Hudson River Park isn't one park so much as a chain of them. It runs roughly four miles up Manhattan's west side, from the northern edge of Battery Park City in Tribeca to West 59th Street in Hell's Kitchen, built out over a string of piers that used to handle shipping and rail freight. The Hudson River Park Act created the Hudson River Park Trust to redevelop the whole stretch in 1998, turning decaying wharves into roughly 550 acres of esplanade, lawns, playgrounds, sport courts and open water. If you're picturing something like Central Park, reset your expectations — there's no single great lawn here. It's a long, thin ribbon, and each pier along it does something different.
The Hudson River Greenway: the best ride in Manhattan
The park's spine is a paved path that's part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, and it runs the park's full length with no cross-traffic to break it up. That's rare in this city — most bike routes stop at every light. Runners, cyclists and skaters share it, with separate lanes for pedestrians and wheels along most of the route. Start at Battery Park City in the south and you can ride clear up past 59th Street, where the path continues north into Riverside Park if you want to keep going. Sunset, heading north with the water on your left, is the move if you want the postcard version.
Pier by pier: what's actually on each one
Working roughly south to north, here's what you'll find at the park's main piers:
- Pier 25 (Tribeca) — the park's longest pier, and home to Manhattan's only 18-hole miniature golf course, plus beach volleyball courts, a turf field, a playground and a snack bar.
- Pier 40 (West Village/Hudson Square) — at more than 15 acres, the largest pier on the river. It's a mixed-use site: public ball fields, boating programs, and commercial space that helps fund the rest of the park.
- Pier 45 (Christopher Street Pier) — a wide-open lawn built for picnics and river views, especially popular at sunset.
- Pier 46 — a turf lawn with raised seating, a quieter stop along the esplanade.
- Pier 51 — a nautical-themed playground with water and sand play areas, one of the better spots in the park for younger kids.
- Chelsea Piers (Piers 59–61) — a 28-acre sports and entertainment complex built into three former ocean-liner piers, with a golf driving range, bowling, an ice rink and other indoor sports facilities.
- Pier 57 — a restored freight pier with a rooftop park open to the public, indoor public space and a food market at its base.
- Pier 76 (Hell's Kitchen) — a former tow pound turned interim open space, with the old building's steel skeleton left standing for shade, plus concrete seating and planters. It's a work in progress: parkland here will eventually share the pier with a revenue-generating use that helps fund the rest of the park.
- Gansevoort Peninsula — opened in 2023 as the park's largest stand-alone recreation space and Manhattan's first public beach, with a sandy shoreline, a ballfield, a pine grove and a salt marsh.
- Pier 97 (Hell's Kitchen) — opened in 2023 after a roughly $47.5 million rebuild, with a playground, an athletic field, a sloping lawn and a sunset deck facing the river.
Little Island and the High Line: how they connect
Two of Manhattan's most talked-about small parks sit right next to Hudson River Park, and understanding how they relate to it is genuinely useful for planning a visit. Little Island sits at Pier 55, a small park built on its own cluster of raised concrete piers just offshore, reached by two footbridges around 13th and 14th Streets. It's technically inside Hudson River Park's footprint but designed and run as its own destination, with an amphitheater and its own programming. A few blocks inland, the High Line runs roughly parallel to the river on an elevated former rail line through Chelsea. The two make a natural pair: walk the flat waterfront path for the river views and the breeze, then cut over to the High Line for the elevated, plant-lined version of the same neighborhood. They're close enough to do both in one afternoon.
Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary and kayaking
Most of the water inside Hudson River Park's boundaries — roughly 400 acres of it, from Chambers Street up to 59th Street — is New York City's only Estuarine Sanctuary, a protected habitat established under state legislation in 1998. More than 70 species of fish live in these waters, along with oysters and seahorses, all in a river most visitors assume is empty. Free public kayaking runs seasonally at a couple of boathouses inside the sanctuary, weather and staffing permitting — check hudsonriverpark.org for current hours before you show up, since the schedule shifts through the year.
Getting to Hudson River Park
No subway line runs along the water, so you approach from the cross streets. The 1 train stops at Chambers Street and Christopher Street, both a short walk from the southern piers. A, C, E and L trains converge at 14th Street. Further north, A, C, E and the 7 train (plus PATH) reach 34th Street-Hudson Yards, close to the park's piers in the 60s and the Chelsea Piers complex. If you're coming from elsewhere in the city, the ferry or a Citi Bike ride along the greenway is often faster than driving — parking near the park is limited and pricey. Combine a visit with a stop in Battery Park at the park's southern end, where the Hudson meets the harbor.
Frequently asked questions about Hudson River Park
How long is Hudson River Park?
Roughly four miles, running along Manhattan's west side from the northern edge of Battery Park City in Tribeca up to West 59th Street in Hell's Kitchen. It covers about 550 acres total, counting the piers and the water itself.
Is Hudson River Park one park or a bunch of separate piers?
It's a chain — a continuous esplanade and bike path linking a series of individual piers, each redeveloped for something different. There's no single lawn that defines the whole thing the way the Great Lawn defines Central Park. You walk or ride from one pier to the next.
Is Hudson River Park free?
Yes, the park, the esplanade, and the greenway cost nothing to use. A few things inside charge separately — mini golf on Pier 25, activities at Chelsea Piers, and tickets at Little Island's amphitheater when it's running paid shows.
What's the difference between Hudson River Park and Little Island?
Little Island is a small park built on its own concrete piers just offshore, connected to Hudson River Park by two footbridges near 13th and 14th Streets. It's technically part of Hudson River Park's footprint at Pier 55, but it has its own design, its own amphitheater, and functions like a destination within the larger park.
How is Hudson River Park different from the High Line?
They're two different parks a few blocks apart. Hudson River Park sits right on the water, is flat, and is built for biking, running, and kayaking. The High Line is an elevated walkway on an old rail viaduct a few blocks inland through Chelsea, built for a slow stroll rather than a workout.
Can you kayak in Hudson River Park for free?
Free public kayaking is offered seasonally at a couple of spots inside the park's Estuarine Sanctuary, weather and staffing permitting. Check hudsonriverpark.org before you go, since hours are limited and change with the season.
What subway stops are near Hudson River Park?
There's no train that runs along the park itself, so you walk in from the cross streets. The 1 train stops at Christopher Street and Chambers Street; A, C, E and L trains stop at 14th Street; A, C, E and the 7 (plus PATH) stop at 34th Street-Hudson Yards.
Where does Hudson River Park's bike path go?
It's part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, and it runs the full length of the park with no cross-traffic to interrupt it — one of the few stretches in Manhattan where you can ride for miles without stopping at a light.