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A Grid of Greenways

This journey travels along more than 9 miles of the Bronx’s extensive grid of car-free greenways, which connect park spaces throughout the borough. Cutting through Van Cortlandt Park, you’ll cycle past the borough’s largest freshwater lake, the country’s oldest public golf course, and along wooded pathways. A major greenway artery along Mosholu Parkway then leads you south to another major Bronx park, Bronx Park, where you’ll cycle to the borough’s northern border along the Bronx River. On your return journey, stop off at the New York Botanical Garden, if you wish, before returning to Van Cortlandt Park.

Start: The West 242nd Street entrance to Van Cortlandt Park, at West 242nd Street and Broadway

Length: 9.7 miles out and back (partial)

Approximate riding time: 1.5 hours

Best bike: Hybrid, road, or mountain bike

Terrain and trail surface: The trail is paved throughout. The terrain is slightly hilly. The outward journey goes uphill through Van Cortlandt Park and downhill along the Mosholu Parkway Greenway. The return journey does the opposite. There’s also one short, steep climb in Bronx Park.

Traffic and hazards: The entire route runs along car-free greenways that extend from Van Cortlandt Park to Bronx Park and beyond. To access the Mosholu Parkway Greenway from Van Cortlandt Park, you have to cross Mosholu Parkway itself, where traffic is heavy. Use the traffic signals and stay alert. The Mosholu Parkway Greenway then crosses several crossroads. Come to a complete stop before traversing them.

Things to see: Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx Park, Allerton Ballfields, Bronx River, New York Botanical Garden, Van Cortlandt Lake

Maps: New York City Bike Map, Van Cortlandt Park map available for download at vcpark.org/park/park_map.html, Department of City Planning Bike the Bronx map available for download at www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/transportation/bike_bronx_greenway.shtml

Getting there: By public transportation: Take the 1 subway to the Van Cortlandt Park-242nd Street station. Descend from the elevated tracks on the east side of Broadway and enter the park at West 242nd Street. By car: From Midtown take the West Side Highway (NY 9A) north. Take exit 17 toward Dyckman Street and merge onto Riverside Drive. Go about 0.2 mile. Veer slightly right along Riverside Drive and then turn left onto Broadway to go north about 2.2 miles. Turn left onto Van Cortlandt Park South. Go 0.3 mile. Turn left at Bailey Avenue and proceed to Van Cortlandt Park’s golf course parking area. Start your cycling route at mile 0.3 in the route description below. GPS coordinates: N40 53.380’ / W73 53.881’

THE RIDE

The Van Cortlandt Park Greenway cuts across the southwestern part of the park’s more than 1,000 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. To catch the greenway eastward, cycle in between the ball fields on your right and the picnic and pool area on your left. When the path splits at the northeast corner of the ball fields, you’ll veer left, away from the playing fields to head underneath an archway. (For the past couple of years a few dozen feet of the path here have been dirt.) You’ll skirt the edge of the parking lot up ahead, veering toward the lake. Then follow the greenway as it crosses the parking lot to the right and picks up on the sidewalk on the other side. This soon brings you toward two golf courses—the Van Cortlandt Golf Course, which opened as the country’s first public course in 1895, and the Mosholu Golf Course.

Continuing eastward, you’ll skirt the edge of Van Cortlandt Lake, an 18-acre body of water known for its high density of yellow perch. When the path splits, you’ll then make a sharp right turn to follow the greenway as it spirals up and around 470 degrees to send you south through more densely forested swaths of the park. The Mosholu Golf Course will be on your left. At the southern edge of Van Cortlandt Park, stay alert and use the traffic signals to cross Dickinson Avenue and Mosholu Parkway to catch the next greenway—the Mosholu Parkway Greenway, which heads south along the west edge of Mosholu Parkway. Enjoy the downhill ride toward Bronx Park, but stay alert for crossroads along the way. Stop before crossing.

After traversing Hull Avenue, you can spot the redbrick 52nd Police Precinct station, a city landmark complete with gabled roof and clock tower, on your left. The greenway then veers slightly left, going across a bridge and turning sharply left when you hit Southern Boulevard (also called Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff Boulevard). On the other side of the boulevard you can catch glimpses of the New York Botanical Garden, one of the Bronx Park’s best-known features. (Stop off at the gardens on your return journey if you wish.) The park is also home to the Bronx Zoo and contains one of few remaining natural waterside landscapes, alongside the Bronx River.

