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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, October 16, 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!
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Conference House Tours
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 4 pm until December 13th.
Open House New York: Mount Morris Fire Watchtower
at Mount Morris Fire Watchtower (in Marcus Garvey Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers discuss the significance and history of this recently restored structure. Open access from 1pm to 2:45pm.
Free!
Thursday, October 23, 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!
Adult Hike - Paulo’s Peak
at Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Enjoy this Autumn Hike as we make our way through Seaview Meadow amongst the aster flowers and creeks.
Free!
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Idlewild Park Tree and Shrub Planting
at Idlewild Park Preserve Environmental Science Learning Center (in Idlewild Park), Queens
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to plant trees in the forest of Idlewild Park! Trees provide so many benefits to New Yorkers, such as improved air and water quality, reduced pollution, and lower energy costs.
Free!
Howl-oween Doggie Day Hike
at Eton Place Parking Lot (in Willowbrook Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Dress your pet in a costume and see who's the best. Take a stroll through the forest with your four legged friend on this dog-friendly hike. Dogs are required to be on-leash.
Free!
Great Trees of Tompkins Square Park
at Avenue A and St. Marks Place (in Tompkins Square Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Trees have a special place in our environment. Join us for a hike of Tompkins Square Park in search of different species and learn some ways to identify these trees during the fall
Free!
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Great Trees of Prospect Park
at Parkside Avenue and South Lake Drive (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Trees have a special place in our environment. Join us for a hike of Prospect Park in search of different species and learn some ways to identify these trees during the autumn season.
Free!
Conference House Tours
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 4 pm until December 13th.
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!
Nocturnal Creatures and Wildlife Hike
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for an exploration of nighttime insects and other nocturnal forest creatures. Meet organisms that only come out at night and how to best observe them
Free!
Thursday, October 30, 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!
Friday, October 31, 2025
Halloween Hike to Heyerdahl Hill
at Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join us for a scenic autumn hike through the central Greenbelt, where we will observe the fall foliage, flora, and fauna.
Free!
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Idlewild Park Tree and Shrub Planting
at Idlewild Park Preserve Environmental Science Learning Center (in Idlewild Park), Queens
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to plant trees in the forest of Idlewild Park!
Free!
Queens County Parks Super Hike
at Unisphere (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a 15-mile super hike across the borough of Queens! Registration required. Registration opens on Monday October 20
Free!
Spooky Staten Island History Hike
at Forest Avenue and Silver Lake Park Road (in Silver Lake Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Halloween may be over but the spooky season stays strong! Join the Rangers to explore the weird, spooky and strange in Staten Island’s history.
Free!
Sunday, November 2, 2025
Fall Foliage Hike
at Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South (in Forest Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Discover the beauty of Forest Park on a colorful autumn hike with the Urban Park Rangers. Maple, oak and hickory are some of the most colorful species we will see.
Free!
Native American Heritage Month: Lenape Folktales
at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as they lead a walk around Snug Harbor to enjoy the beautiful landscape and learn about the Lenape’s traditional practice of oral storytelling.
Free!
Conference House Tours
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 4 pm until December 13th.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Fall Foliage: Accessible Views from the Garden
at Wave Hill, Bronx
1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.
Enjoy colorful foliage at its seasonal peak.
Thursday, November 6, 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, November 8, 2025
Plants and Habitat for Migrating Birds
at Wave Hill, Bronx
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Plants play an important role in the journey of migrating birds, join us for an autumn birding walk.
Long Pond Park 25th Anniversary Hike
at Long Pond Park, Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Long Pond Park celebrates 25 years as a NYC Park. Take a guided hike with park naturalists, arborists and historians to hear about the many wonderful aspects of this ‘hiding in plain site’ gem.
Free!
Discovery Hike: Nature's Lightbulbs
at Lewis H Latimer House, Queens
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Learn about the many ways the natural world produces light of its own using bioluminescence and the person who gave us the carbon filament light bulb, Lewis Latimer.
