Hey all—new to this board. I keep seeing Harriman State Park mentioned as a solid day trip out of the city if you don't have a car. I'm in Dyker Heights so getting to Penn Station is already a hike. Is Tuxedo station actually close enough to just walk into the park and hit a trail? Or is that one of those "the map makes it look close but there's a highway shoulder and no sidewalk" situations? Trying to do a Saturday leaves around 8ish, no car, no Uber. Any route/gotchas welcome. I have regular sneakers, not real boots, if that matters.

Yes, with a big asterisk. Tuxedo is a real stop on NJ Transit's Port Jervis Line and it does put you near the southern end of Harriman, but the first few hundred yards are roads and a ramble around/under Route 17 before you hit proper trail. I've done it in regular sneakers, but after rain it gets muddy and the road shoulder can feel a little exposed.

The better no-car Harriman entry is still Suffern. The Suffern-Bear Mountain trailhead is a short walk from Suffern station, and the yellow-blazed trail is basically impossible to miss. Tuxedo drops you closer to the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy/Ramapo-Dunderberg side, but the access path isn't signed like a rail-trail.

If you do Tuxedo, plan the return carefully. Weekend service is maybe every couple of hours and the last train out isn't late. Carry a headlamp and use an offline map layer. Happy to post a loop if you want.

YES! This is exactly the kind of thread I needed. I've been yelling at my friends about Harriman train access for years. There's something so good about stepping off at a tiny platform and being in the woods 20 minutes later. This reminds me of that older thread Group birthday dinner for six near DUMBO—splitting plates without the fixed menu side-eye Group birthday dinner for six near DUMBO—splitting plates without the fixed menu side-eye — everyone assumes you need a car or a fixed reservation, but the real move is usually the less obvious option.

Have you tried the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail from Suffern? It starts with a little road walk through town, then climbs up and you get that rocky view near West Mountain. Also check out the shelter up near the ridge, I always blank on the name. If you go from Tuxedo, the old ski area and power-line cut can be confusing. Bring a paper map or GPS!

Yeah, Tuxedo works but it's a little raw for a first timer. If you're already schlepping from Dyker, I'd just take Metro-North to Cold Spring or Beacon and do Hudson Highlands. More coffee, actual sidewalks, and if you roll an ankle you're not looking at a two-hour wait on a platform. Harriman is better once you've done a couple car-free trips. That said, the Suffern side is easier than Tuxedo. Just not a "beginner sneakers" move after rain.

I did Tuxedo to Harriman station last fall. The first mile from the platform is exactly the weird highway-adjacent walk you're worried about, but after that it's fine. I wouldn't do it in regular sneakers if there's any rain—lots of slabby sections once you're up. The worst part was timing: I missed the train back and waited around at Harriman station for a while because the next one was local. Pack snacks, the station area is not a town.

Thanks—this is super helpful. So if I'm reading y'all right, Suffern is the friendlier no-car entry, but Tuxedo is closer to the southern stuff? I have a phone map app and I can grab a cheap headlamp. Do I need to worry about hunting season or bears, or is this more of a "watch for deer ticks" situation? Also is there a bathroom anywhere near Tuxedo station or should I plan on the woods?

HAVE YOU TRIED THE LEMON SQUEEZER? Sorry, wrong part of the park, but I get so excited about Harriman! If you go from Tuxedo you can link up with the Ramapo-Dunderberg and there's a section of open rock that feels like the moon. Just don't trust the old blazes after the power lines—some have been repainted and the old ones fade. Also, the Long Path crosses through there and the woods roads can all look the same. I second the offline map.

For ticks, yes, treat your socks and stay away from tall grass. Bears are around but mostly not interested if you're not cooking. Have you looked at the Harriman station to Pine Meadow Lake route? That's a classic.

Lol the Lemon Squeezer is not on this route at all. But yes, Harriman is a maze. If you're heading from Tuxedo, you can make a loop back to the same platform and skip waiting at a different station. Also, weekend track work on the Port Jervis Line can bite—last time I did Suffern, we had a bus from Secaucus and the schedule was imaginary. Check NJ Transit alerts the morning of.

CarnegieHill_C is right about the track work! I once sat on a platform for 45 minutes because I didn't check weekend work. Ugh! DykerNewbie, the Tuxedo station has no bathroom. There's sometimes a portable toilet at the trailhead parking, but don't count on it. If you do Suffern, there are delis near the station before you head in. The official start of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail is basically a sidewalk across a little bridge, then you turn into the woods. Have you tried the old blazed route up to the top of East Mountain? The views back toward the city skyline are unreal, especially in fall. Go early, first train early!

A few corrections/additions, not to pile on but to help DykerNewbie: Tuxedo station is not Metro-North. It's NJ Transit's Port Jervis Line, which runs out of Hoboken and connects from Penn via Secaucus. On weekends, yes, track work can become a bus at Secaucus. Check the app before you go.

If you want a beginner loop from Tuxedo in sneakers, I'd keep it modest. From the station, follow the access path to the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail, head up to the ridge, then come back down the same way or take the woods road that curves back toward the old ski area. That's maybe a half-day, no huge scrambles. The open-rock moon section L_train_lyric mentions is farther north on the Ramapo-Dunderberg, not an easy first day unless you're fit and have a map.

Suffern station to the Suffern-Bear Mountain trailhead is easier logistically, but the first part climbs steadily and can be a calf-burner. No bathrooms at Tuxedo; Suffern has coffee and bagels near the station. For ticks, wear light pants, tuck them in, check after. Hunting is allowed in parts of Harriman in season? Check the state website before you go; on weekends, I'd wear bright clothing if it's the right time of year. But this board isn't game commission, so verify before heading out.