The tower before the bridge
Start at Highbridge Park on the Manhattan side, at 173rd Street and Amsterdam. Most people miss the water tower entirely, which sits on a hill above the bridge approach. Built in 1872, this stone cylinder rises 200 feet and looks like it belongs in a Tuscan village, not northern Manhattan. The interior spiral staircase opens to the public on weekends from April through October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Climb the 124 steps and you'll find yourself above the treetops with views across the Harlem River that make the Bronx look oddly pastoral. The observation deck wraps around the top in a narrow circle. Stand on the northwest quadrant for the best sight line down to the bridge itself. On clear days, you can trace the entire aqueduct system that once carried Croton water into the city. The towerkeeper's cottage at the base now serves as a small exhibition space with historical photographs showing the bridge when it still carried water pipes.
The crossing itself
The High Bridge stretches 1,450 feet across the Harlem River, and walking it takes about eight minutes at a normal pace. The span dates to 1848, originally built as part of the Croton Aqueduct system with fifteen stone arches. In the 1920s, five arches were replaced with a single steel span to improve river navigation. You'll notice the shift in architecture about halfway across. The bridge reopened for pedestrians in 2015 after closing in 1970 due to safety concerns. Now it's painted a distinctive blue-green, with metal railings and wooden plank decking. The best time to walk is early morning, around 7 a.m., when joggers from both boroughs use it as a training loop and the light hits the water at an angle that turns the river bronze. Avoid weekend afternoons between noon and 3 p.m. when school groups and family crowds pack the walkway. The bridge sits 140 feet above the water, high enough that you feel the wind differently up here.
The Bronx landing
The Bronx side deposits you at West 170th Street in Highbridge, a neighborhood that feels more residential than its Manhattan counterpart. The immediate landing area includes a small plaza with benches and a water fountain. Turn right and walk uphill on Ogden Avenue for two blocks to reach Highbridge Park's Bronx section. This side of the park sprawls across 130 acres with baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and a public pool complex that opens in summer. The recreation center at 1234 Ogden Avenue has restrooms and water fountains. If you're hungry, walk three blocks east on 170th to find a cluster of Dominican bakeries and lunch counters along Jerome Avenue. The bridge itself has no facilities, no water fountains, no restrooms. Plan accordingly. The Manhattan approach includes a steep ramp system that zigzags down the hillside, while the Bronx side offers a more gradual descent.
The aqueduct trail
From the Bronx landing, you can pick up the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, which follows the original water system's path northward. The trail runs intermittently through the Bronx, sometimes as a paved path, sometimes as painted markings on sidewalks. Head north on Ogden Avenue and look for the green trail markers. Within a mile, you'll reach the University Heights Bridge, another crossing point back to Manhattan if you want to make a loop. The aqueduct trail continues north all the way to Westchester County, though the urban sections require street navigation and aren't always clearly marked. Serious walkers can follow it to Van Cortlandt Park, about four miles from the High Bridge. The trail passes through residential blocks where the buried aqueduct runs directly beneath the street. Occasionally you'll spot stone ventilation towers, smaller cousins of the main water tower, marking the aqueduct's route.
The swimming pool detour
In summer, the Highbridge Pool on the Manhattan side opens to the public. Located at Amsterdam Avenue and 173rd Street, right near the water tower, this Olympic-sized pool operates from late June through Labor Day. Admission is free with valid ID. The pool complex was renovated in 2007 and includes a smaller wading pool for children. Hours run 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily during season, though they sometimes close for maintenance or weather. The pool sits in a natural amphitheater formed by the park's hills, which provides wind protection and creates surprisingly warm microclimates on sunny days. Lockers cost one dollar. The facility gets crowded on weekends, but weekday afternoons around 2 p.m. offer lap swimming space. The pool's western edge overlooks the bridge approach, so you can watch pedestrians heading to the span while you swim.
The longer walk
Treat the High Bridge as a starting point rather than a destination. From the Manhattan tower, walk south through Highbridge Park along the river path. The park stretches nearly two miles down to 155th Street, following the Harlem River's edge. This section includes forest trails, rocky outcroppings, and overlooks where you can watch Metro-North trains running along the opposite bank. The path quality varies from paved sections to dirt trails. Wear proper walking shoes. At 155th Street, you can exit to the Macombs Dam Bridge and cross back into the Bronx near Yankee Stadium, creating a five-mile loop. Alternatively, continue south to Riverbank State Park at 145th Street, built on top of a sewage treatment plant with a track, skating rink, and cultural center. The entire riverside greenway from the High Bridge down to Riverbank takes about ninety minutes to walk at a steady pace.
Practical notes
The High Bridge connects West 173rd Street in Manhattan to West 170th Street in the Bronx. Access the Manhattan side via the 1 train to 175th Street, then walk west on 173rd toward Amsterdam Avenue. The Bronx approach is accessible via the 4 train to 170th Street, then walk west on 170th toward Ogden Avenue. The bridge is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. No bicycles are permitted. The water tower opens weekends only, April through October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Admission is free. No food vendors operate on the bridge or in the immediate approach areas. The nearest restrooms are at the Bronx recreation center at 1234 Ogden Avenue or in Highbridge Park's sports complex on the Manhattan side. The walk across takes eight to ten minutes. Both sides include steep hills and ramps. The bridge offers no shade and can be hot in summer. Bring water.
Tags: #HighBridge #WashingtonHeights #TheBronx #NYCBridges #HarlemRiver #HighbridgePark #CrotonAqueduct #NYCWalking #HiddenNYC #ManhattanWalks #BronxWalks #NYCHistory #PedestrianBridge #NYCParks #TheLongWayHome
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
