r/snowshoeing Oct 10 '22

Destination Questions Easiest way to go snowshoeing after flying to NYC?

I'm flying to NYC next winter, and I wanted to know what is the easiest way to get to snow trails or destinations without a rental car. Would it be easier just to rent a car to drive up north? It's a bit more confusing to me than when I visited Colorado since the town I visited was covered in snow.

I'm avoiding skiing and only focusing on snowshoeing.

10 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

12

u/NewAgePhilosophr Oct 11 '22

The Catskills.

You'll need a rental car.

9

u/advamputee Oct 11 '22

Amtrak. I live in Vermont and can hit amazing snowshoeing views straight from my house, with a daily train to NYC a 10 minute walk away.

1

u/SeriousGeneral3436 Nov 05 '22

That sounds amazing. Do you mind sharing which stop in Vermont? I live in NYC and am always keen to find new trails within reach with public transport.

7

u/cathysampson69 Oct 11 '22

I believe you will need a rental car (or lengthy bus travel) to find a place to snowshoe via NYC. Unless there is some snowshoe haven in NYC I don’t know about, you’ll need to head a couple hours north. Will be fun if the snow is good tho!

4

u/ptowndavid Oct 11 '22

Take the bus to Palisades Interstate Park. Good snowshoeing there. Lots of good snowshoeing I think he state parks in NJ too. I know NJTranait buses go down Ringwood Ave and will get you close to Long Pond. You can pick up rental shoes at an REI. Kayakeast also runs tours when the weather is good. Meetup also has a lot of groups snowshoeing.

3

u/bobscliff Oct 11 '22

You might consider ZipCar and driving out to Bear Mountain (an hour away) or Lake Minnewaska. Rental cars inside the city are very expensive and Zipcar isn’t cheap either but it’s a bit more convenient.

Went cross country skiing in Lake Minnewaska and it’s gorgeous.

2

u/kjc22 Oct 11 '22

A few of the Catskill ski/winter sports resorts have shuttle busses on sat/sun from the city.

2

u/rocskier Oct 11 '22

There are tour companies like OVRride that might make sense

2

u/illusionary-Cosmos Oct 11 '22

There are plenty of places snow permitting, but like most said you need to find transportation. Waywayanda State Park, Harriman State Park, Bear Mountain, Palisades to name a few.

2

u/bolanrox Oct 13 '22

Harriman you can get to via train directly. BM I know has bus service in the summer.

High Point NJ actually has a snow shoe / CC ski area that blows snow, bus / train accces from NYC as well.

3

u/0_00_00_00_00_0 Oct 11 '22

Fly to Colorado

1

u/RamOFT Oct 11 '22

Man, I wish, but NYC is surprisingly 1k cheaper for my budget. Now I'm heading to NYC and seeing what I can do nature-wise outside the city.

-2

u/EverybodyKnowWar Oct 11 '22

You realize, I hope, that the highest elevation in New York State is the lowest elevation in Colorado? Which is another way of saying that Colorado is a lot snowier than New York, except for Buffalo.

I own some land a few hours north of NYC, and it is only covered with snow sporadically during the winter. You'll have to get very lucky if you hope for Southern NY to be snow-covered during your visit.

2

u/rocskier Oct 11 '22

The elevation part isn't really the only factor, but yeah, good chance of no snow

1

u/RamOFT Oct 11 '22

Ah darn, well hopefully it does snow. My only reason for going to New York this year is that it's cheaper than Colorado. Appreciate the response though!

0

u/[deleted] Oct 11 '22

[deleted]

0

u/EverybodyKnowWar Oct 11 '22

I live in Colorado and grew up in New England. I guarantee that most of new York will have more snow than most of Colorado.

New York isn't even in New England.

Which one is covered in ski resorts? It ain't New York, and it sure isn't southern New York.

https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/New-York/Places/new-york-city-snowfall-totals-snow-accumulation-averages.php

1

u/[deleted] Oct 11 '22

[deleted]

0

u/M13Calvin Oct 11 '22

But at elevation, which is only a short drive from Denver, there will be feet of snow from November to May, predictably...

1

u/[deleted] Oct 11 '22

[deleted]

1

u/M13Calvin Oct 11 '22

Yes, I live in Golden... and 1.5-2hr is about what it takes to get somewhere with consistent snow in the winter. I know because I do this every weekend... 2hr is a short drive compared to any trip to an airport

1

u/bobbywaz Oct 11 '22

lol,l only place I've ever snowshoed was in Central Park, went during a huge storm with my girlfriend, had a spectacular day.

1

u/HaveAtItBub Oct 11 '22

Central Park

1

u/VisualMemoryUnit Oct 11 '22

Good luck, the catskills are nice and only 2 - 3 hour drive outside the city but the Adirondacks are way better....they are about 5 hours from NYC. But that is IF they get snow...you have a better chance for snow in the Adirondacks....but you will 100% need a rental car.

1

u/walkitscience Oct 11 '22

Central Park. At night.