Inwood Hill Park Park
Large Manhattan park preserving old-growth forest
A natural park at Manhattan's northern tip, Inwood Hill Park offers old-growth forest, salt marshes, walking trails and Lenape historical sites-popular for hikes, birdwatching and picnic outings.
Inwood Hill Park at a Glance#
Address: Inwood Hill Park, Broadway & Isham St, New York, NY 10034, United States
Website: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwood-hill-park
Hours: Daily 6am-1am
Admission: Free
About Inwood Hill Park#
Inwood Hill Park is a large public park at the northern tip of Manhattan in New York City, preserving natural forest, glacial rock outcrops and a salt marsh. It is one of the borough’s principal natural areas and offers trails and shoreline access.
The park contains carriage roads and footpaths, dedicated recreational spaces such as ballfields and playgrounds, and extensive wooded slopes that are used for walking and birdwatching. The shoreline areas include tidal marsh and rocky shoreline stretches along the Hudson and Harlem rivers.
Archaeological evidence in the park includes Native American sites and shell middens showing pre-colonial use of the area. The park has also served as an urban recreational space throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, with facilities for organized sports and informal waterfront recreation.
The park sits at Manhattan’s northernmost neighborhood of Inwood, bounded by the Hudson River to the west and the Harlem River to the east, adjacent to the residential streets around Dyckman and Isham.
- Park area and character: Covers roughly 196 acres of natural woods, salt marsh and recreational space at Manhattan’s northern tip.
What to See#
- Salt marsh and shoreline: A stretch of natural estuarine marsh and reedbeds along the park’s shoreline, providing habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds.
- Native forest and glacial outcrops: Forest and old-growth stands on park slopes that represent one of the last remaining pockets of pre-colonial forest in Manhattan, with walking trails through mature trees and glacial rock outcrops.
- Recreation and picnic areas: Recreational facilities including sports fields, playgrounds and picnic areas located in the southern portion of the park adjacent to the neighborhood.
How to Get to Inwood Hill Park#
Inwood Hill Park is at the northern tip of Manhattan (Inwood). Take the NYC Subway A train to Inwood-207th Street; from that station it’s a short walk (typically 5-15 minutes depending on which entrance you use) to the park’s trails and waterfront. The park is also served by Manhattan local buses and is a short taxi ride from other parts of northern Manhattan.
Tips for Visiting Inwood Hill Park#
- Access the park from the Inwood-207th St area (A train) to reach the main paths quickly; arriving early on weekdays will find the trails much quieter than weekend afternoons.
- Explore the riverside salt marshes and the park's remnant native forest - these are distinctive features many visitors miss when they stick to the high rocky overlooks.
- Head to the Hudson-facing bluffs near sunset for wide river views and photographic light; the park's topography gives unexpectedly open vistas compared with much of Manhattan.
Best Time to Visit Inwood Hill Park#
Visit Inwood Hill Park in spring or autumn for comfortable weather and active wildlife viewing while avoiding peak summer crowds.
Weather & Climate near Inwood Hill Park#
Inwood Hill Park's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -5°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1185 mm/year), wettest in May, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -5° - 3° | -6° | 93 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -4° - 5° | -4° | 75 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 0° - 10° | 1° | 103 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 5° - 16° | 10° | 104 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 10° - 22° | 16° | 110 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 15° - 26° | 21° | 92 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 19° - 29° | 24° | 109 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 18° - 28° | 23° | 107 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 14° - 24° | 19° | 103 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 8° - 18° | 13° | 91 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 3° - 12° | 5° | 104 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -2° - 6° | -2° | 94 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |