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Fort Tryon Park

The neighborhood's best long walk, with river views and gardens; plan your visit around the gardens' seasons and the park's hills.

Margaret Corbin CircleFort Washington Ave & W 190th St

A paved path winding through the flowering shrubs of the Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park.
Beyond My Ken (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
People doing sunset yoga on a lawn in Fort Tryon Park, seen from Linden Terrace
Beyond My Ken (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
The stone Margaret Corbin Drive Arch carrying the roadway through Fort Tryon Park
Beyond My Ken (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
A tree-lined pathway in Fort Tryon Park in October
Epicgenius (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
The stone Fort Tryon Park Cottage near the park entrance at Margaret Corbin Circle
Beyond My Ken (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
Reenactors firing muskets at a Battle of Fort Washington commemoration in Fort Tryon Park
Jim.henderson (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

What it is

Fort Tryon Park is a 67-acre park between Riverside Dr and Broadway, from about W 192nd St north to Dyckman St, according to NYC Parks. John D. Rockefeller Jr. began buying the land in 1917, and the Olmsted Brothers firm designed the park, which was dedicated in 1935. The Metropolitan Museum’s Cloisters branch sits inside it.

Who it’s for

Walkers, runners, dog owners, gardeners, and anyone who wants Hudson River views. NYC Parks describes eight miles of pathways, lawns, picnic spots, two playgrounds, volleyball courts, and the city’s largest garden with unrestricted public access, the Heather Garden.

Standout details

NYC Parks says the Heather Garden has over 500 varieties of plants, trees, and shrubs, and that the park has Manhattan’s largest dog run. The park’s main entrance at Margaret Corbin Circle, at Fort Washington Ave and W 190th St, also has a bronze plaque for Margaret Corbin, who took over her husband’s post during the 1776 Battle of Fort Washington. The Fort Tryon Park Trust partners with NYC Parks on upkeep and runs free public programs.

Honest verdict

One of the best places in Washington Heights for an unhurried afternoon, but the park is steeply hilly, so allow time and wear good shoes. Opening hours and seasonal garden conditions were not checked for this listing, so look at NYC Parks and the Fort Tryon Park Trust calendar before a special trip.