Urban Hike: NYC Hudson River Greenway Bike Path

I wanted to go backpacking up in the Catskills this weekend but rain was forecasted quite a bit. I didn’t want to ride up there in the rain, change in the rain, pack up my motorcycle gear wet, and then start backpacking wet knowing that my gear would be wet the entire time. So I compromised. I had to run an errand Saturday morning and figured that I would stay in town and do a pseudo-hike by trekking on the Henry Hudson bike path from 59th street to 200th. As the crow flies, this would probably be a minimum of seven miles. With all the meandering, it was probably close to eight miles albeit with little elevation gain.

I ran my errand and then started the trek home. The rain was coming down hard. Because I was trekking urban, I took my homemade frameless Ray Jardin backpack with an umbrella tucked in the side pocket.

Rainy day hike along the New York side of the Hudson River.
Rainy day hike along the New York side of the Hudson River.
Looking down Pier 1 from inside Pier 1 Café on the Henry Hudson Greenway.
Looking down Pier 1 from inside Pier 1 Café on the Henry Hudson Greenway.
Urban waterfalls along the Henry Hudson Greenway.
Urban waterfalls along the Henry Hudson Greenway.
Hiking past the New York City Marina along the Hudson River Greenway.
Hiking past the New York City Marina along the Hudson River Greenway.
Passing by the rain soaked 96th Street clay tennis courts.
Passing by the rain soaked 96th Street clay tennis courts.
Finally able to get off the asphalt and pound some dirt.
Finally able to get off the asphalt and pound some dirt.
Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.
Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.
Passing under the Henry Hudson Parkway.
Passing under the Henry Hudson Parkway.
Soccer field at 144th Street, north of West Harlem Pier and the Fairway grocery store.
Soccer field at 144th Street, north of West Harlem Pier and the Fairway grocery store.
Passing by a salt depot by the Northern Riverside Park area.
Passing by a salt depot by the Northern Riverside Park area.
Lots of parties happening in the Northern Riverside Park.
Lots of parties happening in the Northern Riverside Park.
Fishing in the Northern Riverside Park with the George Washington Bridge in the background.
Fishing in the Northern Riverside Park with the George Washington Bridge in the background.
Coming upon a fellow camper along the Henry Hudson River.
Coming upon a fellow camper along the Henry Hudson River.
This confounded me. Rather than simply removing the broken glass, the city leaves it dangerously in place and simply wraps caution tape around it.
This confounded me. Rather than simply removing the broken glass, the city leaves it dangerously in place and simply wraps caution tape around it.
Underneath the George Washington Bridge.
Underneath the George Washington Bridge, Fort Washington Point.
Passing by Inspiration Point near Fort Tryon.
Passing by Inspiration Point near Fort Tryon.
New York City hiking, cars whizzing by less than five feet from the path. Fort Tryon is in the background.
New York City hiking, cars whizzing by less than five feet from the path. Fort Tryon is in the background.
Back home in Inwood, approximately eight miles later. The hike went from 57th Street to 200th Street.
Back home in Inwood, approximately eight miles later. The hike went from 57th Street to 200th Street.

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