Blueway 1 Play

Home , Concrete Plant Park, Soundview Park, Starlight Park

E. 219th St Bronx River Shoelace Park Blueway 1 play

2 3 4 Arched Bridges

Greenway and Blueway trails

Stone Mill

Landing at New York Botanical Garden Portage (Point #7) 7 Stone Mill

9 Dams Dams 9 Launch at base of Twin Dams, Bronx Zoo (Point #9) Photo: Jonathan Barkey 5 River Park Birchall Ave 10

Ranaqua play BBQ Bronx Parks HQ

West Unionport Rd Farm 11 Rapids

10 12 Drew 11 Gardens Until the ﬁ sh passage is built in River Park 12 with a walkway for paddlers, boats must be lowered from the top of the dam. (Point #10)

play

14 Concrete Plant Park

SKIM BOOM Sheridan

5 Concrete Plant Park

Point of interest 15

Restrooms

Parking

BBQ Barbeque area 17 16 play Playground Hunts Point Riverside Park Access point BBQ

Bronx River Greenway (sections still in development)

the water used to slow erosion and regenerate the banks. the regenerate and erosion slow to used water the

. 430-1840 (718) call (718) 595-3493. (718) Michael J. Hunter, Anne-Marie Runfola Anne-Marie Hunter, J. Michael Text: will eventually include a nature center and fishing pier. fishing and center nature a include eventually will

staked to the river’s edge, and boulder vanes placed at angles in in angles at placed vanes boulder and edge, river’s the to staked

For information about NYC Parks boat access permits, permits, access boat Parks NYC about information For

NYC Department of Environmental Protection Marine Section at at Section Marine Protection Environmental of Department NYC and features ball fields, picnic areas, and new boat access. The park park The access. boat new and areas, picnic fields, ball features and

River Greenway. Look for coconut-fiber coir logs, tree trunks trunks tree logs, coir coconut-fiber for Look Greenway. River of the Environmental Protection Fund. Protection Environmental the of

is a critical link in the Bronx River Greenway. River Bronx the in link critical a is

www.nyc.gov/parks visit or , 311 call please k: ar P lant P rete c Con

If the boom is full of debris, contact the the contact debris, of full is boom the If

river, directly across from Hunts Point Riverside Park Park Riverside Point Hunts from across directly river,

17 boat access and is now part of the walking path along the Bronx Bronx the along path walking the of part now is and access boat

Division of Coastal Resources under Title 11 11 Title under Resources Coastal of Division

2010) offers easy vehicular access from E. 179 E. from access vehicular easy offers 2010) St. and and St.

For more information about NYC Parks, Parks, NYC about information more For

11 11 k ar P w ndvie u o S is on the east (left) bank of the the of bank (left) east the on is th

Constructed in 1918, the stairway in the center was meant for for meant was center the in stairway the 1918, in Constructed

by the New York State Department of State State of Department State York New the by

k ar P apids R Farms West (estimated to open in in open to (estimated

adjacent parkland. parkland. adjacent

www.bronxriver.org River Parkway, mark the entrance to the Bronx River Forest. Forest. River Bronx the to entrance the mark Parkway, River

This guide was prepared with funding provided provided funding with prepared was guide This

4 4 river.

useful as an emergency exit or to reach the forest walking trail and and trail walking forest the reach to or exit emergency an as useful

find more information and updates at updates and information more find . dvisements A ortage P ee S system. portage boat Bridges hed c r A b om c n Du , part of the original Bronx Bronx original the of part ,

occupies all of the land on the west (right) bank to the mouth of the the of mouth the to bank (right) west the on land the of all occupies

launch or landing can be challenging. However, this access site is is site access this However, challenging. be can landing or launch

View the guide online and and online guide the View fish passage will be built into the dam that will include an improved improved an include will that dam the into built be will passage fish

Center, the largest food distribution center in the world. This facility facility This world. the in center distribution food largest the Center,

upstream along the right bank. With no parking in the vicinity, a a vicinity, the in parking no With bank. right the along upstream

home to a tapestry mill at the turn of the 20 the of turn the at mill tapestry a to home century. century.

grilling, access to 2 and 5 trains, and a dam. By 2011, a a 2011, By dam. a and trains, 5 and 2 to access grilling,

play area. South of the park is the Hunts Point Food Distribution Distribution Food Point Hunts the is park the of South area. play

the west (right) side, round the southern end of the island and head head and island the of end southern the round side, (right) west the 10 10 century estate still stands in the river, and the east (left) bank was was bank (left) east the and river, the in stands still estate century

k/180 ar P iver R . t S features restrooms, play area, area, play restrooms, features

a floating dock, amphitheatre, tables, grills, and a spray shower shower spray a and grills, tables, amphitheatre, dock, floating a th

