Trying to finally do a Harriman day hike without borrowing a car or paying for zipcar. NJ Transit Port Jervis line drops at Tuxedo Park, and on the map it looks close to the park, but I can't tell if there's an actual pedestrian way to a trailhead or if you're just hugging the shoulder on 17. I'm not a trailhead purist, but don't want to spend the first 40 min walking past gas stations with a daypack.

Has anyone done Tuxedo station to a loop trail? Would be down for 6-8 miles, moderate, maybe a viewpoint. Or is Sloatsburg easier? I heard there's a visitor center at Reeves Meadow but not sure if it's walkable from the train either. Doesn't need to be zero taxi—just trying to see if a short rideshare makes the day easier than renting.

oh I've been wondering this too. I'm pretty new to escaping on trains. I thought Tuxedo Park station was mostly for locals and the weekend trains are like every two hours? Is there actually a station building or just a platform? The one time I took the train up to Peekskill the platform was super easy but the trail wasn't close. Would love a hike where you don't need to coordinate a car.

Tuxedo Park is a real station but it's bare-bones—two low platforms and a waiting area, no staff. Weekends are limited, but you can make it work with an early train from Hoboken via Secaucus on the NJ Transit Port Jervis line. The issue isn't the train; it's the walk. The obvious route from the station to the Tuxedo Ridge/Ramapo-Dunderberg side means walking along Route 17 for a chunk, and that road is fast and shoulder-free in spots. I've done it exactly once and wouldn't repeat it for the first mile alone.

If you want the easiest car-free Harriman day, I'd do Sloatsburg. From that station you can rideshare or phone a local cab to Reeves Meadow Visitor Center on Seven Lakes Drive. It's short but not a pleasant walk because Seven Lakes Drive has no sidewalk and cars move. Once at Reeves Meadow, you have good trail access:

• Pine Meadow Lake via Pine Meadow Trail
• Stony Brook loop
• Diamond Mountain options

A loop around Pine Meadow and Diamond Mountain gives you about 6-7 miles with a nice water view and some rock ledges.

Caveat: Hudson Valley rideshares are not like Midtown. Budget extra time to get one and have a backup plan. If you want a true step-off-platform-and-hike, Breakneck has that, but it's a different train line and much rockier.

I'm with astoria_arch—don't walk Route 17. I've driven past people doing it and it's not a scene.

Unrelated but relevant to the 'do we really need to bring stuff/car' math: earlier thread “Third-floor walk-up move-in on a one-way Brooklyn block: is double-parking just the move?” at Third-floor walk-up move-in on a one-way Brooklyn block: is double-parking just the move?.

For the hike, I'd just get off at Suffern and hit the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail. It's right on the edge of town, but check the connector from the station—it's about a mile on sidewalks then into the park. The first climb is real though.

Okay I also want to do this now. I just tried the Metro-North to Peekskill river walk last weekend and loved it. But I messed up and assumed the trail started at the station. It didn't. I was walking along railroad avenue with no clue until someone pointed me to the park. So I appreciate astoria_arch saying the train isn't the problem, the road is. For Harriman, would you do this on a Saturday or is Sunday better with train schedules? Also is there a deli near Sloatsburg station for coffee before the trail?

Sunday is better if you're on NJ Transit Port Jervis; Saturday you can get caught with weekend construction bus substitution some weekends, which adds a second layer of nonsense. Check the trip planner the night before. I've done Sloatsburg to Reeves Meadow in a cab. It's maybe a ten minute ride. The visitor center has maps, bathrooms, water. The trail up Pine Meadow from there is a steady climb but not crazy. If you want an easier first Harriman loop, go from Reeves Meadow to Pine Meadow Lake and back down Stony Brook—maybe 5-ish miles. The people at the visitor center will tell you if the bridges are high. Also bring bug spray, it's wet this year.

Appreciate the beta. Sounds like Tuxedo station is off the list for us. We're going to try Sloatsburg to Reeves Meadow on Sunday with a cab/rideshare fallback. Might do the Pine Meadow Lake loop central_park_cam mentioned. DykerNewbie if you go, don't be like us and assume there's station coffee—Sloatsburg plaza is small but there are a couple spots. I'll report back if the ride share pickup is a mess.