Central Park North Woods Hike

The Central Park North Woods Hike at Central Park in New York, New York is an easy 2.9-mile one-way walk that leads to the North Woods Loch Waterfall, The Pool, Glen Span Arch and the neighboring waterfall Pool Falls, the Blockhouse, and the Conservatory Garden.

Hike Description
This hike begins at the very center of north Central Park and heads south toward the North Woods Loch Waterfall for the first stop. This small waterfall, no more than 7-feet tall, cascades through what feels like the middle of the woods in the middle of NYC. This is a popular spot, so expect plenty of other visitors taking pictures.

From the North Woods Loch Waterfall, this track heads south, passing through The Ravine, to reach the baseball fields. From the fields, this track heads northwest to reach The Pool. At The Pool, the track heads downhill about 100-feet east to hit yet another waterfall that spills down from The Pool before the water passes under the Glen Span Arch - a scenic stone archway. I've dubbed this waterfall Pool Falls, though it might have an official name that I cannot find.

From here, the track heads back toward The Pool and north to reach the Blockhouse which was part of an old fortification system built to defend New York from the British during the War of 1812. There's not much to see in the Blockhouse, but just behind it is a small (mostly seasonal) view.

From the Blockhouse, we ended up meandering southeast to reach the Conservatory Garden. At the garden, the track meanders around each section - first the French garden (north), Italian garden (middle), and English garden (south) - before heading north and out of the park to end this hike along Harlem Meer.

Parking
Street parking can be found in the neighborhoods around the north section of Central Park.

Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed and their waste must be clean up by the hiker.

Waterfalls
This hike passes two waterfalls - North Woods Loch Waterfall and The Pool waterfall that cascades down toward the Glen Span Arch.