Great Bike Trails

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Explore All Biking Trails in NYC & Vicinity

Most of these trails are either dedicated bike trails, or protected paths…

Jump to Great Bike Trails in: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Upstate NY, Pennsylvania

MANHATTAN

  • Central Park– D’uh, but there’s no riding on pedestrian paths and the bike loops “can get a little crazy”… enter anywhere…
  • Manhattan Waterfront Greenway– Admittedly parts of it are the busiest bike paths in US, but there’s a ton to see and do along its dedicated trails, south is very busy, it eases up a bit in the north…
  • Governor’s Island– The place is car free and has bike rentals available (or take your own bikes) in addition to all the fun, so hop on the 8-minute ferry ride and enjoy…
  • Battery Park City– Bike friendly paths in the river-front park are way safer than the West Street in lower Manhattan for beginners…
  • Roosevelt Island– Officially part of Manhattan, but in reality a world onto itself, very lightly trafficked and there’s a 4-mile path that circles the whole island with great views and some fun stops to boot…
  • Randall’s Island Park– Often over-looked with meandering, car-free paths through an urban farm and public gardens…

BROOKLYN

  • Ocean Parkway– First dedicated 5-mile bike path in US from Prospect Park to Coney Island, separated bike path is on the west side of parkway, start anywhere along Ocean Parkway, but Coney Island, or Prospect Park -starts/ends are always good options for added fun…
  • Shore Road Park and Parkway– Miles of car-free biking and only a few pedestrians most of the time with views of Verrazano Bridge and New York Harbor…
  • Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway– Bike friendly twists and turns from Pier 1 to Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and many attractions for kids along the way…
  • Brooklyn Greenway– 6 mile classic New York City bike ride from Manhattan Bridge to (almost) Gantry Plaza State Park on protected bike lanes is one of the options (see description), but it starts near Shirley Chisholm State park on the other side of Brooklyn and is 26 miles long in all. Lots of waterfront views and trendy neighborhoods to pedal through…
  • Erie Basin Park– Dedicated bike paths for younger set and links up with Columbia St Esplanade… enjoy the view of New York Harbor, some public art and Ikea (hint: lunch and shopping) too in this industrial looking area…

QUEENS

  • Astoria Park– A short loop along East River and beneath 2 bridges, plus NYC’s oldest and largest pool to cool off after-wards…
  • Rockaway Beach– The boardwalk is probably one of the most kid-friendly paths in the city, with bathrooms, snacks and a beach right there…
  • Crocheron Park– Lush, natural area. Usually quiet paths are great for young ones…

BRONX

  • Pelham Bay Park– Bike to Orchard beach or just enjoy the greenery in this huge park…
  • Soundview Park– Flat even landscape and city skyline views…
  • Van Cortlandt Park– Old Putnam Trail is mostly dirt and grass trailway, but it’s OK for road bikes and apparently “the prettiest 2-miles in the city… enter at Van Cortlandt Park and continue north to Tibbett’s Brook Park if you wish…

STATEN ISLAND

  • Silver Lake Park– Great option for younger bikers in SI with a fantastic nature setting…
  • Staten Island Greenbelt– 2.6 miles of the Multipurpose Trail is the only one where bikes are allowed, but there’s lots more to see…

WESTCHESTER

  • Governor Mario M Cuomo Bridge– The path goes from Tarrytown to Village of South Nyack over the Hudson, well worth checking out for the views. art and it’s easy with parking and amenities on both ends…
  • North- South County Trailway– 36 miles that are closed to traffic in Northern Westchester…
  • Bronx River Pathway– 3 sections spanning from Mount Vernon all the way up to Kensico River Dam, closed for traffic on Sundays in the summer…
  • Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Trail– Exactly the lenght of a marathon, this trail has paved and unpaved sections as well as hills and flat terrain… starts just south of Tibbets Brook Park and ends at Croton Gorge Park…
  • Kensico Dam Plaza– A good place to just visit, it also has a trail around the park ideal for younger kids to practice their skills…

LONG ISLAND

  • Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway (+ Ellen Ferrant Memorial Bicycle Path)– Great smooth path, basically a continuous bike path with rest stop shades and other amenities from Cedar Creek County Park to Jones Beach (5 miles of Ellen Ferrant Path, inland and over the bridge) and continuing from Jones Beach to Captree State Park (14 miles on the barrier island). We would park at one of the beaches in the middle and head either direction, but you can choose from Cedar Creek Park (west end and free parking) Jones Beach (Lot 6 and cheaper), Tobay Beach (expensive, but with food and playground), Gilgo Beach (expensive), Cedar Beach (expensive) or Captree State Park (cheaper, with fishing and great playground). Be mindful of the wind direction and bring bug spray if stopping on the road…
  • Eisenhower Park– Massive park (bigger than Central Park) with ample parking and lots more to do besides biking… like swimming in a big aquatic center (before 5pm), mini golf course (best in the east), 3 playgrounds (one with sprinkler pad) and picnic areas/other usual amenities… check out 2-mile long fitness trail while kids bike…
  • Belmont Lake State Park– 3-mile mixed terrain loop and pedal boats available in addition to fishing and a “bucolic setting”….
  • Camp Hero State Park– This quick, paved path passes by “some eerie abandoned military installations among the woods”…
  • Bethpage Bikeway– Fairly well maintained trail with a few street crossings. Extends from Massapequa Preserve to Beth Page State Park and north from there using Long Island Greenbelt Trail and CLIMB Trails. Park at Bethpage State Park and either go north or south from there…

