From Moynihan to Little Island, on Paths That Didn't Exist
A 2.7-mile walk for a friend who left before the West Side changed. No tickets and no admission fee; dinner at Market 57 is the only spend. Start three and a half hours before sunset so the light lands at Little Island, then finish on the Pier 57 roof. From December the High Line closes at 8 PM.
🗺️ Four stops along the West Side
🚉 Start under the skylight
Start under the Great Hall skylight, an acre of glass 92 feet above the old post office floor. The 33rd Street entry holds Kehinde Wiley's stained-glass ceiling. Leave by 8th Avenue and walk west through Manhattan West to the High Line, about 15 minutes. The hall is open 5 AM to 1 AM daily, and the Connector bridge reaches the park without a street crossing.
🌿 South on the old freight line
Walk south from the 30th Street entrance. The elevated path runs 1.5 miles to Gansevoort Street, about 35 minutes without stops. Stop at 10th Avenue Square at 17th Street, where a window opens over the traffic. Gates run 7 AM to 10 PM through November.
🌅 The island on the stilts
The High Line ends at Gansevoort Street. Cross to Gansevoort Peninsula in five minutes, then walk five minutes north to Little Island at West 13th. Climb to the Southwest Overlook for the downtown skyline before sunset. Entry is free; hours run 6 AM to 9 PM from 1 November to 31 December, and as late as midnight in midsummer.
🥟 Dinner at the end of the pier
Pier 57 is two blocks north of Little Island, a six-minute backtrack. Market 57 and Nom Wah both serve 11 AM to 8 PM daily; kiosk times vary. Eat after sunset from September to April; in summer, eat first and reach the island for the 8:30 PM light. The south railing looks straight down on the island, and the roof stays open to 1 AM.
