Roosevelt Island Central Park Loop

Colorful spring journey into one of NY's trendiest and most cosmopolitan neighborhoods, with East River tram ride and Central Park option.

Start: Roosevelt Island Tramway Station

Finish: Astoria or Manhattan

Distance: 10-14mi

Where to find us: On Roosevelt Island on the grass by the tramway, or at 8th and 33rd outside Penn Station

Optional endpoints: loop return through Central Park to 59th St

Optional start: NY Penn Station, depart at 9:45

Terrain: paved

Transit: Multiple options

Return: subway or on foot

Difficulty: Beginner / Average

Category: nature, urban, scenic

Coordinator: Charles Updike

NOTE: We will meet this year on the island. When you get to the tramway, get your ticket and hop on. We will see you on the other side.

Let's welcome spring by experiencing the hubbub of Midtown Manhattan, then escaping to the quiet sanctuary of Roosevelt Island, a narrow strip of land in the East River, before making a few more miles, with some stops for Greek and Middle-Eastern food, in Astoria, Queens, one of the trendiest nabes in NYC.

For those arriving via NY Penn Station, we will meet outside the station at 33rd St and 8th Ave to walk to the start, departing from there at 9:45am.

We take the Tramway to Roosevelt Island, visit the new Four Freedoms Park (FDR), circle north on the Island to the Lighthouse and Octagon, then cross the Roosevelt Island bridge on foot to Queens for the outdoor Socrates Sculpture Park, Greek revival era mansions, Astoria Park, Hells Gate Bridge, and downtown Astoria. We'll wrap up, socialize, and celebrate at the Czech Bohemian Beer Garden for the end of walk gathering, just one block from the Astoria Blvd. (N,W) stop for easy subway access back to 59th St- Lexington or 34th Herald Square - Penn Station.

Total mileage estimated at just under 10 miles. This walk will be "at your own pace" - push the speed for a workout or lazily explore the Sculpture Garden and/or take an extended lunch - you will end up at the finish with plenty of time for a pint or two.

Central Park Loop option: From Astoria, we will enjoy views crossing the RFK Bridge to scenic Randall's Island. The Ward's Island pedestrian bridge takes us to the upper east side and northern Central Park, and it's just a walk in the park back to the start at 59th Street. Distance of about 14 miles.

Map & Directions

Highlights:

-Midtown Manhattan

-Roosevelt Island Tramway

-Roosevelt Island cherry blossoms

-Four Freedoms Park

-Socrates Sculpture Park

-Greek revival era mansions

-Astoria Park-Hells Gate Bridge

-Astoria-Czech Bohemian Beer Garden

- RFK Bridge

- Randalls Island

- Central Park blossoms

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