Bronx River Forest — Attraction in New York

Serene. Scenic. Beautiful. Dog and exercise friendly. This overall park is massive! You see a lot of e-bikes/scooter users, bike riders, and NYC Parks vehicles come thru. There's walking trails, pedestrian bridges, and nature trails, too, parallel to the water on one side and the highway on the other. Further south (just about 205th St/Webster Ave entrance area), we found playgrounds, ball courts, a baseball field, benches, and even back trails with bridges and streams - great places for photo backdrops. The feel/sound was similar to standing in a nature exhibit at the zoo. We were a little cautious with the kids/dog because you can literally access the water with no problem.

The area is dense, desolate, and shaded, and it gets dark quickly. During heavy rain, the grounds flood badly, making it muddy. The BRP highway actually floods pretty badly in heavy rains. Come to think of it, it gets shut down during these conditions, so I wouldn't recommend walking through in inclimate weather, lots of down trees. There were some posted ground level signage, cautioning goers to be aware of chemicals used to treat the vegetation. I imagine they could be harmful to humans and/or pets. Exercise safety where and...

One of the finest zoos, sprawling over 265 acres, the Bronx Zoo offers ample parking at the Bronx River Forest area. Our parking fee was $20. If you plan to visit on a free day, it's wise to secure your tickets in advance through the link provided in the FAQ section of their website. While the chosen time slot often doesn't impact entry, the decision rests with the entrance staff on the day of your visit. It's worth noting that during the summer, free days tend to draw large crowds. Consider enhancing your experience by upgrading your free ticket for $17, which grants access to unlimited rides on the hop-on-hop-off battery train, the Jungle World exhibit, the monorail, and the Gorilla section – all included in the upgrade.

To thoroughly explore the entire park, allocate a minimum of...

This has always been one of the first places where my friends (from the Blvd) and myself have always hiked, biked and paddled to since the 1960's.

And it's wonderful to witness the great diversity of wildlife within NYC. Or as we would call it, the Bronx Bayou, with some incredibly huge animals. Including 50 lb snappers and enormous smaller mammals. Plus magnificent waterfowl (including wood ducks) and majestic herons. Also owls, listen to their hooting in the evenings, but always be alert and aware of your surroundings, most especially at dusk. And never hike alone at nighttime.

Unfortunately, still no 29ft gators, the photo is of one small one from the Bronx Zoo. However, who knows, one may...