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Thain Family Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 304 Google reviews · Running trail in Bronx, New York · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Thain Family Forest'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.
Many of the trails in this old woodland date back to the natives resident before European arrival.
What runners say about Thain Family Forest
“The whole place is lovely and well maintained but for us the rose garden was the best and simply beautiful.”
“The botanical gardens is a beautiful place with bathrooms, shops, parking and waterfalls, trails a variety of trees and plants.”
“The forest is serene and quiet and a bit cooler on hot days.”
It's a beautiful forest with over 50 acres covered in natural woodland trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, and boulders. The trails are well maintained and there are many species of not only trees, but birds as well inside.
This is part of the NY Botanic Garden in the Bronx. My wife and I went on a Wednesday which is a free entrance day if you are an NYC resident. It is $20 for parking but saving the entrance fee cost covers that.
Lovely primordial forest with beautifully marked trails. Some are wheelchair accessible! Allow at least 2 hours for Thain Forest alone!
The Thain Family Forest at the New York Botanical Garden is a remarkable 50-acre old-growth woodland, the largest remnant of New York City's original forest. Its canopy features centuries-old oaks, tulip trees, and sweetgums, complemented by diverse terrain like the Bronx River floodplain and rocky ridges.
Trail conditions & character
“The botanical gardens is a beautiful place with bathrooms, shops, parking and waterfalls, trails a variety of trees and plants.”
“The forest is serene and quiet and a bit cooler on hot days.”
“The botanical gardens is a beautiful place with bathrooms, shops, parking and waterfalls, trails a variety of trees and plants.”
Plan your run at Thain Family Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitenybg.org
- Phone+1 718-817-8700
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 11 am–4 pm |
| Tuesday | 11 am–4 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am–4 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am–4 pm |
| Friday | 11 am–4 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am–4 pm |
| Sunday | 11 am–4 pm |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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