Riverside Park Hiking Trails

With the original 1875 schematic design by Frederick Law Olmsted, and a significant westward expansion in the 1930s under the administration of Park Commissioner Robert Moses, Riverside Park has become an iconic destination known for its beautiful outdoor space, scenic views of the Hudson River, outdoor recreation and meandering forest trails. This historic park stretches for four miles along the Hudson River from 72nd to 158th Street and is one of only eleven officially designated scenic landmarks in NYC. One of the best times to visit the park is during the spring to view the blooming cherry blossoms and crab apples or during the summer to view one of the most significant remaining cultivated stands of American elms (Ulmus americanus) in the country on Riverside Drive. With a blend of recreational space and green ecosystems, visitors can take advantage of active and passive recreation opportunities such as playgrounds, tennis courts and the Hudson River Greenway.

The northern section of the park is home to a NYC Parks Forever Wild Area featuring a black cherry successional forest full of native trees and shrubs such as smooth arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), winged sumac (Rhus copallinum), oaks (Quercus spp.) and black cherry (Prunus serotina). The diverse ecosystem provides excellent habitat for birds such as gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis), blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), and peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus). The area contains a native Pollinator Meadow populated with many species of wildflowers which serves as critical habitat for bees and other pollinator species.

Since 1986, the Riverside Park Conservancy has worked with NYC Parks in a symbiotic relationship to steward and care for the park through volunteer stewardship, natural resource management via their Woodland Restoration Initiative and community engagement. Since 2019, the conservancy has employed goats to help manage the natural area through their “Goatham” project which has become very popular with park visitors.

Blue Trail: This 0.57 mile trail loop offers an easy-moderate walk that takes visitors along the ridge that traverses a forever wild forest full of sweet gum (Liquidamber styraciflua) sweet birch (Betula lenta), black cherry (Prunus serotina) and shrubs such as elderberry (Sambucus) and raspberry (Rubus spp.). The trail is best accessed from the park entrance at 116th Street and Riverside Drive. The trail passes through the Bird Sanctuary which provides a safe haven and bird a watching opportunity for many species of birds such as the red bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), American robin (Turdus migratorius) and tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor). The section of trail north of the 119th Street Tennis Courts is home to the Pollinator Meadow which serves as important habitat for native pollinators.

Interactive Map

Download the Riverside Park Trail Guide.

Points of Interest

Pollinator Meadow

The Pollinator Meadow is a native grassland meadow currently located northern of the 119th Street Tennis Courts. This area is still a work in progress, but aims to host a diversity of plants such as swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta) to create critical habitat for pollinators in NYC. Key butterfly species that visit the meadow include monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and black swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes). In 2021, the Riverside Park Conservancy installed bee houses in the pollinator meadow to provide shelter for native bees such as mason bees (Osmia) and sweat bees (Halictidae). The scenic point is best accessed through the Blue Trail at 116th and Riverside Drive.

View Pollinator Meadow on the map

Women’s Protective Health Association Fountain

Located along Riverside Drive at 116th Street, this marble stele and drinking fountain was designed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Woman’s Health Protective Association (WHPA) NYC Chapter in 1909. Dedicated in 1910, the fountain depicts two female figures holding a lamp. These forms were representative of the Association’s efforts to shed light on the public health issues facing women.

View Women’s Protective Health Association Fountain 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.