Suffern guards the Ramapo Pass, the narrow gap where the Ramapo River cuts through the Highlands at the New York and New Jersey border. During the Revolution, this gap was a vital route between the Hudson and the colonies to the south, and Continental troops were stationed here to keep it open; Washington himself passed through more than once. Today, the pass carries the New York Thruway, Route 17 and a railway, all squeezed into the valley, and Suffern is a busy small village at its mouth.
The Ramapo Mountains rise steeply on both sides, covered with oak and hickory forests, and they are part of the Highlands that stretch from Pennsylvania to Connecticut. Harriman State Park, just to the north, is a vast area of lakes, forests and rocky ridges, laced with hiking trails and winding roads. In autumn, the foliage is spectacular, with the hills ablaze with red, orange and gold.
The riding from Suffern is excellent. Route 17 north through the Ramapo valley is busy, but the roads into Harriman, such as Seven Lakes Drive, are a delight, winding past lakes and through forests. Heading west, roads lead towards Greenwood Lake and the Warwick valley, with more curves and fewer cars. Traffic can be heavy on weekends and around the outlet stores at Central Valley, and deer are a real hazard at dusk.
Suffern has fuel stations, delis, diners and coffee shops, and you can pump your own fuel on the New York side of the border. It is a good place to fill up and grab a bite before heading into the mountains, towards Montauk on the far end of Long Island or the high peaks of the Catskills.