Getting out and into New York City’s Nature!
Last updated on May 17th, 2026 at 10:23 am
New York City nature – it does exist!
Last time I went to New York, I was not even remotely excited – other than to see my daughter who was living in Manhattan (which was very exciting). I’d seen ‘the sights’ and many of them left me cold. Times Square was a gaudy noisy flashy place in my books. And much as I love architecture and places like the Occulus for that architecture, I needed something a bit more au naturel than that.
And so my wild side New York guide begins – I found places that I could enjoy and hope that you – the nature traveller can use these as respite between the “must-do” sights of NYC!
First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. Yes, they are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels, and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content. Cheers!
Planning for your trip
Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!
Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!
Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.
Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.
Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains
Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site
Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!
Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. Great options in NYC are
- the New York Explorer pass
- Governors Island Ferry Ticket and App Guided Tour
- Central Park Bike Rental In New York City
Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!
Okay lets get on with where to find New York City nature!
20 places to find New York City Nature
All these places are reachable using the subway, buses and ferries. I have grouped them into the five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island. I also included one space that is technically not New York city nature – but it is pretty close by in New Jersey!
1. Central park – the most famous of all New York City nature spots!
Central Park – a NYC icon – was the first landscaped park in the United States and is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated 42 million visitors a year. It is 843 acres and first opened to the public in 1858. It has several hundred species of flora and fauna and so many things to do and see as well as plenty of walking paths and trails, that it would take a day or two to really see it all!
There are a few trails in the park you will find on AllTrails here.
You can also hire a bike with this Central Park Bike Rental In New York City or you can choose one of many scooter or pedicab tours in the park.
2. Greenacre Park & Paley Park – Central Manhattan
I’m mentioning both of these as they have waterfalls!! Very urban waterfalls – but the sound of water is always nice. Paley Park is tiny – but cute. Even though there is no grass, there are plenty of trees so it’s nicely shaded. It is a bit of an Instagram and cafe stop now so you might be better to try Greenacre Park which is only a few blocks away.
Greenacre Park also has a waterfall and is also tiny – but it is a bit more park-like! little enclave in the city. The atmosphere is relaxing and a great place to bring your bagel and rest amid the scurrying of NYC. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way for this little park, but if you’re in the neighborhood, it’s a great place to take a break!
3. Governors Island – Lower Manhattan
This island just below Manhattan has a lot of nice walking paths and historical forts to explore. When you climb the hill on the southern section of the island, it also has the most amazing views of Lower Manhattan, Liberty Island and New Jersey. Lie in a hammock and relax for an afternoon enjoying the cool breezes. It is such a nice escape from the City and all the traffic.
With this Governors Island Ferry Ticket and App Guided Tour, you can also learn a lot more about the island while you walk at your own pace.
You can also really relax at the QC NY Spa on Governors Island after your walk. Relax and soak in the spa and the Manhattan skyline!
There is a loop trail around the island you will find on AllTrails here.
4. The High Line – Central Manhattan
This is a gem of an urban park – I really enjoyed it and its one of my favorite New York City nature spots. It is a repurposed old abandoned railway line which has been converted into a beautiful city space. It’s a nice walk, with many entrance and exit points, beautiful city views, unique art installations, and plenty of greenery.
Unfortunately it seems to have got really popular so may not be a peaceful oasis at all times of the day – although I’m sure you can find a quiet space along the lines somewhere.
You will find the High Line on AllTrails here
5. Inwood Hill Park – Upper Manhattan
Just north of Fort Tyron Park, Inwood Hill Park has a long riverfront and is one of the biggest parks in NYC! It is really special as it has some of the only virgin forest left in Manhattan, and the views of the Hudson River are amazing. You can also find the historical rock marker where Manhattan Island was bought by the Dutch from the Native Americans.
There are a few trails in the park you will find on AllTrails here.
6. Fort Tryon Park & The Cloisters- Upper Manhattan
Right alongside the Hudson river is 67 acres of public parkland – Fort Tyron Park. It has lovely woodland as well as beautiful flower gardens, and some great walking trails. There is one that takes you up the hill to visit the Met Cloisters (Museum).
The Met Cloisters is the second part of the Met Museum – it is a showcase of medieval architecture built to make the Middle Ages more real to visitors to the museum.