Free!
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Native American Heritage Month: Lenape Botany
at Park Drive East and 73rd Street (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
During Native American Heritage Month, explore the past and present experience of Native Americans.
Free!
Discovery Hike: Camouflaged Critters
at Potter Avenue and Royal Oak Road (in Clove Lakes Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Learn about the urban wildlife which can hide easily in our parks to stay safe. Rangers will bring you on a hike to explore and identify wildlife.
Free!
Conference House Tours
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 4 pm until December 13th.
Thursday, November 13, 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, November 15, 2025
Native American Heritage Month: Turtle Island
at American Veterans Memorial Pier, Brooklyn
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as we discuss the history and ongoing legacy of the first peoples who called this region home
Free!
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Conference House Tours
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 4 pm until December 13th.
Birding: Waterfowl
at Entrance - Baisley Blvd. & 157th Street (in Baisley Pond Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Discover which waterfowl have returned for the winter season.
Free!
Native American Heritage Month: The Lenape
at Seaman Avenue and Isham Street (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
During Native American Heritage Month, explore the past and present experience of Native Americans.
Free!
Thursday, November 20, 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, November 22, 2025
Birding: Owls
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn about the behavior and diet of New York City’s most mysterious raptors: owls!
Free!
Native American Heritage Month: Native American Flute Music Presentation
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Enjoy the soothing sounds of Native American flute music inside the Inwood Hill Nature Center.
Free!
The Pelham Bay Super Hike
at Pelham Bay Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–2:00 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. Registration opens Nov 10
Free!
Trails, Sails, and Rails: New York Harbor
at 43rd Street and 1st Avenue (in Bush Terminal Park), Brooklyn
2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a maritime exploration event as we go bird and boat-watching! Learn about the working harbor and its role in global supply chains.
Free!
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Trails, Sails, and Rails: The Malbone Street Wreck
at Lincoln Road Entrance (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Learn about some of the history of New York’s defunct rail lines, including trolley lines and elevated trains.
Free!
Conference House Tours
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 4 pm until December 13th.
It's A Horse of Course Hike and Greet
at Roy Wilkins Park - Entrance (in Roy Wilkins Recreation Center), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Meet and greet our Parks Enforcement Patrol Mounted Unit. Learn more about the gentle giants that patrol our parks. Rangers will also teach about some of the local flora and fauna.
Free!
Friday, November 28, 2025
Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike
at Staten Island Boulevard and Shields Place (in Deere Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
On this Friday, work off your Thanksgiving feast while enjoying the great outdoors. Join the Rangers on a lengthy hike in Deere Park. Boots and/or sneakers required.
Free!
Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: The Alley Giant
at Alley Pond Adventure Course (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
On this Friday, work off your Thanksgiving feast while enjoying the great outdoors. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hike!
Free!
Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: Salt Marsh Nature Trail
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
On this Friday, work off your Thanksgiving feast while enjoying the great outdoors. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hike!
Free!
Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
On this Friday, work off your Thanksgiving feast while enjoying the great outdoors. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hike!
Free!
Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: Northern Manhattan Parks Super Hike
at Margaret Corbin Circle (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
On this Friday, work off your Thanksgiving feast while enjoying the great outdoors. This hike will take you through the hills of Fort Tryon and Inwood Hill Parks.
Free!
Saturday, November 29, 2025
Birding: Owls
at Broadway and Mosholu Avenue (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Explore the northwest woods with the Urban Park Rangers and hunt for clues for our mysterious neighbors, the Great Horned Owl. This program is sure to be a hoot!
Free!
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Conference House Tours
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 4 pm until December 13th.
Central Park Highlights Hike
at West 72nd and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a walk to enjoy the most iconic attractions of Central Park, including Bethesda Fountain, Strawberry Field, Bow Bridge, The Ramble and Belvedere Castle
Free!
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Conference House Tours
at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 4 pm until December 13th.
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