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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
Pugsley Creek Park & Castle Hill Park
To see: views of Pugsley Creek, a mixed hardwood forest, salt marsh, the Whitestone and Throgs Neck bridges
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
Soundview Park
To see: a Bronx River overlook, a butterfly meditation garden, salt marsh, and grasslands
Spuyten Duyvil Park
To see: the Palisades, Hudson River views, a freshwater pond, various shorebirds
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
Fresh Creek Nature Preserve
To see: a 42-acre salt marsh, butterflies, birds, and aquatic life, native salt marsh plants, and a sandy beach overlook
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
McGuire Fields Park
To see: red maple, black oak, winged sumac, and American holly trees, sweeping vistas of Paerdegat Basin and the lower Manhattan Skyline, many species of birds brought to the park by its diverse habitat and position along the Atlantic Flyway
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
Prospect Park
To see: Brooklyn's last remaining upland forest, pollinator meadows, wetland kettles, streams, waterfalls, and more in the 250 acres of idyllic natural areas as designed by Olmsted and Vaux
Spring Creek Park
To see: the largest tract of undeveloped land and wetlands in the northern Jamaica Bay area and an array of wildlife that benefit from this open greenery, including blue herons, pheasants, raccoons, and muskrats
Manhattan
Fort Tryon Park
To see: the four-season Heather Garden, the Met Cloisters, the remnants of New York City’s largest glacial pothole, a contemporary sculptural installation, carefully preserved views of the Palisades
Fort Washington Park
To see: views of the Palisades, George Washington Bridge, and Hudson River, a Red Oak Heath forest, wildflowers along the forest floor, plus the historic Fort Washington site from the Revolutionary War, commemorated by the American Redoubt Marker
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, giant Manhattan schist stones, a freshwater and saltwater marsh, the New Jersey Palisades
Riverside Park
To see: a Bird Sanctuary, Pollinator Meadow, the Hudson River, and a forest full of sweet gum, sweet birch, and black cherry trees
Sherman Creek Park
To see: a lookout for shorebirds and the Harlem River, a freshwater pond and waterfall, a restored shoreline
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
Broad Channel American Park and Sunset Cove Park
To see: a waterfront park offering over 15 acres of Forever Wild areas perfect for birding and a salt marsh
View Broad Channel American Park and Sunset Cove Park's hiking trails on a map
Cunningham Park
To see: vernal pools filled with spring peepers and other frogs, green-backed herons, the Wisconsin Ice Sheet Terminal Moraine
Dubos Point Wildlife Preserve
To see: a great view of an inlet of Jamaica Bay, and a restored marshlands with various migratory birds including peregrine falcons, herons, and variety of duck species
Forest Park
To see: a century-old pine Grove, the largest continuous oak forest in Queens, Richmond Hill War Memorial, Strack Pond
Highland Park
To see: remnants of a reservoir, the Old Stone Bridge, forest succession, an array of migrating birds, the Dawn of Glory Statue
Jamaica Bay Park
To see: salt marsh and upland habitats, views of the Manhattan skyline and Jamaica Bay, and trail continues into Bayswater Point State Park
Kissena Park & Kissena Corridor
To see: cherry and sumac trees, including a group of native Staghorn sumac trees with their large red flowers in summer, respite from the city streets under the shade of black locust trees, a meditation garden, ample opportunities for bird watching
View Kissena Park & Kissena Corridor's hiking trails on a map
Rockaway Community Park
To see: a natural preserve offering scenic wetlands, walking trails, and abundant bird watching opportunities along the shores of Jamaica Bay
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
Udalls Park Preserve Hiking Trails
To see: salt grasses growing in the marsh, clapper rails, snowy egrets, osprey, and more wading and diving for fish, wooded uplands and more wildlife scattered around the cove
Staten Island
Arden Woods
To see: the largest wetlands in the New York metropolitan area, a ground covering of the fragrant Eastern Hay Scented Fern, migratory birds, and many owls, including the screech owl, great horned owl, and barn owl
Bloomingdale Park
To see: over 100 acres of wooded wetlands, streams, and ponds to explore. Where Staten Island's largest population of eastern box turtles and various wildlife live
Blue Heron Park
To see: freshwater wetlands, meadows of wildflowers, kettle ponds, and the diverse wildlife that calls this protected natural area home
Brady's Pond Park
To see: a small, forested park with a rich history and a short trail that winds along a 15-acre pond known for wildlife and scenic views
Brookfield Park
To see: four easy marked trails that offer beautiful views of Richmond creek, many native plantings, and paths that encircle wetlands, rivers, ponds, and marshes
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
Eibs Pond Park
To see: the largest kettle ponds in New York City formed by the retreat of an ice sheet over 15,000 years ago, used as farmland until 1899
Fairview Park
To see: a wildflower-rich vernal pond, restored forests with pin oak, sassafras, and American Sycamore trees, views of the Outerbridge Crossing
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
Jones Woods Park
To see: the Serpentine Barrens, a unique ecosystem found in only a few places in the world, and in New York, found only on Staten Island
King Fisher Park
To see: a park retreat in Great Kills neighborhood with the parks namestake the belted kingfisher found year round in this park
Long Pond Park
To see: nature preserve featuring diverse woodlands and wetlands which was formed by receding glaciers, most pristine pond in New York City, and serving as a vital stopover for migratory birds.
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
Siedenburg Park
To see: untouched habitat used by scienctists to study, trail passing by a vernal pool with loads of wildlife, and multiple terrains
Wolfe's Pond Park
To see: freshwater ponds with vernal ponds that appear in the spring, long trails that transverse various environments, and mountain biking trails
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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