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Inwood Hill Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,558 Google reviews · Running trail in New York, New York · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Inwood Hill Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendlyHillyRestroomsQuiet

Historical & hilly green space with a long river front, sports areas & NYC's last natural forest.

What runners say about Inwood Hill Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (3,558 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“The park is clean and empty; the trails are also well kept.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 18 mentions

“Beautiful park at the top of Manhattan with multiple recreation fields and a top notch trail leading through a beautiful forested cliffside area.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“Inwood Hill Park in uptown NYC is truly a gem, especially during the weekdays when it transforms into a peaceful retreat perfect for enjoying good weather and sunshine.”

This is the only natural forest in Manhattan. Some of the trees are at least 100 years old. The forest contains mature red oak and some of the largest tulip trees in the New York City. Overlook Meadow has great views of the Hudson River. Don’t miss the Clove and the Rock Formations.

★★★★★ — Jennifer , Oct 2023

Great park to visit at the beginning of November to see fall colors. On the plus side it is the last natural forest with salt marsh preserved in Manhattan and easy to get to from the metro stop.

★★★★★ — Alek , Nov 2021

A secluded, majestic haven on the north tip of Manhattan. There are not many lush, unadorned parks like this, places not overcrowded, places where the hiker can wander and explore. Expect a steep elevation, but the exploring is not hard if you're reasonably fit.

★★★★★ — Joshua , Apr 2023

Great place to relax 😌and enjoy nature. Spacious park great for walk and very sinac and spectacular view of the nature🌲🌳🌿. Peacfull and lot sports you can do like running, walking ⚾️ baseball ⚽️ soccer for all ages. It is a dog friendly park 🐕.

★★★★★ — Among , Nov 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 3,558 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 33 mentions

“Beautiful park at the top of Manhattan with multiple recreation fields and a top notch trail leading through a beautiful forested cliffside area.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 14 mentions

“Inwood Hill Park in uptown NYC is truly a gem, especially during the weekdays when it transforms into a peaceful retreat perfect for enjoying good weather and sunshine.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 6 mentions

“Inwood Hill Park in uptown NYC is truly a gem, especially during the weekdays when it transforms into a peaceful retreat perfect for enjoying good weather and sunshine.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“I wouldn’t recommend taking dogs here because of the wild life but it’s certainly allowed.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“As you stroll through the beautiful wooded areas, you might enjoy a break from cell service—what a great way to connect with nature!”

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🚻 Restrooms

“Here you can find playgrounds, sport courts, restrooms, and hiking trails, so people can do a different array of activities.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack

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Plan your run at Inwood Hill Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitenycgovparks.org
  • Phone(212) 639-9675
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 AM–1 AM
Tuesday 6 AM–1 AM
Wednesday 6 AM–1 AM
Thursday 6 AM–1 AM
Friday 6 AM–1 AM
Saturday 6 AM–1 AM
Sunday 6 AM–1 AM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Inwood Hill Park

Payson Ave. &, Seaman Ave, New York, NY 10034

Get directions

Running trails near New York

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Overlook Meadow

4.9 ★★★★★ 31 reviews

New York, NY

1.3 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

under a mile away

Raoul Wallenberg Forest

4.4 ★★★★☆ 25 reviews

Bronx, NY

1.1 miles away

Englewood Boat Basin

4.7 ★★★★★ 91 reviews

Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Scenic

Park featuring a river, picnic tables, and a trail, suitable for families.

1.2 miles away

Roberto Clemente State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 1,774 reviews

Bronx, NY

ScenicDog-friendly

Olympic-size pool plus ball fields, picnic areas, playgrounds & a promenade on 25 waterfront acres.

1.3 miles away

Harlem River Drive Greenway

4.3 ★★★★☆ 20 reviews

New York, NY

1.4 miles away

Allison Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 127 reviews

Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Scenic

Small, peaceful park along the Palisades featuring a stone cabin, picnic tables and hiking.

1.5 miles away

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.