Pelham Bay Park

Park Overview:

New York City’s largest park hosts 2 golf courses, 13 miles of shoreline including a beach, miles of hiking trails and bridle paths.
Trail Uses:Hiking, Bridle path
Dogs:Dogs on leash
Trail Miles:6.5 miles
Park Acreage:2766 acres
City/County/
State:		New York City/Bronx/NY
Park Description:

This largest NYC park has highly developed recreational facilities as well as natural areas that provide a sense of distance from civilization. The popular Orchard Beach is a mile long beach created when Robert Moses decided to fill in part of Pelham Bay connecting Hunter Island to the Bronx. The golf courses, ball fields and running track provide other opportunities for activity. While Hunter Island, the Thomas Pell Wildlife Sanctuary and Twin Island offer a more natural experience through marsh and woodland, around tidal pools and rock outcroppings.
Trails Overview:

Numerous marked and unmarked trails pass through a natural mosaic of forest meadow and salt marsh.

  •        The Kazimiroff Nature Trail [2 loops, 2.3 total miles, blazed red or blue] starts at the north end of the Orchard Beach parking lot. The blue loop is a little longer than the red. There are side trails that lead to the "Gray Mare" a glacial erratic and to the shoreline of Twin Island.

The Siwanoy trail has 3 sections all beginning from the southern end of the parking lot for the golf courses.

  •        The Central Woodland Section [1.6 miles, yellow blaze] is accessed by crossing Shore Road and taking the right fork. The trail terminus is at Orchard Beach.
  •        The Bartow-Pell Mansion Section [1.0 miles, yellow blaze] is reached by taking the left fork after crossing Shore Road. This trail splits into two branches at 0.3 miles and then rejoins before the end. The right branch passes the Bartow-Pell Mansion a historic landmark with a small entrance fee when open. The left branch skirts a lagoon that attracts migratory birds.
  •        The Hutchinson Marsh Section [1.5 miles, yellow blaze] begins at the southwest corner of the parking lot. It passes through marshland to a small island affording views of the Hutchinson River.
Directions:

By car, take I-95 or the Hutchinson River Parkway to the City Island/Orchard Beach exit and follow signs. At the Bartow traffic circle you can turn north on Shore Rd for the golf course parking lot, or east to Orchard Beach where there is a parking fee in season.

By public transportation, take the No. 6 train to Pelham Bay Park station and switch to the Bx29 bus to City Island Rd. which is the 1ststop over the Pelham Bridge. A trail connector to the Siwanoy Trail begins across the road from the bus stop. In summer Bx5 and Bx12 continue to Orchard Beach.

There is a bike path that starts at the intersection of Boston Post Road and Bronx Park East and parallels Pelham Parkway into the park.
Contact Information:NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
212-639-9675
Region:New York City
Fees:None