I Biked to Forest Park Queens. My Thighs Won't Forgive Me
Okay, let me be upfront: I made a mistake on this one. I decided to bring my bike, thinking it would make the trip easier and more efficient. It did not.
I didn’t have a phone mount with me, so navigating while riding was a nightmare. Each time I needed directions, I had to stop. I pulled out my phone and checked the route. Then I memorized the next few turns and hoped for the best. And by the time I actually got there, my thighs were completely done. If you live close to Forest Park, Queens — I hate you, genuinely.
That said, the parks themselves? Absolutely worth it. If you want urban hikes in NYC that feel like real nature, not just a manicured lawn, try this combo. I did not expect it to deliver so well. Here’s how the day went.
First stop: Highland Park and the Ridgewood Reservoir
Before reaching Forest Park, I came across Highland Park. It sits on the Brooklyn-Queens border. It connects directly to the Brooklyn Queens Greenway.
For anyone hiking in Queens, NY, this spot tends to fly completely under the radar — and it really shouldn’t. Most people I know have never even heard of it, which honestly makes it better.
The park is built around the Ridgewood Reservoir, which once served as a major water source for Brooklyn. I only learned that from the sign posted at the entrance, and honestly, it made the whole place feel more significant. You’re not just looking at a pretty body of water — you’re looking at infrastructure that used to keep an entire borough running. That kind of history hidden inside a city park is exactly what ExploreGreenNYC exists to find.
The reservoir is split into three sections: Basin 1, 2, and 3. Basin 2 sits in the middle and feels like a quiet lake, calm and open, with birds gathering along the water’s edge.
I rode the yellow dotted path along the outer perimeter — you’re not going inside the basins themselves, but you don’t need to be. From the path, you can already see how dense and forested Basins 1 and 3 are on either side, with trees growing freely right up to the water’s edge. It looks almost untouched, like the city just forgot about it, and the trees took over. In a good way.
Birdwatchers, this one is definitely for you. The Ridgewood Reservoir is a known birdwatching destination in NYC, and even just riding the perimeter path, you can see why. The combination of open water and dense surrounding forest creates the kind of habitat birds love. I didn’t see anything rare on my visit, but I wasn’t really looking either — I was mostly focused on not falling off my bike.
Then: Forest Park hiking trails, Queens
From Highland Park, Forest Park in Queens isn’t too far. Please bring water if you’re biking from Brooklyn.
That stretch will truly humble you. I arrived around 7 pm, so the light was already starting to fade, which meant I wasn’t going to spend too long on the trails.
But even a shorter visit was enough to understand why people keep coming back.
When you first enter the park, you start on the main paved road, which is wide, smooth, and completely manageable on a bike.
There were walkers, joggers, people with dogs — it felt alive in that easy, low-key way that good city parks do.
But once you head off the main road and into the actual hiking trails in Queens, NY, everything changes. The surface shifts.
Some parts have gravel and exposed roots. This can make biking feel much riskier than it did five minutes ago.
I saw a few cyclists out there doing it anyway, navigating the uneven terrain like it was nothing.
I respected it. I also nearly fell twice on a flat section, so take that for what it’s worth.
The trails are color-coded — blue, yellow, orange, and red — and the name “Forest Park” really earns itself once you’re inside.
Dense canopy overhead, fallen logs across the path, light filtering down through the leaves in patches.
It feels genuinely wild for something located inside New York City.
At one point, deep in the hiking trails, I spotted a Northern Cardinal cutting through the trees and tried to get a photo.
He was not interested in being photographed. I don’t blame him.
There was also a sign for free guided meditation sessions here on Thursday evenings.
It offered walking meditation on the trails, under the trees.
I didn’t stop to do it, but I did think about it for a second. I didn’t expect that in a Queens park on a Wednesday night. If anyone has actually done one of those sessions, please let me know how it went in the comments.Practical notes: Bring water — more than you think you need. Get a phone mount if you’re biking, seriously. The trails are color-coded and well-marked, but it’s easy to lose your bearings deep in the forest.
It gets harder when the light starts to fade. Plan to arrive earlier than I did.
Would I go back?
Yes — but on foot next time, and starting from the Queens side, so I’m not destroying my legs before I even get there. As far as places to hike in NYC go, this combination punches well above its weight. The Highland Park reservoir alone is worth a dedicated visit — it’s calm, it’s historic, and it genuinely feels hidden even though it’s sitting in the middle of one of the most densely populated cities in the world.