Public Transportation to the Park
Information on this page current as of April 23, 2008
Many of the NJ Section's access points and trails can be reached from public transportation from New York City and points in New Jersey or from Rockland County, New York. Rockland Coach’s Number 9 bus, which departs from the Port Authority’s George Washington Bridge Terminal (175th Street, accessible from the A express subway line) or from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (42nd Street), stops at Bridge Plaza in Fort Lee (a number of other bus lines connect at the Bridge Plaza stop from points in New Jersey), then travels up U.S. Route 9W to the state line and on to Rockland County. We cannot verify bus schedules: for bus schedule information for the Number 9 bus, visit Rockland Coaches (Red and Tan Lines) or call 201 384-2400 or 212 279-6526. (For connecting bus information, also check New Jersey Transit's website.)
Our three downloadable maps show major bus stops in the vicinity of the park.
Our hiking description pages also include bus information where relevant.
The hike described below is a popular, relatively easy hike for hikers who come by mass transportation. It can easily be extended by combining with other hikes described in our hiking section.
Point Lookout (easy +)
From the State Line stop on Route 9W, it is a walk (or ride) of about 1.5 miles along an old, closed concrete-topped highway to "Lookout Inn" at State Line Lookout.
Note that bicycles are permitted on the old roadway, though they are not permitted on any trails or highways in the NJ Section of the PIP.
The No. 9 bus will let you off at the state line proper, which is also the entrance to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, a research facility run by Columbia University (the Lamont-Doherty grounds are private property). From here, simply follow the old concrete highway east. Note that this walk is not difficult, but that a large portion of it will be along a moderate uphill grade. The roadway you walk on was built in 1926, and was originally the northbound stretch of the state highway that connected New York and New Jersey along the western Hudson. (First designated New Jersey Route 1, later U.S. Route 9W, when the Palisades Interstate Parkway opened in the mid-1950s, the northbound section of the old highway was moved to the west, joining the southbound section. A portion of the old northbound section is today used as the automobile entrance road to the Lookout area from the Parkway.)
After about 1.5 miles you will arrive at Lookout Inn (refreshment stand and gift shop) and "Point Lookout," the highest point on the Palisades Cliffs (elevation 532 feet), with panoramic views of the Hudson River north, east, and south. From here you can return along the same route (about 1 hour round-trip hiking time), or find access to the following hikes listed in our Hiking descriptions: The Women's Federation Monument (easy +, see also note, below); Cross Country Ski Trails (moderate); Peanut Leap Cascade (moderate +); and The Giant Stairs (most difficult).
Hikers can also return to Route 9W along an alternative route that will take them past the Women’s Federation Monument. Head south along Old Route 9W, noting the aqua blazes of the Long Path along the way. (Once you pass the barrier stones, you are on an active roadway, so use caution here.) About a hundred yards along, you will see where the aqua blazes leave the road through a gap in the parapet stones, and the trail enters the woods. The trail goes down a ravine on stone steps. At the base of the Ravine, the aqua trail intersects the blue-and-white-blazed Forest View Trail; as you go up the other side of the ravine, the two trails overlap. At the top you will find the Women’s Federation Monument, which is in the shape of a watchtower, or "castle." From here, stay on the blue-and-white-blazed Forest View Trail headed west. This trail will take you across a pedestrian bridge over the Parkway and to Route 9W, about a mile south of where you were originally dropped off. There is a bus stop at the entrance to the Boy Scout camp less than 0.25 miles to the north. The trails are moderate, but the route does require a fairly steep descent and then ascent along the ravine between State Line Lookout and the Women's Federation Monument. (About 45 minutes from Lookout Inn to the bus stop.)
The bus stop at the state line also provides direct access to the aqua-blazed Long Path. You will find the trail entrance between the old highway and the entrance booth to Lamont-Doherty.
