A short drive from New York City, you can discover a variety of breathtaking vistas, natural landscapes, and recreational opportunities from hiking trails to paddling routes and more. Stay at one of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s cabins in the tristate area and enjoy a rustic basecamp for all your outdoor adventures—right in your backyard.
AMC Harriman Outdoor Center. Photo by Corey David Photography.
Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center
Take a break from Central Park and enjoy New York State’s second-largest park, Harriman State Park. Corman Harriman Outdoor Center (CHOC) is the perfect summer getaway for New Yorkers. Located only 30 miles from Manhattan and accessible by public transportation, this is an ideal destination for hiking, paddling, and camping adventures in the heart of Harriman State Park.
Pricing: AMC members receive a discount of 20% on their stay.
AMC Harriman Outdoor Center. Photo by Corey David Photography.
The Cabins
Accommodations at CHOC include group and family cabins, tent platforms, and three-sided shelters. Whether you’re booking Stone Lodge for family reunion or Cranberry Cabin for a romantic getaway, you’ll have access to Breakneck Pond, a library and game room, and group meeting space. Cabins are equipped with small refrigerators and outdoor pedestal grills. Each bed includes a pillowcase and a wool-blend blanket. Please bring your own sleeping bag, linens, and towels.
Dinner, breakfast, and a to-go trail lunch are available to purchase. Breakfast and dinner are served in the communal dining hall with an outdoor patio overlooking Breakneck Pond.
Dining at AMC Harriman Outdoor Cente. Photo by Corey David Photography.
Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
- Breakneck Pond: Guests enjoy complimentary use of canoes and kayaks to enjoy a peaceful paddle on the pond. Life jackets and paddles are available to borrow from the boat house.
- AMC Pond Loop: Hike around Breakneck Pond, an easy 2.3-mile loop. Just before the Bear Ledge tentsites, you’ll find some wide, flat rocks perfect for laying out and enjoying the sun.
- Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: A moderate 3.6-mile hike to Bill Hill Shelter and the Jackie Jones Mountain Fire Tower, which on clear days provides views of the Empire State Building and the rest of the Manhattan skyline. Explore more hikes in Harriman State Park.
- Backcountry Campsites: CHOC has a few backcountry campsites that are accessible by hiking or canoe from the boat launch. Enjoy the experience of camping in the woods, while staying a short walk away from a hot meal in the dining hall.
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, Harriman State Park. Photo by Corey David Photography.
Family-Friendly Activities
- Swimming: Guests have exclusive use of the sandy beach and swimming dock on Breakneck Pond, which also includes an enclosed, 3-foot deep swimming area for children
- CHOC Library: Rainy day? No problem. The library at CHOC is housed in a cozy cabin and also has card and board games for the whole family.
- Outdoor Stewards: Also in Harriman State Park is the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center, where an AMC naturalist is posted with advice about nearby trails, opportunities to spot wildlife, and information about the local ecology. Visit during business hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day and buy this t-shirt to prove that you’re a bona fide nature nerd!
- Lake Welch: Looking for a livelier beach scene? Locals flock to Lake Welch, a massive sandy beach where families congregate to build sandcastles, play volleyball, splash in the lapping waves, picnic, and dance to the sound of multiple boomboxes.
Beach at AMC Harriman Outdoor Center. Photo by Corey David Photography.
Shopping, Sights, and Food Nearby
- Reeves Meadow Visitor Center: Looking for a trail guide, new daypack, or an ice-cold popsicle? Drop by the park’s visitor center for a range of snacks, gear, and AMC merch.
- Seven Lakes Station (Sloatsburg): Part craft beer taproom, part general store — the perfect local hangout.
- Tuxedo Park Farmers Market (seasonal): Fresh produce and handmade goods from local makers.
- Valley Rock Inn Market & Cafe (Sloatsburg): Farm-to-table goodness in a stunning garden setting.
- Characters Bar & Restaurant (Sloatsburg): Casual pub fare — loved by hikers for hearty burgers and cold drinks.
AMC Mohican Outdoor Center. Photo by Corey David Photography.
AMC Mohican Outdoor Center
A short hike from the Appalachian Trail, Mohican Outdoor Center is located on a beautiful glacial lake in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Your New Jersey adventure bucket list isn’t complete without a stay at AMC’s basecamp for swimming, paddling, fishing, hiking, and more.
Pricing: AMC members receive a discount of 20% on their stay.
AMC Mohican Outdoor Center. Photo by Corey David Photography.
The Cabins
Mohican offers several cabin options, ideal for couples, families, or large groups. Each cabin has a full kitchen and bathroom with a shower. Tent platforms and walk-in campsites are also available. From May through October, Mohican’s deli is open for waffles, sandwiches, burgers, and more.
Boaters on Catfish Pond, AMC Mohican Outdoor Center. Photo by Corey David Photography.
Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
- Catfish Fire Tower: Follow the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail to the Appalachian Trail, then turn left to the Catfish Fire Tower, which provides scenic views of the surrounding Delaware Water Gap. Looking for more trails? Check out AMC’s Best Day Hikes in New Jersey.
