Appalachian Trail - Harriman Section

Harriman State Park's stretch of the Appalachian Trail offers a quintessential taste of the iconic 2,190-mile footpath within a sprawling 200-mile network of trails just 30 miles from Midtown Manhattan. This 7-mile out-and-back segment winds through second-growth oak and hickory forest, traverses rocky ridgelines, and dips into quiet hollows formed by glacial retreat 12,000 years ago. The trail crosses the famous Lemon Squeezer junction and passes West Mountain Shelter, a classic Adirondack-style lean-to popular with thru-hikers. White blazes painted on trees and boulders guide hikers past panoramic views over the Hudson Highlands and the distant Manhattan skyline on clear days. Harriman's AT section sees heavy weekend use, particularly in spring and fall when foliage turns the ridges brilliant orange and red. Water sources are seasonal; hikers should carry at least two liters. The park preserves over 47,000 acres donated by the Harriman and Rockefeller families, and the trail corridor remains one of the most heavily protected wildland corridors in the eastern United States.