On a glorius autumn day October 29, 2022, I lead a group of 30 people on a exploration of the human and natural history of this 1,146 acre park (larger than Central Park). The fall foliage was gorgeous and is captured in the pictures below.
Park highlights include the 188 acre Northwest Forest which features the 1.5 mile Cass Gallagher Nature Trail. This is an older natural forest with magificent trees and rocky outcroppings, including boulders from the last ice age and large formations of Fordham Gneiss (one billion year old rocks!).
Some specific sites with links.
The oldest house in The Bronx from 1748, the Van Cortlandt House, once the center of a large plantation that had as many as 20 enslaved people working there.
The largest freshwater lake in The Bronx
The newly designated Enslaved African Burial Ground
Remnants of old train station from the NY Central Railroad
America's first municipal gold course (1895, still popular)
The Riverdale Stables (horseback riding and riding school, all ages)
The Grand Central Stones: Back in 1905 fifteen different stone samples were placed in the park, exposed to the elements, to determine which would be the best for the construction of Grand Central Terminal
A variety of hiking trails
