Intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the
Long Path, Harriman State Park. (Springer, Georgia 1,365 miles. Mount Katahdin, Maine 793 miles).
Scheduled Hikes
The average Rambler hike is 12 to 16 miles in length, depending on the terrain and time of year; Ramblers like a full-day workout. Our schedule runs throughout the year, and usually only extreme weather will cancel a hike.
We offer long, strenuous hikes at a moderate pace to a broad variety of destinations, usually within 50 miles of New York City and usually accessible by public transit. We go out every Sunday throughout the year with some long holiday weekends and week-long trips farther afield. In addition, the club has frequent Saturday walks, usually in the NYC urban environment.
Join us!! Contact the hike leader in advance, who will describe the route, the degree of difficulty, and estimated length (please call at a reasonable time). The leader will ask about your experience, and tell you the meeting place and time. If you already know one of our members, you may accompany them as a guest.
Those wishing to apply for membership need to complete two hikes as a guest and then submit an application. (See details at bottom of page).
There is no age limit; however, those who bring children must assume full responsibility for their safety and conduct at all times. The hike leader has the authority to turn away anyone who is not adequately prepared. Hikes don't always finish at the expected time.
Hiking involves certain inherent risks; hikers participating do so at their own risk. When you participate in activities listed in the Schedule, you should be both physically and mentally prepared and equipped with the appropriate gear. The hike leader is not responsible for your safety, you are.
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Hike Calendar
AVERAGE RAMBLER HIKE:
Level: experienced
Difficulty: strenuous
Distance: 12-16 miles
Duration: 7-9 hours
Pace: moderate to fast
Terrain: flat to mountainous
Group size: 8-12
Free cookies: 1-3
(Individual hikes will vary--please contact leader for details, meeting place, and time.)
Sun. Feb. 5. GREAT RIVER TO SMITHTOWN. From Great River, proceed to Long lsland Greenbelt Trail, which follow all day to Smithtown, passing through the Connetquot River State Preserve and going by Honeysuckle, McKinley and Miller Ponds. (Exit available at halfway point. Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Clive Morrick
Home: 212-242-0931
Sun. Feb. 12. BREAKNECK RIDGE. From Breakneck train stop, ascend Breakneck Ridge Trail with views of Bannerman's Castle and Hudson River. (If conditions are poor, follow alternate route to ascend Wilkinson Trail to Breakneck Bypass Trail to Breakneck Ridge Trail.) Connect to Notch Trail then proceed to Washburn Trail, which use to summit of Mount Taurus. Descend past 1930's quarry to village of Cold Spring. (Contact leader for details. Strenuous; crampons or stabilizers recommended.)
Leader: Lee Ruelle
Home: 212-388-0354
Sat. Feb. 18 to Mon. Feb. 20. NORTHERN WEEKEND. Spend three days snowshoeing and/or cross-country skiing north of New York City. (Call leader in advance for details.)
Leader: Chris Zeller
Home: 212-260-4879
Sun. Feb. 19. SILAS CONDICT PARK. Explore new trails in this Passaic County, New Jersey Park.This will be a shorter hike with some steep hills. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Dennis Gin
Home: 212-925-2739
Sun. Feb. 26. HARRIMAN WOODS ROADS IN WINTER. From Ladentown, use local streets to hiker's parking off Diltz Road. Follow gas line east to File Factory Hollow, which use to meet Woodtown Road; turn right and ascend to First Reservoir. Turn left onto Old Turnpike which becomes Cranberry Mountain Trail. Continue on CMT to Pine Meadow Road, then ski trail to Lake Sebago. Follow lakeside path and, after touching Tuxedo-Mount Ivy trail, use unnamed woods road to connect to White Bar Trail. Out to Sloatsburg via WBT and local roads. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Clive Morrick
Home: 212-242-0931
Sun. Mar. 4. OUTLIERS OF HARRIMAN. From Jones Point use Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail to intersect route of the never-completed Dunderberg Scenic Railway. Follow south to outlier of Park then loop back north to Timp-Torne Trail, which follow east to parking lot. Use local roads to Jones Point, then Hudson River Greenway Trail to Rte. 9W. Follow road onto Iona Island and continue across Doodletown Bight to mainland. Visit sites of Forts Clinton and Montgomery. Use TT to Brooks Lake Trail, circle lake and continue to Popolopen Torne. Proceed north on height of land to northern outlier of Park. Bushwhack to Rte. 9W and bus stop. Possible extension to Manitou station. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Chris Zeller
Home: 212-260-4879
Sun. Mar. 11. HOEFERLIN'S THREE NOTCH TRAIL. (Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead.) Use local parks to skirt Beacon's city center, arriving at the base of Old Incline Railway. Proceed via historic Three Notch Trail to Cold Spring, then to Cold Spring station on local roads. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Shizuko Okumura
Home: 718-997-6186
Sun. Mar. 18. NINE BRIDGES ON THE PASSAIC RIVER. Cross the Passaic River ten times on nine different bridges connecting old factories and other interesting things between Fair Lawn and Rutherford, NJ. (Contact leader for details. Awful or dangerous weather cancels. Phone leader after 7:00 am morning of hike if uncertain.)
