Bronx River Forest Trails

You may not expect to find such pawesome forested nature trails in the heart of the Bronx, New York, but in Bronx Park, there are two excellent adventures just waiting for you and your furbaby to explore. The two trails that make up the Bronx River Forest Trails are both less than a mile in length, and relatively flat and easy to hike. The park has water and restroom access, but bring plastic baggies to pick up after your canine kid along the path.

To start the Blue loop path, enter on the southeast side of the Burke Bridge and head south toward the ballfields. From the Burke Bridge, you have an excellent view of the Bronx River. If you stay for a while before starting your hike, you can see many dif-fur-ent birds such as hawks, herons, cormorants, ducks, woodpeckers, and lots of songbirds. 

You will continue to have some great views of the river for the first quarter of a mile until reaching the Allerton Ballfields, where you will turn right (east) and pass the French Charley Playground. There are restrooms and water access here if you need to stop in. Then head north on the trail along the eastern edge of Bronx Park where you will meander through a forest. Head south, and then west on the path about another quarter of a mile until you get back the Burke Bridge. 

Enter the Burke Bridge on East Gun Hill Road for the Red Loop Trail, which is about 0.85 miles of paved path through the thick Bronx Forest. You will meander along the banks of the Bronx River, passing over several small bridges where you can stop and take some furific selfies with your pooch to share with furiends. There are several spots along the path where you will see boulder vanes, which are piles of rocks along the river placed to control the flow of the water away from the banks. You and your fur buddy will also likely see some waterfowl, turtles, and even some snakes or frogs as you skirt the edges of the river until you loop back to the Burke Bridge.

Both of these trails are fantastic, and you will likely want to come back again. Be sure to take out any trash you bring in so you and everyone else can enjoy the trails again and again.