Biking east through Van Cortlandt Park, alongside Van Cortlandt Lake.

Bike Shop

United Spokes: 207 W. 242nd St.; (718) 432-2453

A great bike shop with a friendly staff just steps from Van Cortlandt Park. They organize repair clinics and are a good spot to find out about rides and other cycling events.

After entering Bronx Park, veer left of the Allerton Ballfields, named after Daniel Allerton, an early Bronx settler who was a direct descendant of a signer of the Mayflower Compact. At the northeastern corner of the ball fields, swing right and then left again toward and across the Bronx River. You’ll then head north along the riverside greenway toward the north edge of the borough. The 24-mile Bronx River begins north of here in Westchester County and empties into the East River farther south. There are numerous river access points along the way as you head north, with riverside benches that are nice resting spots. If you go down to the river, dismount and walk your bike as cycling is prohibited on these paths.

At East 229th Street, when you hit upon the access road to the Bronx River Parkway, the greenway discontinues. It picks up farther north again, heading—in spurts—through Westchester County. Make a U-turn here to return southward to your entry point to the Bronx River Greenway. From there, you’ll continue south, heading uphill through a swath of wooded wilderness. Then, from the top of the hill, you’ll cut westward through the park’s interior. Use caution here and come to a complete stop before crossing the access and exit roads for the Bronx River Parkway. Up ahead, when the greenway (now sidewalk) narrows, crossing the Bronx River, stay alert for oncoming cyclists.

When you hit the Allerton Ballfields once more, skirt their western edge to return towards the Mosholu Parkway Greenway. (From that greenway you have the option of visiting the New York Botanical Gardens; see directions below.) Retrace your route along the Mosholu Parkway Greenway back to Van Cortlandt Park and your starting point.

MILES AND DIRECTIONS

0.0Go east along the greenway into Van Cortlandt Park, in between the ball fields on your right and the picnic area on your left.

0.1When the path forks, veer left, heading under an archway. Continue veering left to hug the edge of the parking lot (on your right).

0.3Before reaching the lake, swivel right to follow the greenway across the parking lot and along the road on the other side. Head east along the greenway, with Van Cortlandt Lake on your left.

0.6Turn right, looping up and around 470 degrees to the right. Then follow the greenway southward.

1.2Cross Dickinson Avenue along the crosswalk straight ahead. Then swivel left to cross Mosholu Parkway. Access the Mosholu Parkway Greenway on the east side of the parkway to go southward.

2.4Turn left at Southern Boulevard (Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff Boulevard), following the greenway. Stay left of the Allerton Ballfields up ahead.

2.7From the northeast edge of the ball fields, veer right and then left again to continue along the greenway.

3.0After traveling underneath the bridge, turn left to go north along the Bronx River Greenway.

3.4Go over the bridge and through the parking area.

3.6Access the northern portion of the greenway via the roundabout at East 211th Street.

4.6Make a U-turn to return southward.

5.8After the bridge, access the greenway on your right.

6.2Veer left to continue south. Take the path on the far left when the path forks into three arms.

6.6After passing the skate park and hitting upon Allerton Avenue (don’t cross), turn right to take the greenway westward. Come to a complete stop before crossing the access roads to the Bronx River Parkway.

7.0Veer left to go west from the Allerton Ballfields.

7.2Turn right onto the Mosholu Parkway Greenway. (To visit the New York Botanical Garden, turn left onto Hull/Marion Avenue, the first cross street. Then take the third left onto Bedford Park Boulevard, which leads to the entrance of the gardens.)

8.4When the greenway ends at West Gun Hill Road, swivel left to traverse Mosholu Parkway along the pedestrian crosswalk. Then cross Dickinson Avenue and access the Van Cortlandt Park Greenway through the park.

9.0Follow the greenway as it loops around 470 degrees to the left. Then head west alongside Van Cortlandt Lake.

9.4Turn right to cross the road and then continue along the right side of the parking lot. Head underneath the bridge on your right, cross the path of dirt.

9.6Go west in between the playing fields and picnic area.

9.7Arrive at your starting point.

RIDE INFORMATION

Restrooms

Start/finish: There are restrooms just north of the West 242nd Street entrance to Van Cortlandt Park, accessible from the sidewalk along Broadway.

Mile 2.6/7.0: There are restrooms in the park building beside the Allerton Ballfields.