Leader: Craig Nunn
Cell: 551-206-6823
Sat. Mar. 24. LONG ISLAND TRAVERSE: SHOREHAM TO CENTER MORICHES. (Note: this is a Saturday hike.) Hike the Brookhaven Trail from Rte 25A through the Pine Barrens Preserve to the Paumanok Path, crossing the Peconic River, Grassy Pond, and Sandy Pond, to Manorville. Continue on old rail bed and country roads to Center Moriches. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Ludwig Hendel
Home: 718-626-3983
Sun. Apr. 1. SCHUNEMUNK: HIGHLAND MILLS TO MONROE. From railroad trestle over Route 32, follow the Long Path over High Knob to the unmarked Plateau Trail, which follow NE to the Dark Hollow Trail. Use DH to Jessup Trail. Continue NE on ridge and on Sweet Clover Trail to Barton Swamp Trail, which follow SW to Western Ridge Trail. Use WR to return to Jessup, which follow to its end in Monroe. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Chris Zeller
Home: 212-260-4879
Sun. Apr. 8. CEDAR GROVE TO NEWARK. From Cedar Grove at Route 23, follow the Lenape Tail on the right-of-way of the former Caldwell Branch of the Erie Railroad to Mills Reservation. Descend Watchung Ridge into Montclair and use local streets to Brookdale Park. Continue on Lenape Trail through Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, and Belleville to Branch Brook Park. Out to Newark Penn Station on Newark Light Rail. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Dennis Gin
Home: 212-925-2739
Sun. Apr. 15. TWO MANORS OF RINGWOOD: A CIRCULAR. From Ringwood Park & Ride, use woods roads and local streets to and along Erskine Lakes, then bushwhack to Ringwood-Ramapo trail. Hike RR north to its end and enter grounds of Ringwood Manor. Exit via Crossover trail, which follow to Skylands Manor. Continue on CT to woods road before Gatun Pond which use to return to Erskine Lakes area then back out to Park & Ride. (Contact leader for details. N.B. Please do not call leader between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday.)
Leader: Michael Chenkin
Home: 718-884-5120 or 212-866-1726
Sun. Apr. 22. BRIARCLIFF-PEEKSKILL TRAILWAY. A hike with moderate-and fast-paced options. From Ossining Station, cross the cemeteries of Ossining, then proceed to greenway of 1929-planned Briarcliff-Peekskill Parkway. Follow north to Teatown Lake Reservation with club lunch by the lake. Extra loops available for those wishing. Continue on BPT to Croton Dam, then north via Cook Park and Blue Mountain Reservation. Out to Cortlandt Station. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Cricket Giese-Parker
Home: 212-924-2171
Sun. Apr. 29. HARRIMAN TO TUXEDO. From Harriman station, use Sapphire Trail to the Appalachian Trail which follow, left, down Agony Grind and through Lemon Squeezer to intersection with the Long Path. Use LP to White Bar trail, which hike in its entirety. Continue via Blue Disc and Kakiat trails out to Tuxedo. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Ian Hochstead
Sun. May 6. NETCONG TO NEWTON. Hike the Morris Canal towpath and the Sussex Branch Trail from Stanhope to Newton, crossing the Musconetcong River, passing Jefferson Lake, Cranberry Lake, Andover, and Kittatinny Valley State Park. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Ludwig Hendel
Home: 718-626-3983
Sun. May 13. CIRCULAR: ZOAR AND LILLINONAH TRAILS. Hike the Zoar Trail loop along the Housatonic River in Paugusset State Park, passing Prydden Falls and several lookouts. Return to cars for short drive to Lillinonah trailhead, and resume loop along Pond Brook, Lake Lillinonah and Housatonic River, with several viewpoints. (Cars needed. Available drivers should contact Clive Morrick, 212-242-0931, in advance. Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Joe Bukowski
Sat. May 19. BROOKLYN OLD AND NEW. (Note: this is a Saturday hike.) Explore the paths and trails of Brooklyn's Prospect Park and Botanic Garden. (Free admission Saturday a.m.) Then use local streets and waterfront parks to visit the neighborhoods of Park Slope, Gowanus, Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Brooklyn Navy Yard and Williamsburg. Time permitting, cross Williamsburg Bridge to Manhattan. (Contact co-leader in advance for details.)
Co-Leader: Anna Marynowska
Home: 718-384-2908
Co-Leader: Camille Cooper
Home: 212-838-0714
Sun. May 20. HENRY HUDSON TRAIL. From Aberdeen-Matawan train station, use local streets to trailhead of Henry Hudson Trail, then proceed generally eastward through estuaries, developed areas, seaside towns, and Atlantic Highlands shore. Cross marshes and streams with views of lower Manhattan, share asphalt/dirt surface with cyclists and other wheeled creatures. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Kay Cynamon
Home: 212-865-3245
Fri. May 25 to Mon. May 28. BERKSHIRES AND TACONICS. Hike the Appalachian Trail north and south of the host's home in western Massachusetts, including one day exploring routes over Mount Greylock. (Contact leader or hostess in advance for details.)
Leader: Chris Zeller
Home: 212-260-4879
Hostess: Virginia Wolff
Home: 212-807-0587
Sun. May 27. CAMP SMITH TRAIL. From Garrison station proceed to Arden Point using Glenclyffe Trails. Loop back to connect with Sugarloaf Trail and then to the Osborne Loop, east side. Meet and follow the Appalachian Trail south to Anthony's Nose. Pick up the Camp Smith Trail, which hike to its end at the old toll house. Out to Peekskill via local roads and parks. (Contact leader for details.)
Leader: Dennis Gin
Home: 212-925-2739
Membership Application form
After completing two hikes, please submit this application form (pdf). All membership applications are subject to approval by the Council. After submitting this form, you may continue to join us as a guest until the next semi-annual meeting.