The New York Ramblers - A Hiking Club

Our 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. 

Those wishing to join the New York Ramblers need to complete two hikes as a guest and then submit a membership application. To come along on a hike, you must first contact the 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. The link to the membership application is at the bottom of this page.

We offer long, strenuous hikes at a moderate pace to a broad variety of destinations, usually within 50 miles of the 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.

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 trip leader is not responsible for your safety, you are.

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Schedule:

Sun. Sep. 5. JOHN CAGE’S BIRTHDAY (HIKE). From Harriman Station, follow Sapphire Trail to intersection with AT. Flip a coin to determine whether to proceed right into Sterling Forest or left into Harriman Park. At next trail intersection, repeat coin toss to determine direction. Continue in this manner until mid-afternoon at which point consult maps, plan exit strategy, and withdraw.
Leader: To be determined by chance.

Sun. Sep. 12. SANDY HOOK. Explore the peninsula, various historic sites, Hudson Trail, and Twin Lights Lighthouse in Highlands.
Leader: Kay Cynamon
Home: 212-865-3245

Sat. Sep. 18 to Sun. Sep. 19. SOUTHERN TACONICS. Overnight Saturday at Virginia Woolf's house in Southern Mass. Possible hike Saturday depending on time of arrival. Sunday, follow South Taconic Trail from its southern terminus over South Brace and Brace Mountains to Mt. Frissell, highest point in CT, passing tri-state marker. Return to STT and follow it north to Alander Loop trail to Alander Mt. Follow STT south to Alander Brook Trail to Under Mountain Rd. Cars needed. Available drivers and interested hikers should contact leader or hostess in advance.
Leader: Richard Barr
Home 212-877-2694; richardedbarr@aol.com
Hostess: Virginia Wolff
Home 212-807-0587; vwolff1@msn.com

Sun. Sep. 19. PROSPECT MOUNTAIN. From the Park & Ride on Route 17/17A, follow the Wildcat Mountain Trail and proceed overland to intersect the Townsend Trail, which follow to its terminus at the Long Meadow Trail. Continue on various woods roads to Benjamin Meadow Road and thence to Prospect Mountain. Returning, follow routes in the Doris Duke Preserve and the proposed route of the Hogback Mountain Trail. Continue on Ironwood Drive and Long Meadow Road and thence via woods roads and bushwhacking to cars. Strenuous.
Leader: Chris Zeller
Home: 212-260-4879; dlonglegs@earthlink.net

Sat. Sep. 25. 42nd SEMI-ANNUAL SUPERHIKE: JONES POINT TO TUXEDO. (Note: this is a Saturday hike.) From Jones Point, follow the entire Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail to Tuxedo, passing over Dunderberg and Bald Mountains, The Timp, Black and Goshen Mountains, Bald Rocks, and Black Rock, Tom Jones, and Parker Cabin Mountains. 21+ strenuous miles. Bring headlamp. Contact leader for details.
Leader: Lee Ruelle
Home: 212-388-0354; cell: 203-571-7462; leeruelle@gmail.com

Sun. Sep. 26. SPRAIN RIDGE. Hike various trails in Sprain Ridge Park and proceed through three cemeteries, visiting graves of George and Ira Gershwin, Billy Rose, and John Garfield among others. Continue north, utilizing Chauncey and Juhring Parks, Irvington Woods, East Irvington and Taxter Ridge Preserves to end at Irvington train station.
Leader: Joel Pomerantz
Home: 212-691-3844

Sun. Oct. 3. HOEFERLIN'S THREE NOTCH TRAIL. 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 and then to Cold Spring station on local roads.
Leader: Jim Korn
Home: 212-697-4811; info@nyramblers.org

Sat. Oct 9. (Note: this is a Saturday hike.) NEW YORK CITY'S LARGEST PARK. From Pelham Bay Park subway station cross into Pelham Bay Park South. Use bridge over Hutchinson River to enter park proper and follow Split Rock Trail and other trails in a generally clockwise direction, passing Thomas Pell Wildlife Refuge, Split Rock, Barton Fell Mansion and Museum, and Glover Rock. Turn east to Hunter Island and explore the Kazimiroff Nature Trail. Exit via Orchard Beach Meadow to City Island. Possible seafood dinner.
Leader: Kay Cynamon
Home: 212-865-3245