There is a trail in the park going through to Inwood Hill Park you will find on AllTrails here.
7. Little Island at Hudson River Park – Central Manhattan
I loved this little place. Quiet and peaceful – and so I sat for ages watching the world go by on the river and in the city. It was winter at the time and it will be busier in summer, but time it right and you should be able to find a peaceful spot too!
Little Island Park is a 2.4-acre “floating” public park right on the Hudson River. (It replaced the crumbling Pier 54- where survivors of the Titanic were brought.) The park was mainly funded by the billionaire Barry Diller and designed by Thomas Heatherwick (who also designed The Vessel in Hudson Yards). The 280 concrete piles look like a lot of heels (from high heeled shoes)! the gardens were really pretty too!
8. Liberty Island & the Sculpture Garden – Manhattan
The Statue of Liberty needs no introduction. It was a gift from the people of France in the year 1886 and has been iconic NYC ever since it was raised on Liberty Island. You can walk around the whole island, getting views from different angles on New York and New Jersey and enjoying the river and trees in the garden spaces.
The Sculpture Garden is a row of sculptures of the most important people involved in the creation and construction of the Statue of Liberty and its pedestal. You will see statues of Edouard de Laboulaye, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, Joseph Pulitzer, and Emma Lazrus.
You will find the Statue of Liberty National Monument Loop on AllTrails here.
9. Liberty State Park – New Jersey (but counting it as New York City nature!)
This park sits on the Hudson river with the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in full view. There is a great loop hike around the Liberty State Park which gives you iconic views of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the 9/11 Open Sky Memorial, as well as fields, salt marshes and the Hudson River.
You will find best trails in the park on AllTrails here.
10. Brooklyn Bridge Park – Brooklyn
Brooklyn Bridge Park is an 85-acre park on the Brooklyn side of the East River. It is a space where you can take a breath and take in the superb views of Lower Manhattan and the harbor. There is a promenade with six piers – all quite different. This was once a wasteland so it shows what can be done when hearts and minds are set to it!
11. Brooklyn Green Wood Cemetery – Brooklyn
This is a 478-acre cemetery – but no ordinary cemetery – apart from its size! You will see both history buffs and bird watchers here – as well as people just escaping the hustle and bustle! Green-Wood is a Revolutionary War historic site (the Battle of Long Island was fought in 1776 in these grounds) and it is a designated site on the Civil War Discovery Trail!
There is a trail in the cemetery you will find on AllTrails here.
12. The Ravine at Prospect Park & Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Brooklyn
Visit in spring for beautiful blooming cherry trees and daffodils! This is Brooklyns version of Central Park and really worth some time to visit – apart from giving you 150 acres of green space and quiet. It has all the w’s – woodlands, waterways, and wildlife. The Ravine – between the Long Meadow and the Nethermead – is Brooklyn’s only forest and here you can enjoy listening to water flowing or falling through the park and forget the city is around you for a while.
There are a few trails in the park you will find on AllTrails here.
You can explore alone or go on a 2-hour tour of the park and learn more about the park as well.
The Botanic garden is side by side with the park and has 52 acres of plants from around the world. You do need to pay to enter these gardens though. If you buy a New York Explorer pass it is one of the options included in that.
13. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge – Brooklyn / Queens
Close to JFK Airport, this refuge is simply wonderful. Plenty of birds – and you will see a few birders with long lenses – but not many others! I loved the contrast between the secluded natural landscape and the NYC skyline in the distance. (I can’t decide if this or the Bronx Park was my favorite New York City nature spot – just because it felt very far from the city yet I could see the skyline and was very near JFK!) At the end of the trail is the North Channel Bridge Fishing Area, and access to a sandy beach.
There are a few trails in the park and you will find my favorite on AllTrails here.
14. Flushing Meadows Corona Park – Queens
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was built for the World’s Fair, became a stage for the U.S. Open’s brightest stars, and has been the backyard green space for generations of Queens’ immigrant communities. Now the park is trendy – with its fountain and massive globe, pretty spring blossoms, and renovations of many of the sports facilities etc in the park. There are plenty of trees for shade on hot summer days and plenty of walking paths.
There are a few trails in the park you will find on AllTrails here.
15. Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach – the Bronx
Pelham Bay Park is the largest park in NYC – three times the size of Central Park with almost 3,000 acres of forest, marshland and shoreline. There are literally miles of bridle paths and hiking trails, Orchard Beach (artificial), the Bartow-Pell Mansion, two golf courses, and 13-miles of saltwater shoreline along Long Island Sound.
There are a few trails in the park you will find on AllTrails here. The Hunter Bay loop is a good
16. New York Botanical Garden and Bronx Park – the Bronx
This is a lovely area with 50 fabulous gardens, indoor rain forests and deserts, and 50 acres of native forest, a restored river running through woodland, green hills, and paths and trails all over the place. (The Christmas lights in the Botanic Gardens are lovely at that time of year too!)
You can find one walk around the park on AllTrails here – but explore yourself as well.
17. Clay Pit Ponds State Park – Staten Island
In the south of Staten Island is this little gem – a 265-acre nature preserve with wetlands, sand barrens, ponds, and hiking trails.
It was once a mining site for white kaolin clay but the abandoned pits are now filled with rain and spring water making it a fantastic haven for frogs, turtles and birds. It is a Bird Conservation Area with 180 bird species, including 57 species of migratory songbirds.
There is an easy loop walk around the park that you can find on AllTrails here.
18. Snug Harbor Botanical Garden – Staten island
This is a Botanical Garden and manicured, but its still a nice green space with a lot of points of interest. And it has quite the history! Snug Harbor came about because of the will of Robert Richard Randall, who died in 1801. The will gave the family fortune and estate to build and operate a haven for “aged, decrepit, and worn-out sailors.”
100 years later it was a wealthy self-sustaining organisation with farms, hospital and much more. But by the mid 1950s it was all coming to an end with social services looking after sailors. Buildings were demolished, but luckily activists in the 70s convinced the city to buy the land and buildings. Today we have the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden thanks to this.
The gardens run many programmes and events. There is a small $5 entrance fee (at the time of writing) but you get plenty for your money!
19. Great Kills Park – Staten Island
Great Kills Park has four beaches: New Dorp Beach; Cedar Grove Beach; Oakwood Beach; and Fox Beach, which are its main attraction. These beaches and wetlands help fight against erosion and flooding in nearby neighborhoods. It has a multi-use path, hiking and biking trails, fishing areas, a marina and a boat launch!
There is a great waterside trail in the park you will find on AllTrails here.
20. Silver Lake Park – Staten Island
This is a 209 acre park, and was created as a response to Manhattan’s Central Park and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for the residents of Staten Island. It has a huge lake as its centerpiece, as well as an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, sports fields, and many areas of perfect picnic style grasslands and walking paths.
There are a few trails in the park you will find on AllTrails here.
Frequently asked questions for travel to New York City
Q: Is New York City safe for tourists?
A: Generally yes – especially in the highly touristed areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Take normal precautions and stick to high traffic areas at night.
Q: What is the best time to visit NYC?
A: Shoulder seasons – spring (April–May) and fall (September–November)! Avoid the heat and the crowds. Enjoy milder weather. But December can be fantastic too with the festive season and Christmas lights and activity!
Q: How many days do you need in NYC?
A: Three days is enough for seeing the basic neighborhoods, major landmarks, going to a show on Broadway, and visiting a museum or two. More days gives you time for more museums and a deeper dive into the city – especially for these wilder nature spaces!
Q: What are the must-see things in NYC?
A: Apart from these parks? 🙂
The key city sights are Times Square, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building
Q: What’s the best way to get around New York City?
A: The best ways to get around are in the subway (tap your phone or card) and to walk!
Travel Tips for New York City
- Book ahead for Broadway and key attractions.
- Take time out to enjoy these green spaces in this post above!
- Stay central so you don’t waste half the day traveling.
- Don’t try and pack too much into a day – don’t over schedule! Stick to 2-3 main activities in a day max! Wear good walking shoes and take water!
- The subway is better than taxis! Its faster and cheaper.
Where to Stay – New York City
If you are visiting NYC, unless you have a specific place you want to be in, I recommend being in Manhattan – near a subway station! That way you are really quite central to all the things you might want to do and to all these great New York City nature places!
Book a hotel with booking.com
or
a hostel with Hostelworld – like the American Dream Hostel or the International Student Center.
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