: levard u Bo ff Kazimiro To reach this point, pass the island on on island the pass point, this reach To steps leading to the river. A bridge foundation from a nineteenth nineteenth a from foundation bridge A river. the to leading steps

• Storage of personal property or boats left unattended. left boats or property personal of Storage •

access in over 60 years when it opened in 2006. The park features features park The 2006. in opened it when years 60 over in access

ESS ADVISEMENTS ESS CC A

. dvisements A ortage P ee S

stabilizes the west (right) bank and surrounds the small small the surrounds and bank (right) west the stabilizes

3 3

• Camping or open fires. open or Camping •

the Hunts Point neighborhood their first waterfront waterfront first their neighborhood Point Hunts the

16 16

conditions. on depending distances, short for boats x Kno Fort , a “cribbing project” built of logs logs of built project” “cribbing a , At

• Any discharge into water. into discharge Any •

currents at the launch site. launch the at currents k ar P iverside R oint P nts Hu offered residents of of residents offered

shallow at times. Paddlers may need to disembark and pull pull and disembark to need may Paddlers times. at shallow

• Littering or dumping debris. dumping or Littering •

the rocks at the foot of the falls. At high water, there may be strong strong be may there water, high At falls. the of foot the at rocks the to make way for rail and roadways. and rail for way make to

The stretch from these dams to River Park can be very very be can Park River to dams these from stretch The

• Dogs off leash. off Dogs • Northern Manhattan. Watch for occasional barge traffic. barge occasional for Watch Manhattan. Northern

launch site via a walkway on top of the fish passage. Launch along along Launch passage. fish the of top on walkway a via site launch

many oxbows, but they were erased as the river was straightened straightened was river the as erased were they but oxbows, many

Works, a.k.a “The Bleach” until 1888. 1888. until Bleach” “The a.k.a Works,

• Swimming, diving, or wading (this includes pets). pets). includes (this wading or diving, Swimming, • which collect scrap metal, glass, and plastic from the Bronx and and Bronx the from plastic and glass, metal, scrap collect which 9 9

paddlers will be able to carry their boats from the landing to the the to landing the from boats their carry to able be will paddlers water deposits sediment on the other. At one time the river had had river the time one At other. the on sediment deposits water

ams D in Tw oo Z x Bron powered Bolton’s Bleach and Dye Dye and Bleach Bolton’s powered

it b rohi P les Ru h c n u a L ilities c a f ling cyc re on the west (right) bank of the river, river, the of bank (right) west the on

end of the boat to a second person on the ground below. By 2011, 2011, By below. ground the on person second a to boat the of end 15 15 caused when fast currents erode one bank while slower-moving slower-moving while bank one erode currents fast when caused

Passing under the Bruckner Expressway, notice the the notice Expressway, Bruckner the under Passing

the boats, one to stand at the top of the wall, slowly lowering one one lowering slowly wall, the of top the at stand to one boats, the

portage points. portage

“oxbow” formation, a naturally occurring U-shaped bend bend U-shaped occurring naturally a formation, “oxbow”

2 2

sites without adult supervision. adult without sites

safe distance apart. It is best to have at least two people move move people two least at have to best is It apart. distance safe Do not disembark in any part of the zoo except the the except zoo the of part any in disembark not Do Bridge oad R ill H n Gu spans the river’s last remaining remaining last river’s the spans

. dvisements A ess Acc ee S boom—use caution. caution. boom—use

• Do not let children near the water, river banks, or access access or banks, river water, the near children let not Do •

you approach the landing, and when traveling in a group, keep a a keep group, a in traveling when and landing, the approach you turtles, egrets, and herons in the small lake ahead. ahead. lake small the in herons and egrets, turtles,

but if debris has accumulated it can be difficult to paddle past the the past paddle to difficult be can it accumulated has debris if but

clothing. clothing.

: 211 : re dvisements A ther O ee S treet S

so caution and preparation are important. Keep to the right as as right the to Keep important. are preparation and caution so

oo Z . Be very quiet here if you want to catch a glimpse of the the of glimpse a catch to want you if here quiet very Be . th

8 8 collects floatable debris. The DEP removes the floatables regularly, regularly, floatables the removes DEP The debris. floatable collects

more than adequate food and water; and extra protective protective extra and water; and food adequate than more Before that time, the river banks here were primarily industrial. industrial. primarily were here banks river the time, that Before

portage is on the west (right), very close to the edge of the falls, falls, the of edge the to close very (right), west the on is portage x x Bron Fordham Road marks the northern boundary of the the of boundary northern the marks Road Fordham

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) “skim boom” that that boom” “skim (DEP) Protection Environmental of Department