Sun. Oct. 10. BACKWAY TO BALDHILL. From Beacon follow Beacon Shoreline Trail to Madame Brett Mill Park and continue on railroad right-of-way to Fishkill. Cross Fishkill Creek and climb woods roads to Bald Hill. Use Fishkill Ridge Trail clockwise to Wilkinson Memorial Trail which follow south to the blue trail. Use blue to rejoin FRT and proceed to Overlook Trail. Pass through cemeteries and along city streets to return to station. Strenuous.
Leader: Chris Zeller
Home: 212-260-4879; dlonglegs@earthlink.net

Sun. Oct. 17. ANTHONY’S NOSE TO COLD SPRING. From Manitou station walk south to base of bridge and ascend old blue trail to Anthony’s Nose. Use Camp Smith Trail to AT, which follow north over South Mtn. Pass and Canada Hill. Continue on Osborne Loop and exit onto woods roads, passing Lake Elizabeth. Cross Rte 403, join unnamed trail over Fort Hill to North Redoubt and then use local routes to Indian Brook Falls. Continue to Constitution Marsh trails, passing Boscobel, and use local road to Foundry Cove Trail in Cold Spring. Strenuous.
Leader: Ludwig Hendel
Home: 718-626-3983

Sun. Oct. 24. MASHOMACK PRESERVE. Explore sixteen miles of trails in Shelter Island's best kept secret place. (N.B. Please do not call leader between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday.)
Leader: Michael Chenkin
Home: 212-866-1726 or 718-884-5120

Sun. Oct. 31. TORREY MEMORIAL. From Manitou station, cross Bear Mountain Bridge and hike entire Popolopen Gorge Trail to the LP which use to the Torrey Memorial on Long Mountain. Continue north on LP and use woods road back to PG, which retrace to Anthony Wayne Trail. Take AWT to Fawn Trail, AT, and 1777W. Out to Bear Mountain Inn via 1777W and SBM.
Leader: Clive Morrick
Home: 212-242-0931; cimorrick@aol.com

Sat. Nov. 6. (Note: this is a Saturday hike.) TREMONT AVENUE. Walk over Washington Bridge (not GWB) to beginning of West Tremont Avenue, stopping at Roberto Clemente State Park to walk portion of riverside promenade. Return to Tremont and walk its length, ending at SUNY Maritime College at Fort Schuyler. Possible Italian bakery detour on Arthur Avenue.
Leader: Camille Cooper
Home: 212-838-0714; Camille_Cooper@earthlink.net

Sun. Nov. 7. OLD SHERWOOD ROAD. (Don’t forget to turn your clocks back.) From Tuxedo use Kakiat Trail to the SBM to Stone Memorial shelter, thence via Old Sherwood Road to gas line. Proceed north on gas line to the Pine Meadow Trail, which follow out to Sloatsburg.
Leader: Dennis Gin
Home: 212-925-2739

Sun. Nov. 14. HARRIMAN BLACK ROCK. From Southields, follow Nurian Trail to the Dunning Trail to the RD. Continue south on RD past Bold Rocks, Black Rock, Tom Jones, and Parker Cabin Mountain. Out to Tuxedo via Blue Disc, TMI, and RD.
Leader: Shizuko Okumura
Home: 718-997-6186

Sun. Nov. 21. MT. ARAMAH: FRANZ ALT'S CENTENNIAL HIKE. Celebrate Franz's milestone with the hike he began leading in 1980. From Long Mountain parking lot, use LP to Stockbridge Mountain, thence via woods roads to Baileytown. Proceed to Summit Lake and Mt. Aramah, then return to Summit Lake. Out to cars via LP over Brooks Mountain and former Deep Hollow Trail. Chris Zeller will lead, Richard Barr will coordinate shorter, easier access for those who wish.
Coordinator: Richard Barr
Home: 212-877-2694; richardedbarr@aol.com
Hike Leader: Chris Zeller
Home: 212-260-4879; dlonglegs@earthlink.net

Thurs. Nov. 25 to Sun. Nov. 28. POSSIBLE HIKE IN CENTRAL PA. Contact leader in advance for details.
Leader: Kurt Ramig
Home: 212-924-8020

Sun. Nov. 28. ROOSEVELT ISLAND. From Manhattan walk Queensboro Bridge to Long Island City and use local streets and bridge to Roosevelt Island. Explore perimeter of island, recross bridge to LIC and proceed via nearby parks, local streets and Pulaski Bridge to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, there to explore Greenpoint/Williamsburg waterfront parks, old and new. Return to Manhattan via Williamsburg Bridge.
Leader: Anna Marynowska
Home: 718-384-2908

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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.