Walk Manhattan's Last Natural Forest Above the Hudson
Walk Manhattan's last natural forest: Fort Tryon Park's gardens above the Hudson and Inwood Hill Park's wooded trails, two uptown ways to leave the grid.
Fort Tryon Park: Gardens Above Manhattan
Fort Tryon Park offers a quiet starting point for a walk with river views. Its well-lit paved walking paths wind through greenery, with vantage points over the Hudson River toward the Palisades. The Heather Garden adds a planted setting for a wander. Public park hours run daily from 6:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day. The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is also within the park.
Inwood Hill Park: Forest Trails Above the River
Inwood Hill Park brings a hillier walk to the uptown riverfront. Three distinct trails pass old-growth trees and caves, with occasional bald eagle sightings. Overlook Meadow opens toward the Henry Hudson Bridge, then the terrain slopes to a dog run by the salt marsh and the riverfront. Flatter edges add ball fields, sports courts, and playgrounds. Restrooms are on site, and the park is open daily from 6:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day.
Manhattan Gardens and Woods in Perspective
Fort Tryon Park and Inwood Hill Park offer contrasting expressions of the Hudson landscape. The first frames river views toward the Palisades with paved paths and the Heather Garden. The second brings hilly woodland, old-growth trees and caves, with Overlook Meadow facing the Henry Hudson Bridge. Their shared river setting connects planted scenery with natural forest, while the terrain gives each a different character. Together, they show how much an uptown walk can vary in its surroundings.
