Hiking in New York: Exploring Inwood Hill Park
When people think about hiking in New York, most imagine traveling far outside the city to find real trails and forests. But after visiting Inwood Hill Park, I realized that one of the best hiking spots in NYC is actually hidden inside Manhattan itself.
If you are searching for hiking near NYC by train, this park is one of the easiest places to reach. you need to take two train the D train to 59 St-Columbus Circle and from there take the A train all the way to the last stop, and from there the park is only a short walk away. That convenience makes it one of the most accessible hiking trails NYC has for people who do not own a car. At first, the park looks like a normal city park. There are open grassy areas, benches facing the Hudson River, and spaces where people sit and relax. But once you move deeper into the park, the environment completely changes. The deeper trails feel less like Manhattan and more like a forest hidden inside New York City.
The entrance I used was located near Shorakkopoch Rock, one of the historical landmarks inside the park. According to the information posted there, this area is connected to the Lenape people and the traditional story of Peter Minuit’s 1626 agreement that eventually led to the Dutch acquiring Manhattan Island. Reading about that history before entering the trails gave the experience a completely different feeling. It made the park feel older and more meaningful than just another hiking trail near NYC.
As I continued walking, the scenery changed quickly. The paved park paths disappeared and were replaced with dirt trails, steep hills, rocky paths, and thick trees that blocked out much of the city noise. The deeper I went into the trails, the cooler the air felt. Even though it was quieter and calmer, the hills still made the hike physically challenging.
Honestly, this is where the adventure started because I got completely lost.
At the beginning of the trail there were two directions: left and right. I picked the left path without thinking too much about it. Eventually I started moving from one trail to another, ignoring some of the trail markers painted on the trees. The park actually does a good job marking the hiking trails, but once you stop paying attention it becomes surprisingly easy to get lose.
While trying to find my way back, I suddenly came across a highway. That moment honestly confused me because during most of the hike I barely heard any traffic at all. It felt strange seeing cars again after spending so much time surrounded by trees and hills. After asking a few people for help, they explained that I needed to walk through two tunnels underneath the highway to return toward the main section of the park. After even more walking, I finally realized I had ended up near the Henry Hudson Bridge. Later I understood that if I had chosen the trail on the right at the beginning instead of the left one, I probably would have reached that area much fast.
Even though getting lost was frustrating in the moment, it honestly made the experience more memorable. For anyone looking for hiking in New York without leaving the city, Inwood Hill Park is one of the best places to hike in NYC. Between the forest-like trails, the Hudson River views, and the history connected to the Lenape people, the park feels completely different from the typical image most people have of Manhattan.