Prospect Park Hiking Trails

Prospect Park is home to a remarkable diversity of habitats, including Brooklyn's last remaining upland forest, pollinator meadows, wetland kettles, and a network of streams, pools and waterfalls that lead to a vast 60-acre lake. The park’s more than 250 acres of natural areas give the illusion of far-removed landscapes to millions of visitors each year. It was the intention of the park’s designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, to create an oasis in the middle of Brooklyn by preserving the remnant forest and transforming rocky farmland into a stunning pastoral landscape.

Inspiration was drawn from the string of hills in the northern part of the park formed by the expansion and receding of the Wisconsin Ice Sheet 75,000 years ago.This sloping terrain led to the creation of the park’s watercourse. As the water runs, it cascades over three waterfalls, with many offshoots flowing through the narrow Ravine, and a series of pools before slowing and descending to the last big drop at Binnen Falls, into the river-like area known as the Lullwater, finally flowing into Brooklyn’s only lake.

Since its founding in 1987, Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that operates the park in partnership with the City, has undertaken an extensive restoration of the park’s natural areas, including the forested Ravine, the park’s historic watercourse and lake. To this day, the Alliance provides critical staff and resources that sustain these important habitats, including a Forever Wild Preserve, which is home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife. Prospect Park’s combination of forest with acres of meadows and waterways provide resting, breeding, and feeding grounds for hundreds of bird species as they make seasonal homes in the park or stop to rest along the migration route known as the Atlantic Flyway. During the high migration seasons of spring and fall, over 250 species of birds can be seen in the park.

The park’s trail system offers miles of pedestrian routes that wind through forests, wetlands and meadows. Trails range in difficulty from flat to steep and narrow. Highlighted on the map are multiple paths leading to rustic shelters, benches or scenic points where visitors can pause to take in the beauty of Prospect Park.

Midwood Loop: The 0.5 mile Midwood Loop trail loops through the heart of Brooklyn's last upland, old growth forest. In spring, ephemeral wildflowers bloom along the route in blue, white, yellow, pink and burgundy. Magnificent tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and oak (Quercus spp.) trees shade the trail in summer, and in autumn, light filters through their red and gold leaves. As part of Prospect Park's Forever Wild Preserve, this forest is an oasis for wildlife. Most of the trail loop is a flat, mulched surface defined by rustic cedar rails, with some paved sections. A small, steep segment of the trail provides a view of the watercourse.

Ravine Loop: Experience Prospect Park’s iconic Ravine on the 0.42 mile Ravine Loop. The paved path runs along part of the watercourse, featuring a beautiful view of the Ambergill Cascade, then mounts a series of staircases into the oak canopy. The top of Boulder Bridge offers a view down into the lush forested Ravine.

Peninsula Loop: The 0.5 mile Peninsula Trail winds through the edges of Prospect Park’s Forever Wild Preserve, providing some of the most scenic views of Prospect Park Lake from the cover of the forest canopy. There are many points on this mixed surface shaded trail to gaze across the water toward islands and further shores. It’s a nature filled experience where one may view up to five species of turtles sunning on the logs and rocks on the water’s edge while listening for the croak of bullfrogs.The trail ends on an ample lawn, perfect for a picnic with a lake view on a hot summer day. In the winter, it offers majestic views of the many species of waterfowl who spend the season on Prospect Park’s Lake.

Lullwater Trail: Popular among birdwatchers, the 0.9 mile Lullwater Trail offers quiet paved paths with numerous spurs leading directly to the water’s edge. As the stream leaves the tumultuous Ravine behind, it begins a gentle meander towards Prospect Park Lake through the Lullwater.The northern part of the trail crosses the Lullwater Bridge, with an iconic view of the historic Boathouse and nearby Binnen Falls. A short distance away, a shaded rustic arbor provides respite with scenic views of the water's edge. From this lookout, park goers can often spot cormorants and herons.

Fallkill Trail: This 0.1 mile trail offers visitors two spectacular views of the Fallkill Falls, the source of fresh water that feeds the park’s 65-acre watercourse. The route begins at the foot of the waterfall, at the paved path and winds uphill to a rustic overlook above the falls. From there, the path continues along the contour of the forested hillside before descending toward the Ballfields. This short but rewarding trail through the forest is unpaved and includes some steep sections.

Interactive Map

Download the Prospect Park Trail Map.

Points of Interest

Upper Fallkill Falls

Cascading over boulders into the pool below, Fallkill Falls marks the dynamic beginning of Prospect Park’s watercourse. Fallkill Trail, created by Prospect Park Alliance in 2023, offers a spectacular view from the foot of the falls, as well as an overlook from above the waterfall.

View Upper Fallkill Falls on the map

Heart of the Midwood Forest

Under a canopy of mature oak, beech, maple, elm and tulip trees, rustic cedar-lined trails guide visitors through the heart of Brooklyn’s last remaining upland, old growth forest. Early in the spring, before the cool shade of the summer leaves arrive, spring ephemeral wildflowers dot the forest floor in shades of white, yellow, burgundy and blue. As the seasons turn, spring ephemerals give way to the bright asters of summer and fall.

View Heart of the Midwood Forest on the map

Ambergill Cascade

Tucked deep in the Ravine, the Ambergill Cascade is visible only from a vantage point on Rock Arch Bridge, a stop along the Ravine Loop. Although the waterfall is an original feature of the park, it has not always remained intact. By the 1980s, it had fallen into disrepair along with the rest of the watercourse, and was restored by the Alliance in the 1990s, a massive undertaking that removed 12,000 cubic feet of sediment and reset dozens of boulders and planted thousands of native plants.

View Ambergill Cascade on the map

Boulder Bridge

High above the Ravine, straddling the bridle path, Boulder Bridge stands among mature oaks and towering elms. In the late 1800s, Boulder Bridge was built using local glacial boulders left behind when the Wisconsin Ice Sheet retreated some 12,000 years ago. Today, the bridge is a perfect spot to watch migratory warblers flitting amongst the branches at eye level.

View Boulder Bridge on the map

Lullwater Lookout / Rustic Arbor

Near the Prospect Park Boathouse, a rustic arbor provides shade for a pair of benches overlooking the Lullwater. Cormorants and herons are among the over 250 bird species that frequent Prospect Park each year and can be spotted along the Lake's shores. A native Virginia Creeper vine covers the arbor, providing berries for songbirds in late summer and a canopy of bright red color in fall.

View Lullwater Lookout / Rustic Arbor on the map

Peninsula Rustic Shelter

At the farthest tip of the Peninsula, a rustic shelter sits at the water’s edge. This peaceful point provides a quiet, relaxing space to take in views of Duck Island to the south, sweeping views of the setting sun to the west and the White Levy Esplanade near the LeFrak Center at Lakeside to the east, while nestled under a canopy of mature white pines.

View Peninsula Rustic Shelter on the map

Peninsula Landing

During warmer months, this waterfront access point is surrounded by lush greenery, with great blue herons and osprey swooping to the shoreline. In fall, the wooded shores across the lake turn brilliant colors. In the winter, you can look through bare tree branches to Terrace Bridge, built by Prospect Park’s original architects in 1890.

View Peninsula Landing on the map

Hiking in NYC Parks

Visit our Hiking in NYC Parks page to find more nature trails in parks across New York City.