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• • • • urban access ~ HARRIMAN STATE PARK, NY AT Access for the Masses This very popular (read: crowded) 46,647-acre park offers several peaks and many miles of trails for outdoorsy New Yorkers. A good short circuit is the trail over the West Mountain summit. At just 1,057 feet, the summit is no lung-burner, but you will still break a sweat on this three-to four-hour hike. From the parking lot, you hop right onto the AT and travel north . The loop itself takes you to the ridged top of West Mountain, which has views all around the park, including Bear Mountain and the Hudson River to the northeast. From the southern end of the trail, you can see Manhattan. To get to Harriman, cross the George Washington Bridge and get on the Palisades Interstate Parkway heading north. Get off at exit 17, which takes you directly into the parking area for the Anthony Wayne Recreation area. Seasonal parking fees apply. For more infor- mation, contact the New York-New Jersey Trails Conference (212-685-9699, www.nynjtc.org). Rail commuters can take Metro-North (212-532-4900, www.mta.nyc.ny.us) to the Peekskill or Garrison stations and take a taxi (up to $25, one way) across the river to the park. 70 HUDSON HIGHLANDS STATE PARK, NY Off the Beaten Path AT Access The eastern sections of the Hudson Highlands, a rocky and rolling swath of land that extends from across the Hudson River in Harriman to the Taconics of Fahnestoc'k State Park, has an assemblage of wooded trails that are as rewarding as those at Harriman, but less crowded . The Osborn Loop is a moderate four-to five-hour hike through lush and verdant terrain that links into a section of the AT. For outstanding views of the Hudson River, the Hudson Valley and, on a clear day, Manhattan, try the steep hike up the 820-foot, pyramid-shaped hill called Sugarloaf South. To get to the trailhead, cross the George Washington Bridge and head north on the Palisades Interstate Parkway. At the Long Mountain roundabout just past exit 17, head east to the Bear Mountain Bridge. Cross the bridge and get onto Route 9D north and follow signs for the Castle Rock Unique Area. There is no real parking lot, but you should be able to pullover and park anywhere on the right side of the road. For more information, call the New York-New Jersey Trails Conference (212-685-9699, www.nynjtc.org). You can take Metro-North (212- 532-4900, www.mta.nyc.ny.us) to Garrison, NY, a couple miles north of the trailhead. HOUR RADIUS PAWLING, NY AT Access for Alternative Commuters While most people associate Metro-North Street Journal-reading commuters, if you ride the Harlem line on a weekend, you may see a few GORP-eat- ing, poly pro clad hiker types. That's because on week- ends and hoi idays, Metro-North services a station upstate with the self-explanatory name "Appalachian Trail " where you can get off the train and step right onto the AT. The trail starts through private farmland-com- plete with green pastures, quaint farmhouses and cows-before heading into the woods where it winds over and around rock formations. Large sections of the trail run through marshes on well-maintained, raised wooden walkways. Metro-North on ly services the "Appalachian Trail" station on weekends and holidays and the last train leaves Grand Central at 9:50AM. Returning, the last train picks up at "Appalacian Trai l" at 6:33PM. The ride is roughly 90 minutes and costs $8.75 each way. If you can't wait for a weekend, Metro-North has regu lar serv- ice to Pawling, 2.4 miles from the AT. For more informa- tion on trains, contact Metro-North (212-532-4900, www.mta.nyc.ny.us). * The AT Is ususUy designated by Information on the traiL contact Conference (304-535-6331.