• Bring appropriate safety, rescue, and navigational aids; aids; navigational and rescue, safety, appropriate Bring •

restore and protect the Bronx River as a recreational resource. resource. recreational a as River Bronx the protect and restore

k/180 ar P iver R : t S This is the most challenging portage. The The portage. challenging most the is This

th Spanning the river in front of Concrete Plant Park is a NYC NYC a is Park Plant Concrete of front in river the Spanning

. dvisements A ortage P ee S

• Carry a spare paddle. spare a Carry • Bronx River Parkway Reservation, a series of parks intended to to intended parks of series a Reservation, Parkway River Bronx

currents at the launch site. launch the at currents to a portage on the east (left) bank. (left) east the on portage a to in when you return. you when in original parkway was completed in 1925, officials also created the the created also officials 1925, in completed was parkway original

south sections of the Bronx River Greenway. River Bronx the of sections south

exercise caution and patience. At high water, there may be strong strong be may there water, high At patience. and caution exercise warning of a dam (waterfall) ahead and directing paddlers paddlers directing and ahead (waterfall) dam a of warning check and plans your of trip your on not someone Notify • what are now Bronx Blvd. and the upper park pathway. When the the When pathway. park upper the and Blvd. Bronx now are what

space and waterfront access. It is also a key link between north and and north between link key a also is It access. waterfront and space

at a time and the path down the other side of the island is steep, so so steep, is island the of side other the down path the and time a at

e cautious upon entering the gorge. Note the signs signs the Note gorge. the entering upon cautious e B • Be aware of power boats & other personal watercraft. personal other & boats power of aware Be • originally followed the eastern border of Shoelace Park, along along Park, Shoelace of border eastern the followed originally

abandoned concrete plant, is now a park offering green green offering park a now is plant, concrete abandoned

14 14

trail goes up and over the island. No more than two boats may land land may boats two than more No island. the over and up goes trail current Stone Mill was built in 1842. 1842. in built was Mill Stone current • Be aware of weather, tides and currents. and tides weather, of aware Be • the river. Across the river is the Bronx River Parkway, which which Parkway, River Bronx the is river the Across river. the

k ar P lant P rete c Con , formerly a working and then then and working a formerly ,

to a small island between the twin dams here. The short portage portage short The here. dams twin the between island small a to several mills that manufactured snuff between 1792 and 1870. The The 1870. and 1792 between snuff manufactured that mills several personal flotation device (PFD). device flotation personal

Bronx River Blueway reaches it before run-off stormwater polluted filter and capture

look for the channel on the east (left) just before the falls, leading leading falls, the before just (left) east the on channel the for look

waterfall in the Garden is the remains of a dam that powered powered that dam a of remains the is Garden the in waterfall All paddlers must wear a United States Coast Guard approved approved Guard Coast States United a wear must paddlers All • (Park estimated to open in 2012.) in open to estimated (Park

Map & Guide to monument the of base the at garden rain a installed has

IN DAMS: IN W T oo Z x Bron South of Fordham Road about 600 feet, feet, 600 about Road Fordham of South or changed, by the tectonic forces that shaped the region. The The region. the shaped that forces tectonic the by changed, or • Paddlers enter the water at their own risk. own their at water the enter Paddlers • before or after low tide. Check tide charts when planning your trip. trip. your planning when charts tide Check tide. low after or before World War I. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Recreation & Parks of Department City York New The I. War World

Schist and Fordham Gneiss—rocks that have been metamorphosed, metamorphosed, been have that Gneiss—rocks Fordham and Schist • Do not paddle alone. paddle not Do • then, paddlers can safely pass over the weir at least two hours hours two least at weir the over pass safely can paddlers then, is a granite obelisk dedicated to the neighborhood men lost in in lost men neighborhood the to dedicated obelisk granite a is

bank.

within a fault line and between cliffs of blended Manhattan Manhattan blended of cliffs between and line fault a within • Obtain a NYC Parks access permit. access Parks NYC a Obtain • and a floating dock to allow passage around the obstruction. Until Until obstruction. the around passage allow to dock floating a and top of the stairs leading down to the parkhouse from Bronx Blvd. Blvd. Bronx from parkhouse the to down leading stairs the of top

7 7

will be another 0.1 miles south of the Stone Mill on the west (right) (right) west the on Mill Stone the of south miles 0.1 another be will

arden G al c Botani k Yor w e N , the river flows flows river the , the In To help you, here are some additional Safety Guidelines: Safety additional some are here you, help To Alliance headquarters will be built near the weir, with a boat ramp ramp boat a with weir, the near built be will headquarters Alliance St. entrance to the park. At the the At park. the to entrance St. point in the Bronx is near the 219 the near is Bronx the in point

for temporary portage path signs. When complete, the new launch launch new the complete, When signs. path portage temporary for

