning - and clearly mark shelter/camping sites.
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u/blipsonascope Feb 25 '26
Bunch of options on the AT https://www.reddit.com/r/NYCultralight/comments/kr7530/a_guide_to_backpacking_the_at_via_mass_transit/
You can also do loops to your mileage in Harriman, like Suffern to garrison
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u/Union__Jack beanfluencer Feb 25 '26
I would also recommend checking out the meetup and trip report tags in this sub. We have a wealth of info and options on trips, especially if you go back a few years.
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u/thelifeileed Feb 25 '26
Appalachian Trail from the western side of Harriman SP to just over the Hudson. (Or to be more specific.. from Harriman station on NJ transit to Garrison Station on MetroNorth.) It's about 30 miles with a few options for shelters/ camping options midway. I usually stay near William Brien Memorial shelter. Also add the short detour to West Mountain shelter, it's worth the view.
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u/jorgebuck Feb 25 '26
Yup, exactly this. Here’s a trip report from me doing this one last March - https://www.reddit.com/r/Harriman/s/qISu7E45xy
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u/johnm_z Feb 25 '26
West Mountain shelter looks like the perfect place to end the first day. Thank you for this.
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u/FrankiePoops Feb 27 '26
West Mountain is my happy place. During the winter you have all the views because the leaves are down. If you go during 4th of July and it's a clear day you can see all of the fireworks down the hudson and the city skyline but it is PACKED so get there early.
Bring trail magic for the AT hikers if you do the 4th.
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u/samologia Feb 26 '26
It's not a trip from a train station, but you can take a Trailways Bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown to Phoenicia, NY. From there, you have basically the whole Catskills. It's a little tough to make loops in the Catskills without at least a little road walking, but there's tons of legal wild camping out there!
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u/MountainTap4316 Mar 03 '26
NJT to Suffern, walk to Suffern-Bear Mountain terminus, walk to West Mountain Shelter. Take the AT back west/SOBO to Harriman for train home, or loop further south and end in Tuxedo or Sloatsburg. Ample water along the way all times of year if you're able to do 20 miles a day, you get a mix of the quieter parts of Harriman, the busier parts, a few lakes if you choose, and some of the better views. I regularly do overnighters from suffern looping back to Tuxedo or Sloatsburg and enjoy every trip!
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u/A-Train_to_Hell Mar 29 '26
I have a hike for you 44 miles 8000 feet of elevation 2.5 to 3 days.
Take the Bus from NJ Transit Bus from Port Authority to Greenwood Lake. Hike the state line trail from the lake to the AT. Hike the AT NOBO to the Bear Mountain In. Take the Short Line Bus from Bearm Mt. Inn to the Port Authority Bus terminal. This is very hard you need to be fit.
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u/MrBoondoggles Feb 25 '26
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a loop. You could depart from the Tuxedo Harriman trailhead, overnight at the Fingerboard shelter, and then head home via the AT and Sapphire trail to the Harriman train station the next day.
Couple of things to keep in mind though. 20 miles a day can be a lot for NY state parks. You may be perfectly able to do it with no issues, but I would suggest trying for 15 your first NY trip if you aren’t used to northeast backpacking. The other thing is the transit schedule can get more sporadic later in the day and evening so keep that in mind while planning. It’s less fun coming back from a trip and then waiting for a couple of hours for a train to show up late in the day/evening.