River road lacks a shoulder, and there is a steep uphill just before you get to the bike path entrance. The route comes back down river road to the finish in Weehawken. Not sure how well lit it is for pre daylight travel. At least when you get to the entrance to the park in Edgwater you can get up the last bit of hill using the bike path. Once across the bridge you'll need to travel down to 165th St, and go to riverside and head back north to get on the lower level of the bridge for the start.