CONNECTICUT

  • Pequonnock River Trail– A 16-mile greenway from Bridgeport, through Trumbull to Monroe… try the Housatonic Monroe Railbed, a 5-mile section of mostly finely crushed stone, start at William E. Wolf Park (Great Hollow Lake) and head north towards Newton (past that, you need a mountain bike)… but the whole trail is dotted with destinations, so check the website and pick your own adventure…
  • Shelton Lakes Recreation Path– Newly completed and 4 miles long predominantly crushed stone path…
  • Larkin State Park Trail– 10 miles of picturesque trail along the former railroad…
  • New Milford River Trail– 5 miles mixed terrain path that follows a river…
  • Ridgefield Rail Trail– Easy 2.5 miles of gravel, nothing fancy, but easy with kids…

NEW JERSEY

  • Loantaka Brook Reservation– 8 miles of scenic paved roads in a large park and connects to Patriot’s Path for longer rides…
  • West Essex Trail– Easy 3 miles that follow former railway and crosses a trestle…
  • Saddle River County Park– Easy, kid friendly 6-mile course wonders through 5 park areas along Saddle River…
  • Patriot’s Path– 30 miles that follow history. Check the map for kid-friendly sections… 3.5 miles with 12 access points and lots of farmer’s markets on the way…
  • Duke Farms– 12 miles of trails on gorgeous farm’s grounds. There’s a bike rentals/share program too…
  • Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park– Bike on an old towpath where mules were used to tow barges…
  • Washington Crossing Park– 15 miles of paths among famous historical sites…
  • Sandy Hook– Easy fun ride next to a beach. Traverse the whole place and see the lighthouse and old military installations…
  • Cooper River Park– Short paths that lead to a sculpture park, mini-golf and more…
  • The Pine Barrens– Several paths that can be as short, or as long as you want in an area that covers 5 counties (1.1 million acres), but do your homework before you go as many routes are on trafficked roads…
  • Columbia Trail– 16 miles of protected trail in the woods along Raritan River…

UPSTATE NY

  • Walkway Over The Hudson State Historic Park– Bike over this 1.28 mile long highest pedestrian bridge in the world…and continue on to Dutchess Rail Trail if they have the stamina…
  • Wallkill Valley Rail Trail– 22 miles of unpaved crushed stone trails linking New Paltz with Gardiner and Rosendale, has a bridge and nice views…
  • Harlem Valley Rail Trail– You can take it to Copake Falls from Wassaic Metro-North Station, but if that’s too long (20+ miles roundtrip), there are also parking lots available at multiple points including Taconic State Park…
  • Orange Heritage Trail– Great scenery, farm fields and woods on this paved 12+ mile trail perfect for beginners…
  • Catskills Visitor Center– Short loops for practice, but they also have a 80-foot fire tower and access to Esopus Creek, plus mountain bike rentals…
  • Tannersvill Bike Path(Huckleberry Multi-Use Trail)- Popular with families, short and sweet (<2 Miles one way) and you can have a picnic by Tannersville Lake (Lake Rip Van Winkle), where you can also park… small beach near-by too…
  • Ashokan Rail Trail– Views of Catskills and Hudson Valley and runs parallel to the reservoir, mostly paved and easy to navigate 5 miles…
  • Nyack Beach State Park– Take the Hook Mountain/Nyack Beach Bikeway from Nyack Beach State Park and enjoy some great Hudson views and flat bike paths on the southern end of this trail…
  • Putnam Trailway– 12 miles of paved paths in Putnam County from Brewster Village to Baldwin Place…

PENNSYLVANIA

  • D&R Canal State Park (Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park)– Bike on an old towpath where mules were used to tow barges… It’s a 70-mile park, so look at the website for maps and trails…
  • D&L Trail (Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor)- Try access points to this long trail that runs for 142 miles, at Lehigh Gorge State Park, or Delaware Canal State Park…
  • Perkiomen Trail– 20 mile trail follows old railroad through scenic villages and beautiful landscapes…
  • Carl Stirner Arts Trail– Paved roads wind through art sculptures…

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