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Staten Island North to South

This ride spans Staten Island from north to south, starting at the St. George Ferry Terminal and ending in Conference House Park, home to the “South Pole,” New York State’s southernmost point. Traversing Staten Island along its southern flank, it runs parallel to the more than 150-year-old Staten Island Railway and swings into Great Kills Park, a 580-acre swath of wetlands, woodlands, and beachfront. Conference House Park, at the end of your journey, contains several historic buildings (dating as far back as circa 1680) worth checking out and some lovely waterfront picnic spots. Your northbound journey returns to St. George via Staten Island Railway.

Start: St. George Ferry Terminal, opposite Staten Island Borough Hall

Length: 21.7 miles, one way

Approximate riding time: 3 hours

Best bike: Hybrid, road, or mountain bike

Terrain and trail surface: The trail is paved throughout and relatively flat.

Traffic and hazards: Staten Island is the city’s most car-dependent of the five boroughs. It’s also the most suburban and, like many a suburban enclave, still has miles to go in terms of cycling infrastructure. Bike lanes are scarce. Much of the ride thus shares the road with motorists and buses and requires considerable city cycling comfort. Use caution and stay alert at all times. The heaviest traffic is along Hylan Boulevard, which you’ll access near Great Kills Park. Hylan Boulevard’s heaviest traffic lies to the north—you’ve bypassed this—but the first 0.5 mile or so of your route here at times also has heavy traffic. As you head farther south, the traffic thins and the boulevard eventually also bears a painted bike lane.

Things to see: Great Kills Park, Great Kills Harbor, Conference House Park, South Pole, Conference House, Biddle House, Rutan-Beckett House, Staten Island Railway

Maps: New York City Bike Map, Conference House Park map: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/R006/map/ConferenceHousebrochure.pdf

Getting there: By public transportation: Take the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan’s Whitehall Terminal to Staten Island’s St. George Terminal. To get to Manhattan’s Whitehall Terminal, take the R subway to the Whitehall Street station or the 1 subway to the South Ferry station. By car: If using the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, exit toward I-278 W / New Jersey and take exit 14 on the left toward Narrows Road W/Hylan Boulevard. Turn right onto Fingerboard Road. Turn left onto Bay Street and follow Bay Street until you reach the St. George Ferry Terminal where there’s parking.

If using the Bayonne Bridge, take exit 13 to turn right onto Morningstar Road toward Richmond Terrace. Turn right onto Richmond Terrace, heading east. Follow Richmond Terrace to the ferry terminal. GPS coordinates: N40 38.551’ / W74 04.502’

THE RIDE

To begin this grand sweep from north to south, you’ll catch Bay Street at the ferry terminal, the main drag along Staten Island’s eastern shore. As you head south, on your left you can catch glimpses of the Staten Island Railway, established in the mid-nineteenth century and predating the city’s subway system. The north-south track along which you are riding is the railway’s sole remaining passenger line. Upper New York Bay and the Brooklyn shorefront across the water are also visible intermittently. You’ll cycle through the eastern shore neighborhoods of St. George, Tompkinsville, Clifton, and Rosebank before turning right at Von Briesen Park, heading inland. While most of the roads here are residential, the first two—School Road and Lily Pond Road, both of which have bike lanes—have the heaviest traffic, so stay alert. After that, McClean Avenue brings you to more peaceful residential roads with one-family homes and manicured lawns in the neighborhoods of Grasmere, Dongan Hills, and Grant City. Then, the Staten Island Railway accompanies you once more as it runs parallel to your journey overhead along North Railroad Avenue.

Heading toward Great Kills Park from here, you’ll be on a major road for about 0.5 mile—Hylan Boulevard. This boulevard is known for heavy traffic, especially north of your access point. Still, while traffic is lighter and slower here than up north, stay alert for turning vehicles and halting buses.

Views of bay waters from the Great Kills Park picnic area. The park covers 580 acres of wetlands, woodlands, and beachfront and forms part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Up ahead, as you enter Great Kills Park along Buffalo Street, gentle sea breezes, placid wetlands, and a beachy vibe of leisure greet you. The park is part of the 26,000-acre Gateway National Recreation Area, which encompasses marshlands, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, and recreational spots along Jamaica Bay in Queens, Sandy Hook in New Jersey, and the Staten Island waterfront. Great Kills Park also houses Staten Island’s only osprey nesting site. Take a water-side break at one of the park’s two beach access points—the picnic area or Beach Center. Both spots give access to the waters of Lower New York Bay and afford views, due east, of Queens’s westernmost point, Breezy Point on the Rockaways. When you’re ready to continue, retrace your path along Buffalo Street to Hylan Boulevard.

