New York, NY: NYC Chapter, George Washington Bridge and Palisades Interstate Park Caminito

The NYC Chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino visits New Jersey this month in alignment with our goals of expanding walks in the tri-state area. Join your fellow peregrinos and peregrinas as we cross the George Washington Bridge (GWB) to reach the Palisades Interstate Park.

Meeting Spot: GWB bus station in NYC
Located between West 178th and West 179th streets and Fort Washington Avenue. Meet the group outside Fort Washington Ave. (street level entrance)

How to get there:
By Subway (check mta.info for weekend schedule changes!)
Express A train (175th St. stop)
Local 1 train (181st St. stop)

By bus from NJ:
Use driving apps and park near the GWB plaza station in Fort Lee, NJ. Pay using the “passport parking” app.
Take the jitney towards NYC from the GWB plaza station (located below the Lemoine Ave. bridge and I-95 eastbound)
Once you arrive on the NYC side, please use the elevator or escalator to go down to the street level

By car from NY/NJ/CT:
Use driving apps and find street parking around Washington Heights in NYC

Meeting Time: 10 am (Camino will start at 10:15 am sharp) on Saturday, October 29. Rain date: Saturday, November 5.

What to bring: Day hike essentials: water, juice, lunch & snacks (no option to buy during the hike), insect repellent, sun hat/sunblock, rain gear, walking stick, comfortable walking shoes, extra layers for being out most of the day and cash ($3 dollar bus fare to cross the GWB – one way)

Itinerary: Crossing the George Washington Bridge on foot to the Palisades Interstate Park. Group will cross by jitney for any high wind or heavy fog advisory issued for the GWB that day.

Start of Caminito: GWB bus station NYC (WC stop)
Cross the GWB to NJ using the south side pedestrian lane
Fort Lee Historic Park (WC stop)
Alternate meeting spot for those who wish to skip the GWB section of the Caminito (meet the group crossing the bridge at 10:30am)

How to get there by bus from NYC:
Take the jitney going towards NJ from the GWB bus station Level 3
Get off the jitney on the very first stop right after crossing the GWB and take the stairs going up
Once you reach the top step (Lemoine Ave.) make a right turn and start walking south towards Bruce Reynolds Blvd
Once you reach the intersection of Lemoine Ave. and Bruce Reynolds Blvd, turn left and walk a few blocks east towards the direction of GWB and Hudson Terrace
Wait for the GWB crossing group at the Fort Lee Historic Park entrance (located a few yards from the GWB NJ entrance and on the corner of Hudson Terrace and Bruce Reynolds Blvd)

How to get there by car:
Use driving apps and find parking around Fort Lee, NJ. Pay using the “passport parking” app.
Wait for the GWB crossing group at the Fort Lee Historic Park entrance (located a few yards from the GWB NJ entrance and on the corner of Hudson Terrace and Bruce Reynolds Blvd)

Shore Trail
To reach this trail we will be descending ~ 200 feet on concrete roads/sidewalks with oncoming traffic on the right.
We will only be walking a portion of the southernmost section of the trail – northbound. With views of the Hudson River and the Little Red Lighthouse under the GWB on the right side of the trail.
Trail includes descent of ~ 100 feet on stone and dirt path, including flat surfaces of concrete and asphalt.

Ross Dock Picnic Area (Lunch/WC stop)
Uber/Lyft to go back to NYC (for those who wish to end their Caminito in this stage)
Carpenter’s Trail
We will only be hiking up a portion of this trail ~ 100 feet ascent on stone and dirt path
Henry Hudson Drive
~ 2 miles concrete and asphalt road with most of it inside the park ~ 200 feet ascent

End of Caminito: Main Street Fort Lee, NJ

Options:
Local area restaurant for after drinks and food (WC stop)
Take the jitney at the GWB plaza station or Uber/Lyft back to NYC subway/your car
Please exercise caution during this Caminito and always stay on the designated path or trail

Elevation: up to ~ 340 feet ascent/descent

Terrain: mix of rugged dirt, stone, concrete and asphalt

Distance: ~ 6 – 8 miles

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Helpful Links:
GWB Bus Station: https://www.panynj.gov/bus-terminals/en/george-washington.html
GWB: https://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/en/george-washington-bridge.html
Palisades Interstate Park: https://www.njpalisades.org/trails.html
National Suicide Prevention Helpline: Call 988 or https://988lifeline.org/

Hike Leader: Ana Esteban (red jacket).
Ana is a healthcare quality professional and a resident of the Garden State of New Jersey. Prior to the pandemic, she used to cross the GWB daily for work. She is peregrina who earned her compostela hiking the Camino Frances from O’Cebreiro to Santiago de Compostela in 2011 and has yet to find her way back. In the interim, she is discovering other hiking trails in New England and cherishing the time she spends hiking with her “camino family” in NYC.