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The Best Parks and Views in Washington Heights

The best parks and viewpoints in Washington Heights, from Fort Tryon Park and the High Bridge to J. Hood Wright Park's view of the George Washington Bridge.

Updated

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)

Manhattan’s highest natural point is in Washington Heights, so the best parks here come with hills, river views, and a bit of history. This guide is for walkers, runners, picnickers, and anyone hunting for a good view of the Hudson or the Harlem River.

We chose from the parks and outdoor landmarks listed on Washington Heights Guide and ranked them by how well they work for a park visit and how good the views are according to their sources. Picks are editorial: the order is our judgment, not star ratings, review counts, or any scoring system, and every place is a listing on Washington Heights Guide with its own page, sources, and verdict.

These are hilly places, and some paths and gates have their own hours or seasonal closures. We note where a listing says conditions were not checked.

  1. 01

    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)

    Best overall

    Landmark

    Fort Tryon Park

    NYC Parks describes 67 acres with eight miles of pathways, the Heather Garden, and Hudson River views. It is also home to The Met Cloisters, and the listing warns that it is steeply hilly.

  2. 02

    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

    Best bridge walk

    Landmark

    The High Bridge

    A car-free span over the Harlem River that NYC Parks calls the city's oldest standing bridge, 138 feet above the water. Bronze medallions embedded in the walkway tell its history.

  3. 03

    Shaded paths, trees and a litter bin in J. Hood Wright Park, Manhattan.
    Clyde Charles Brown (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

    Best view of the George Washington Bridge

    Landmark

    J. Hood Wright Park

    NYC Parks says the overlook at the park's northwest corner has views of the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge. The playground is custom-designed to resemble the bridge.

  4. 04

    The High Bridge spanning the Harlem River between Manhattan and the Bronx, seen from Highbridge Park on the Manhattan side.
    RoySmith (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

    Best for a quieter, wilder park

    Landmark

    Highbridge Park

    A 103-acre forested natural area along the Harlem River, from W 155th St to Dyckman St, with cliffs, mountain-bike trails, and river views. The listing says it gets fewer visitors than Fort Tryon, and the wooded stretches are steep.

  5. 05

    The red Little Red Lighthouse (Jeffrey's Hook Light) on rocks beside the Hudson River in Fort Washington Park, with a George Washington Bridge tower behind it.
    Billie Grace Ward (opens in a new tab)CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab)

    Best riverside walk

    Landmark

    Little Red Lighthouse

    A small lighthouse in Fort Washington Park beneath the George Washington Bridge, on the Hudson River Greenway side of the neighborhood. Gate hours and path conditions were not checked, so verify with NYC Parks.

  6. 06

    Snow-covered paths and bare trees in Bennett Park in Hudson Heights, Manhattan, with apartment buildings in the background.
    Kidfly182 (opens in a new tab)CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

    Best for history on the highest ground

    Landmark

    Bennett Park

    A small park on Manhattan's highest natural point at 265 feet, where Fort Washington stood in 1776. The listing calls it a pause rather than a day out, with a playground and a monument.

Sources