Roadside parking is allowed in Harriman State Park, but only in designated areas. But how do you know what the designated areas are if there’s no sign? This is the entrance to Thendara Mountain Club. Don’t park here.
Yes, There’s Roadside Parking. But You Have To Know Where.
Can you park on the side of the road in Harriman State Park, or can’t you? Do you have to let the park police know when you’re leaving your car overnight in one of the parking areas?
These questions seems to come up a lot on the Facebook pages for some of the park offices and hiking/camping forums. Maybe this is because it’s hard to find agreement between the different sites, or because almost none of the roadside lots are “signed” as designated parking areas.
Or because the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center kiosk posts that the park closes at sundown (huh?).
So how do you know where roadside parking is legal and allowed, if there’s no sign?
You have to look at the maps.
The Trail Conference maps show designated roadside parking areas. But the Facebook page for the Palisades Park Conservancy says there is no roadside parking, and that you have to notify the park police if you’re going to leave your car in a lot overnight.
A park policeman recently told me that “as long as you’re parked in a hikers’ parking area, this shouldn’t be an issue” — meaning, you don’t have to call.
And: you can park your car in a roadside spot, as long as it’s one of the officially-designated spots, shown on the Trail Conference map, or on our trail and parking area PDF map. These lot locations are correct as of November 2013, but are subject to change.
This is information that should be clearly spelled out on the New York State Parks website for the state’s second-largest park.
Roadside parking is allowed in Harriman State Park, if you’re in one of the designated parking areas (that are on the side of the road :0)) Our map gives you the GPS locations of all Harriman parking areas and roadside lots.
Ha ha Suzy, I’m laughing because my husband spruced up that sign this spring and hung it back up. I said nobody would ever see it there! Members can park inside the gate and start many great hikes from there.
Thank you for your wonderful website!
No, thank you! As long as the members know where to look! By the way, I love that sign. It reminds me of some of the old signs you see hanging in the Adirondacks at the entrance to little camps in the woods, or ski signs. It’s charming, and I wish Harriman had more (though they’d probably disappear). Thanks, Mary.
They do now: my husband (our webmaster) has posted your website for all the members in our newsletter.
Thanks for sharing the story about Sabago Beach. My son and I emerged from a hike onto the beach this past summer. A fish fell from the ski at his feet. We looked up and saw the bombardier flying stealthily away: an eagle who was probably annoyed with our presence at his prime fishing spot!
I saw that, and the increase in visitors to our site. Thank you (him) so very much!
I was really interested to read about Thendara this summer — it looks like a great group of people, but more than that, a unique way of having a share in a piece of Harriman history. And what a great spot!
So true! Membership is open to all and you are more than welcome to take a tour (contact me through our webmaster). You might decide to join!