Heading southwestward along Hylan Boulevard, traffic decreases slightly and commercial neighborhoods give way to residential and natural zones with native habitats. Much of the route here is framed by nature preserves and park spaces. South of Barclay Avenue, you’ll hug the edge of the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, 200 acres of wetlands, swamps, woodlands, and streams where the chirr of cicadas and call of birds can be heard from the road. Just beyond, southwest of Luten Avenue, you’ll brush up against Wolfe’s Pond Park. The woodlands that abut your route here are filled with white oak, hickory, and sweet gum. You’ll traverse the salt marsh of the Lemon Creek Wetlands, which harbor New York City’s only colony of purple martins (the largest North American swallow). Lastly, you’ll skirt the edges of North Mount Loretto State Forest, Butler Manor Woods, and Long Pond Park, all of which sit west of Sharrott Avenue and are important stopover spots for various migratory bird species.

Sprague Avenue up ahead then soon brings you toward the final stretch of your journey at Conference House Park. A bikeway leads through the 286-acre park, with innumerable smaller paths leading deeper into the natural environs. From the bikeway’s right-hand turn, follow the signs to the “South Pole,” walking your bike along one of the nature trails. Then, continue north along the bikeway to check out some of the park’s historic buildings that shed light on three centuries of Staten Island history. The oldest, the Conference House, built in circa 1680, was named for failed peace negotiations of 1776. Check out this or the park’s other historic houses. Then find a spot on the lawn overlooking Arthur Kill, the tidal strait that separates Staten Island from mainland New Jersey, and take a break before hopping on the Staten Island Railway at Tottenville to journey back to St. George.

MILES AND DIRECTIONS

0.0From the Staten Island Ferry Viaduct, cross to the west side of Bay Street using the traffic signals. Turn left to head south along Bay Street.

2.7Turn right onto School Road.

3.0Turn left onto Lily Pond Road.

3.4Turn right onto McClean Avenue.

4.3Veer slightly right to continue onto Reid Avenue.

4.5Veer right to stay on Reid Avenue.

4.7Turn left onto Laconia Avenue.

4.9Turn right onto Burgher Avenue.

5.2Turn left onto North Railroad Avenue.

5.7Turn right onto Liberty Avenue, followed by a quick left onto North Railroad Avenue.

5.8Turn right onto Dongan Hills Avenue, followed by a left onto Jefferson Street. Jefferson Street becomes North Railroad Avenue just ahead.

7.3North Railroad Avenue becomes Anthony J. Crecca Jr. Plaza.

7.4Turn left onto Beach Avenue, followed by a quick right onto South Railroad Avenue.

8.1Turn left onto Guyon Avenue.

8.5Turn right onto Hylan Boulevard.

9.1Look behind you before veering left to get ready to make a left turn. Turn left onto Buffalo Street and enter Great Kills Park.

10.1The first beach picnic area is on your left. Take a waterside break here or continue south along Buffalo Street to Beach Center up ahead.

10.7Beach Center is on your left. Enter through the parking lot and access the beach area if you wish. Then make a U-turn at the park pavilion to return northward along Buffalo Street.

12.4Turn left onto Hylan Boulevard.

15.8 Hylan Boulevard’s on-road bike lane begins here.

19.5Turn left onto Sprague Avenue.

19.8Turn right onto Surf Avenue, followed by a right onto Loretto Street.

20.0Turn left onto Billop Avenue.

20.4Continue straight onto the greenway through Conference House Park.

20.6Follow the bikeway as it turns right.

20.8Veer left, hugging the edge of the park along Satterlee Street.

21.0The Conference House museum is on your left at Hylan Boulevard. The lawns surrounding the house are a lovely spot for a break. To proceed en route, continue northward along Satterlee Street.

21.2The Biddle House and the Rutan-Beckett House are accessible on your left at Shore Road. To proceed en route, continue northward on Satterlee Street.

21.3Turn left onto Amboy Road, followed by a right onto Hopping Avenue.

21.6Turn left onto Bentley Street.

21.7Arrive at the Tottenville Station of the Staten Island Railway and hop on the train back to the ferry at the north end of Staten Island, the last stop on the train.

RIDE INFORMATION

Local Events/Attractions

The Conference House: Now a historic house museum, this two-story stone manor was constructed around 1680 by Captain Christopher Billop. 298 Satterlee St.; (718) 984-6046; www.conferencehouse.org

Great Kills Park: 580 acres of wetlands, woodlands, beachland, and more, forming part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. www.nyharborparks.org/visit/grki.html; www.nycgovparks.org/parks/greatkillspark

Restrooms

Start/end: There are restrooms in the Staten Island ferry terminal.

Mile 10.7: There are restrooms at the beach pavilion at Beach Center in Great Kills Park.

Mile 21.0: There are restrooms in Conference House Park in the park building.