Translate
AccessibilityHiking
Enjoy New York City’s great outdoors on these guided hikes through our parks. Hiking is a great way to get active and reduce stress while exploring the city. Discover the natural beauty, wildlife, history, and architectural beauty of our parklands with our Urban Park Rangers and other nature exploration groups.
Trail Maps: Where to Go on Your Next Hike
Looking to head out on your own? Check out these hiking trails we recommend.
Hiking Events
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Trail Work Thursdays
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Rise and Shine Walk
at Cedar Grove Beach (in Great Kills Park), Staten Island
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for an early summer morning nature exploration of Cedar Grove Beach.
Free!
Guided Tour of Conference House Park, the Biddle & Rutan Houses
at Visitor Center - Satterlee Street and Hylan Boulevard (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
, H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island , Rutan-Becket House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island, Almer G. Pavilion (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Take a walk back in history as you tour two historic houses! The The H.H. Biddle House was built in the 1840s and today features ongoing history and art exhibits. The Rutan-Beckett House was also built in the 1840s and features original 1950s furnishings from its most recent renovation, as well as ongoing history and art exhibits.
Free!
Event
Nature Exploration: Captain Tilly Park
at Chapin Parkway and 85th Avenue (in Captain Tilly Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Rangers will introduce you to the many species of birds, plants and other living species within Captain Tilly Park.
Free!
Event
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Page Avenue Beach Parking Lot, Staten Island
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Birding programs are an all-inclusive safe space and appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
Free!
Nature's Workshop: Recycled Plantable Paper Making
at Greene Ave & Tompkins Ave (in Herbert Von King Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Welcome springtime with the Urban Park Rangers by making recycled paper, embedded with native seeds.
Free!
Event
Early Spring Tree ID Hike
at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join us for a hike of Crotona Park in search of different tree species and learn some ways to identify these trees during the changing season.
Free!
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Trail Work Thursdays
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Cross Country Course Volunteer Days
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Nature's Workshop: Botanical Watercolor Painting
at Playground (in Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
oin the Urban Park Rangers in celebrating the arrival of Spring flowers. Draw these early bloomers with watercolor paint and learn how to create beautiful botanical illustrations.
Free!
Great Trees of St. Nicholas Park
at 135th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue (in St. Nicholas Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join us for a walk of St. Nicholas Park in search of different species and learn some ways to identify these trees during the changing season.
Free!
Signs of Spring Hike
at Alley Pond Park Environmental Center, Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers in appreciating the early flowers of spring! Hike through a restored natural area to observe emerging buds, arriving birds, and blooming flowers.
Free!
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Historic New York: Hunter Island
at Section 2 Orchard Beach (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers on a walk on Hunter Island and learn about its unique history.
Free!
Nature Exploration Hike
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a walk through Inwood Hill Park and find out what plants and animals call his Forever Wild site home.
Free!
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Junior Arborist Day
at Visitor Center - Satterlee Street and Hylan Boulevard (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Learn about our Urban Forest and why we need trees and why they matter
Free!
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Junior Arborist Day at Tompkinsville Park
at Tompkinsville Park at Victory Boulevard (in Tompkinsville Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Celebrate Arbor Day Month! Learn about trees, identify trees and care for trees.
Free!
Event
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Explore Pelham Bay Park: The Central Woodlands
at Pelham Bay Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers will lead hikers through some of the hidden gems of Pelham Bay Park on a lengthy journey through the park’s diverse forests and ecosystems.
Free!
Friday, April 25, 2025
City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals Walk at Alley Pond Park
at Adventure Course Parking Lot (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and learn how to make iNaturalist observations of any other signs of nature you find along the way.
Free!
Saturday, April 26, 2025
City Nature Challenge: Pelham Bay Park Bio Blitz
at Pelham Bay Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
For the City Nature Challenge, join NYC Parks staff on a hike around Pelham Bay Park to explore the diversity of spring wildflowers and other species.
Free!
Event
City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals Walk at Alley Pond Park
at Adventure Course Parking Lot (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and learn how to make iNaturalist observations of any other signs of nature you find along the way.
Free!
Sunday, April 27, 2025
City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals Walk at Forest Park
at Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South (in Forest Park), Queens
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and learn how to make iNaturalist observations of any other signs of nature you find along the way.
Free!
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Cross Country Course Volunteer Days
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Cross Country Course Volunteer Days
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
%7Cutmcsr%3D(direct)%7Cutmcmd%3D(none)%3B%2B__utmv%3D76517370.-%3B)