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AccessibilityHiking in NYC Parks
There's no need to head Upstate to experience the awe of New York's natural wonders. Plan your next hiking trip right here in New York City!
Our 300 miles of trails will take you through some of the oldest forests in the city, and past 10,000 acres of wild and untouched natural areas, glacial potholes, and bedrock you can see and touch! As you explore these beautiful parks, you'll come across all kinds of wildlife, from the majestic ospreys nesting high up on utility poles to turtles sunbathing on rocks in the ponds. Along the way, you can also visit historic places that give a glimpse of Old New York and tell the story of our city.
Where to go on your next hike
Start your journey through NYC's natural wonderland: pick a park and map out your hiking adventure. Be sure to pack plenty of water, and wear sunscreen and layered clothing.
Tip: Use these trail markers to guide you on your next hike.
Here are some highlights of hiking trails in our parks. Visit our Hiking Trails page to find more nature trails in parks across New York City.
Bronx
Bronx River Forest
To see: New York City's only freshwater river, a floodplain forest, Bronx River Island
Pelham Bay Park
To see: Hunter Island, Orchard Beach, Thomas Pell Wildlife Sanctuary, the Twin Islands, The Lagoon
Raoul Wallenberg Forest
To see: Great white oak and European beech tree, red-tailed hawks, ruins of Seton Hospital
Riverdale Park
To see: an oak-hickory forest, a small pine grove, and a red oak- and tulip tree-dominated forest, as well as stunning views of the New Jersey Palisades and the Hudson River from a viewing platform
Seton Falls Park
To see: glacial features, a floodplain forest, scenic overlooks of the Rattlesnake Creek ravine and falls, a red oak-dominated forest
Van Cortlandt Park
To see: hills, ridges, and valleys, a wetland with rare pumpkin ash trees, a forest of red oak, tulip, and hickory trees, historic stone buildings, and a scenic freshwater lake.
Brooklyn
Canarsie Park
To see: a scenic overlook of Jamaica Bay and surrounding neighborhoods, a sandy shoreline that ducks and geese love
Marine Park
To see: more than five hundred acres of preserved natural areas, ospreys nesting, an island just for birds, remnants of the first tide-powered mill in North America
Paerdegat Basin Park
To see: an upland coastal forest that includes a scenic view of Paerdegat Basin which is a 1.25-mile channel that empties into Jamaica Bay in nearby Bergen Beach
Manhattan
Highbridge Park
To see: native and introduced forests with northern red oaks, hickory, sweetgum, tulip trees, and native black cherry trees; the oldest standing bridge in NYC, remains of the Old Croton Aqueduct, mountain bike trails, a chance to see hawks
Inwood Hill Park
To see: the only natural forest in Manhattan, glacial potholes, Manhattan schist, a freshwater and saltwater marsh, where Manhattan was purchased, the New Jersey Palisades
Queens
Alley Pond Park
To see: New York City's tallest and oldest tree, kettle ponds, an obstacle course
Bayswater Park
To see: a beach overlooking the bay (perfect for birdwatching), a maritime forest, and a bayberry grove
Cunningham Park
To see: vernal pools filled with spring peepers and other frogs, green-backed herons, the Wisconsin Ice Sheet Terminal Moraine
Forest Park
To see: a century-old pine Grove, the largest continuous oak forest in Queens, Richmond Hill War Memorial, Strack Pond
Willow Lake - Flushing Meadows Corona Park
To see: a freshwater wetland that offers visitors scenic views of the lake and abundant opportunity for bird watching and wildlife viewing
Staten Island
Conference House Park
To see: New York City's "south pole", beachside views, the house where the failed Revolutionary War peace conference took place in 1776
Goodhue Park
To see: a native hardwood forest, kettle ponds, a trail loop ideal for dog walkers
The Greenbelt
To see: NYC's largest remaining forest preserve, two of the highest points on the east coast, Reed's Basket Willow Swamp, a historic stone chimney, Willowbrook Pond
Ocean Breeze Park
To see: South Beach Wetlands, a shrub forest, scenic view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, a chance to see wild turkey, Canada geese, and deer
Visit our Hiking Trails page to find more places where you can go hiking in New York City's urban jungle.
Hiking Events
Join our Urban Park Rangers on their free hiking trips to learn more about natural and historic wonders you'll see in our parks. Find an upcoming hiking event
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