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LandmarkWashington HeightsHighbridge Park & Coogan's Bluff

The High Bridge

A free, scenic crossing with real history, best on a clear day; hours are posted by NYC Parks, so check before a late walk.

Highbridge Park, W 172nd St & Amsterdam AveEntrance at W 172nd St & Amsterdam Ave

The High Bridge, a pedestrian bridge with stone piers and an arched span, crossing the Harlem River, seen from Highbridge Park.
Jim.henderson (opens in a new tab)Public domain
The High Bridge walkway crossing the Harlem River toward Manhattan
Famartin (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
The stone arches of the High Bridge on the Bronx side
Jim.henderson (opens in a new tab)CC0 (opens in a new tab)
South side of the High Bridge on its 2015 reopening day
Jim.henderson (opens in a new tab)CC BY 3.0 (opens in a new tab)
Pedestrians on the High Bridge in 1905, looking toward Manhattan
Unknown author (opens in a new tab)Public domain
The High Bridge seen from the Bronx side of the Harlem River
GaoKyle (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

What it is

The High Bridge opened in 1848 to carry the Old Croton Aqueduct over the Harlem River, according to NYC Parks. It is 1,450 feet long and 138 feet above the water. In the 1920s the center masonry arches were replaced by a single steel span because they were declared a hazard to navigation. NYC Parks says a community-led effort led to its reopening in June 2015 after more than 40 years closed, and calls it the city’s oldest standing bridge and the only interborough bridge designed exclusively for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Who it’s for

Walkers, runners, and cyclists. The bridge connects Washington Heights to the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx. NYC Parks says to enter in Manhattan at W 172nd St and Amsterdam Ave and walk east to the Water Tower Terrace staircase, which leads down to the bridge. For step-free access, it points to a ramp at W 167th St and Edgecombe Ave.

Standout details

The walkway has bronze medallions embedded in it that tell the bridge’s history, and the restoration repointed the stone joints, repainted the steel arch, and added lighting and a safety fence, per NYC Parks. The Highbridge Water Tower stands at the Manhattan end.

Honest verdict

An easy, memorable short walk with a river view and a story behind it. NYC Parks’ current visitor page lists daily hours of 7am to 10pm, but the Bronx Times reported in 2022 that the usual closing time was 8pm from May to September and 7pm from November to April, with 10pm a summer pilot, so confirm the hours before heading over in the evening.