- Catfish Pond: Enjoy a leisurely paddle on Mohican’s pond. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent from May through October.
- Delaware River Water Trails: Rent a kayak, canoe, or tube — calm sections of the river are perfect for beginners and families.
- Paulinskill Valley Trail: A scenic, mostly flat rail trail perfect for biking (and also for bird-watching).
Appalachian Trail. Photo by Corey David Photography.
Family-Friendly Activities
- Rattlesnake Swamp Trail to Overlook: At 2 miles and 300 feet of elevation gain, this hike is great for kids and provides views of New York City on clear days. Start at the Mohican Outdoor Center main parking lot, taking the Appalachian Trail to the overlook ridge and back. Estimated hike time is 1 hour.
- Games and Puzzles: The visitor center’s dining room is chock-a-block with children’s toys, board games, and jigsaw puzzles.
- Theme Nights: There is always something happening at the Mohican Outdoor Center, from singer-songwriter nights to Cinco de Mayo buffet, from cooking contests to haunted trails. Like the Mohican Outdoor Center Facebook page to stay up to date on the latest activities!
- Amusement Park: After a weekend of nature’s delights, sometimes you need some mindful fun. 20 minutes from Mohican, right off I-80 on the way back to the city, is the Land of Make Believe, an amusement park and water park.
View from Catfish Fire Tower. Photo by Corey David Photography.
Shopping, Sights, and Food Nearby
- Millbrook Village: Step back in time with a recreated 19th-century village.
- Gallery 23 (Blairstown): Local art, handmade jewelry, and thoughtful souvenirs.
- Buck Hill Brewery (Blairstown): Craft brews and farm-fresh plates in a rustic barn setting.
- Village Farmer & Bakery: Famous for giant apple pies, sandwiches, and homemade fudge.
- The Sycamore Grille: Cozy dinner spot with hearty comfort food and picnic tables.
Outside AMC’s Fire Island Cabin. Photo by AMC Staff
AMC Fire Island Cabin
Experience the rugged beauty of dunes, forest, and marshes at this volunteer-run cabin on the Fire Island National Seashore. This affordable island stay is fully accessible by public transportation.
Pricing: $240/weekend for AMC members, $290/weekend for non-members with a two-night minimum. Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends are $360/weekend for AMC members, $435 for non-members with a three-night minimum. Weeknight stays are $75/night for AMC members, $100/night for non-members. Youth rates are available, and additional blackout dates apply.
The Cabin
The Cabin has two 11-bunk co-ed rooms with mattresses, blankets and pillows. There is a large commercial kitchen and indoor eating area. There are two bathrooms, hot outdoor showers, decks, beach chairs and umbrellas, a hammock, yoga equipment, and a gazebo with a library and board games.
Weekend meals are communal and provided by volunteer managers who plan and shop for the menus. Guests participate in food prep and clean-up. Meals include Friday happy hour, Saturday dinner, and self-serve continental breakfasts Saturday and Sunday. Midweek meals are not provided, and guests should bring their own food or dine at the many fine restaurants nearby.
The AMC Fire Island Cabin bunkroom. Photo by AMC Staff
Outdoor Recreational Opportunities
- Boating: For water enthusiasts, there are sailboats (sunfish and sloops), kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. Guests may use sailboats if authorized in advance through the cabin’s sailing program or during its instructional sailing events.
- Beach walking: The AMC Fire Island Cabin is a waterfront property on the Great South Bay. A two-minute walk brings you to miles and miles of a white sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Walk to many interesting communities, including the Sunken Forest.
- Biking: Fire Island is car-free, making it perfect for biking. Ride scenic paths to nearby communities like Ocean Beach. Rentals are available locally if you don’t bring your own.
Family-Friendly Activities
- Tide Pool Treks: Explore the intertidal zone and keep an eye out for hermit crabs, sea syars, and other ocean critters.
- Stargazing: Read a copy of If You Can See the Dark under the stars and see what constellations emerge away from the city lights.
- Family Programming: Fire Island Cabin’s Summer 2025 schedule features family-friendly theme weeks, such as the Memorial Day opening weekend, 4th of July BBQ, and summer stargazing weekend.
Shopping, Sights, and Food Nearby
- Ocean Beach Village: Just a 15-minute walk or bike ride, this bustling hub has everything from ice cream shops and bookstores to beachwear boutiques and general stores.
- The Landing: Upscale dining on the bay with sunset views.
- Rachel’s Bakery: The pancakes are famous for a reason!
View from AMC Fire Island Cabin, Fire Island, New York– AMC Photo Contest entry in 2012. Photo by Kris Percival.
Join In and Get Out
AMC’s cabins and campsites are open to all, and you’ll enjoy your adventures in NJ and NY even more as an AMC member. Your membership is a tax-deductible contribution to AMC’s mission to foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. Member benefits include up to 20% off AMC lodging, 20% off AMC books and maps, and up to 20% off gear and merchandise. Membership also follows you home, unlocking access to thousands of free activities to get outside with people near you. Join AMC today!