Advice on overnight hikes in NJ/PA/NY

**silentorpheus** · 07-01-2013, 21:57

The Pine Barrens are close(ish) and convenient ... but I'm originally from the Northeast, and I miss NH and VT scenery. Since I don't have time to get up there anytime soon, I'll have to settle for the area up near northwest NJ, where it meets NY and PA - that's got mountains and rocks and rivers and such, right?

So here's my quandry:

I'm looking for backpacking hikes that can be done on 2 day/1 night trips (an overnight on the weekend, for example). Possibly 3 day/2 night. But right now I usually can find some time to get away on a Saturday into Sunday, so that's where I'll start.

The criteria:

1.) I want to hike 5-10 miles each day. Moderate difficulty - not too easy, but not so hard that it'll kill me. Hiking in and hiking back out the same way is not out of the question, if that's what's necessary.

2.) The goal is hiking to hang - so there needs to be camping allowed. Legal camping ... I'm not looking to hike in and stealth camp.

3.) I'm looking for stuff within an couple hours of central Jersey (give or take). I realize that there's the PA Grand Canyon and a bunch of stuff out that way. But that's like 4 hours. Same thing with getting too far into the Adirondacks. If I'm going to drive 4 hours, I'll add the extra 2 and go to New Hampshire or Vermont

The Pine Barrens are an hour and a half South. I'm willing to go a touch farther for some elavation and scenery that doesn't invlove flat pine forest and sand.

So, any thoughts? Any favorite trips, loops, etc?

**stalker42** · 07-01-2013, 22:02

Start at the Mohegan outdoor center and go north on the Appalation Trail there are a few exit points that would meet your criteria. Also high point north on the Appalachian Trail towards wayawanda state park.

**SilvrSurfr** · 07-01-2013, 22:21

Originally Posted by stalker42

Start at the Mohegan outdoor center and go north on the Appalachian Trail there are a few exit points that would meet your criteria. Also high point north on the Appalachian Trail towards wayawanda state park.

Aren't those places really crowded? I hiked past Sunfish Pond up toward Mohegan and was very uncomfortable with the number of people I saw. I've never hiked a more crowded trail.

**stalker42** · 07-01-2013, 23:26

Honestly I don't know. I have only hiked those sections in the early spring and late fall and I had the trail to myself the 3 times I was up there. Could be with all the access points though.

**Silent Bob** · 07-02-2013, 06:07

Head up to Harriman State Park. The is over 200 miles of trails. Depending where you live in New Jersey you can take a train there.When you get off train hop on the blue blaze trail to the Appalachian trail or you can road walk down route 17.I live down near the shore and its only a 2 hour ride for me. Here is a 5 mile loop hike. Park at elk penn and take the Appalachian trail to fingerboard shelter. Coming back you can get on the red trail Rammapo Dunderberg trail to the long trail which will bring you back to the lemon squeezer. Then finish up using the Appalachian trail back to car. I would suggest picking up the two map set for Harriman.

http://nynjtc.org/catalog/maps

**silentorpheus** · 07-02-2013, 08:21

Originally Posted by Silent Bob

Head up to Harriman State Park. The is over 200 miles of trails. Depending where you live in New Jersey you can take a train there.When you get off train hop on the blue blaze trail to the Appalachian trail or you can road walk down route 17.I live down near the shore and its only a 2 hour ride for me. Here is a 5 mile loop hike. Park at elk penn and take the Appalachian trail to fingerboard shelter. Coming back you can get on the red trail Rammapo Dunderberg trail to the long trail which will bring you back to the lemon squeezer. Then finish up using the Appalachian trail back to car. I would suggest picking up the two map set for Harriman.

http://nynjtc.org/catalog/maps

I'm pretty sure I have those maps, though from a year or two ago. I'll take a look.

**JollyGreen** · 07-02-2013, 09:57

Originally Posted by Silent Bob

Head up to Harriman State Park. The is over 200 miles of trails. Depending where you live in New Jersey you can take a train there.When you get off train hop on the blue blaze trail to the Appalachian trail or you can road walk down route 17.I live down near the shore and its only a 2 hour ride for me. Here is a 5 mile loop hike. Park at elk penn and take the Appalachian trail to fingerboard shelter. Coming back you can get on the red trail Rammapo Dunderberg trail to the long trail which will bring you back to the lemon squeezer. Then finish up using the Appalachian trail back to car. I would suggest picking up the two map set for Harriman.

http://nynjtc.org/catalog/maps

LOL, I've been to Harriman several times in the past 2 months and it looks like an amusement park it's so crowded. It's seems like a Korean meeting place, I know they have the same right to the park as anyone, but I've seen way too many times that they throw their garbage out behind trees or dump food they didn't eat behind a rock. I've said something a couple of times to them and all i get is jibberish that I don't understand. Too bad because there is miles and miles of great hiking trail in Harriman.

**silentorpheus** · 07-02-2013, 10:04

Originally Posted by JollyGreen

LOL, I've been to Harriman several times in the past 2 months and it looks like an amusement park it's so crowded. It's seems like a Korean meeting place, I know they have the same right to the park as anyone, but I've seen way too many times that they throw their garbage out behind trees or dump food they didn't eat behind a rock. I've said something a couple of times to them and all i get is jibberish that I don't understand. Too bad because there is miles and miles of great hiking trail in Harriman.

That is one of the benefits of the Pine Barrens - while the campgrounds themselves are fairly busy during the season, the trails are pretty empty. We did a hike in April where we didn't see practically a single soul on the 7 miles out, only to get to the 'wilderness camp' and find it chock full of people. Then on the way back out we passed one couple out for a stroll.

**nyhiker50** · 07-02-2013, 10:17

Originally Posted by JollyGreen

LOL, I've been to Harriman several times in the past 2 months and it looks like an amusement park it's so crowded. It's seems like a Korean meeting place, I know they have the same right to the park as anyone, but I've seen way too many times that they throw their garbage out behind trees or dump food they didn't eat behind a rock. I've said something a couple of times to them and all i get is jibberish that I don't understand. Too bad because there is miles and miles of great hiking trail in Harriman.

You must have been near Pine Meadow Lake. That's where I usually run into them. That trail is very crowded. I stay away from there. I was just there last week and there was no problem on the RD until I hit the AT. Then it was crowd city. I found a good place to camp and had a quiet night. I did run into many hikers all carrying coolers near the Arden Vally Road on their way to the shelter or just on the ridge but I was well beyond them. I will not go anywhere near the shelters unless it's to collect water. My campsite was on Steven's Mountain and I followed the map to a great place. Why am I telling this? Because most hikers will never find it. I did find a pine tree with rocks around it like it was a circle and an old foundation. Talk about getting off the trail You should try it some time. Get away and into a different place and get away from the crowds.

**Silent Bob** · 07-02-2013, 10:19

I'm up at Harriman at least twice a month. I agree the shelters do get trashed and west mountain shelter is the worst. After the weekend it looks like a bomb hit it. The trails are in good shape and There are tons of places to camp. The south side of Harriman has some great trails and I've actually seen black bear in these parts.