We want you to have FUN and be SAFE while on the water. water. the on while SAFE be and FUN have to you want We or weir, protruding from the water at low tide. The Bronx River River Bronx The tide. low at water the from protruding weir, or of the Bronx River Greenway. The northernmost paddler access access paddler northernmost The Greenway. River Bronx the of

the Stone Mill. The area is being reconstructed in 2010, so watch watch so 2010, in reconstructed being is area The Mill. Stone the

. . isements v d A ccess A ee S

oints P y et f a S the park, paddlers should look out for a concrete low-head dam, dam, low-head concrete a for out look should paddlers park, the along the east (left) bank of the Bronx River and part part and River Bronx the of bank (left) east the along

1 1

east (left) bank. Follow the path south 0.2 miles, or 1,000 feet, to to feet, 1,000 or miles, 0.2 south path the Follow bank. (left) east

flat stones on the east (left) bank. bank. (left) east the on stones flat

the blue steel 174 steel blue the St. Bridge. At the southern end of of end southern the At Bridge. St. k ar P e c hoela S 6 6 is a one-mile ribbon of city parkland parkland city of ribbon one-mile a is

13 th th

: arden G al c Botani k Yor w e N Follow signs to the landing on the the on landing the to signs Follow . Blvd ff Kazimiro is a limited-access point made of of made point limited-access a is

k ar P tarlight S (left) to pass under the East Tremont Ave. Bridge. Bridge. Ave. Tremont East the under pass to (left) ’s northern boundary is marked by by marked is boundary northern ’s

PORTAGE ADVISEMENTS PORTAGE

rapids that require close attention to avoid capsizing. Stay east east Stay capsizing. avoid to attention close require that rapids made for a paddler heading downstream, or south. or downstream, heading paddler a for made

common merganser, and muskrat. and merganser, common

garden, the river becomes tidal. tidal. becomes river the garden,

long, a rocky bottom and drop in elevation here create small small create here elevation in drop and bottom rocky a long, Note: Unless otherwise noted, references to left and right are are right and left to references noted, otherwise Unless Note:

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/facilities/kayak/ birch, and white snakeroot, and native fauna, including the mallard, mallard, the including fauna, native and snakeroot, white and birch,

and a farmers market flourish here. At the southern end of the of end southern the At here. flourish market farmers a and

180 ve A remont T ast E to . t S : Although only a few blocks blocks few a only Although :

oints P ess Acc and nterest I f o oints P

Find the interactive New York City Water Trail map at: map Trail Water City York New interactive the Find

more than 250 thriving species of native flora such as pin oak, river river oak, pin as such flora native of species thriving 250 than more th

thanks to community efforts, a butterfly garden, vegetable plots, plots, vegetable garden, butterfly a efforts, community to thanks

Bronx River Forest, and the Bronx Zoo. Today, the forest is home to to home is forest the Today, Zoo. Bronx the and Forest, River Bronx

a small opening between the rocks and the west (right) bank. bank. (right) west the and rocks the between opening small a that was once a trash-strewn industrial landfill. Today, Today, landfill. industrial trash-strewn a once was that

and enjoy the experience. the enjoy and 12 12

York City’s connected waterways. waterways. connected City’s York Park, 718.1 acres that house the New York Botanical Garden, the the Garden, Botanical York New the house that acres 718.1 Park,

across the river. Boats can most easily pass on the far right through through right far the on pass easily most can Boats river. the across ardens G w re D is a community garden established in 1994 1994 in established garden community a is

and is designed to help paddlers navigate the river safely safely river the navigate paddlers help to designed is and

prepared, experienced paddlers have many options to explore New New explore to options many have paddlers experienced prepared, Burke Bridge. Burke Bridge is also the northern border of Bronx Bronx of border northern the also is Bridge Burke Bridge. Burke

211 . t S At At , a small impoundment has created a shallow, rocky line line rocky shallow, a created has impoundment small a ,

covers the eight-mile stretch flowing through the Bronx Bronx the through flowing stretch eight-mile the covers th

Whitestone Bridge, LaGuardia Airport, and Riker’s Island. From here, here, From Island. Riker’s and Airport, LaGuardia Bridge, Whitestone an improved Greenway bike path, and renovation of the historic historic the of renovation and path, bike Greenway improved an f dvisements A ther O ee S . . details or

., ite mls ot o te rn bre.Ti guide This border. Bronx the of north miles fifteen N.Y,

Atlantic Ocean. Looking clockwise from Soundview, you will see the the see will you Soundview, from clockwise Looking Ocean. Atlantic on rocks in shallow conditions, especially during the summer. summer. the during especially conditions, shallow in rocks on of the river’s floodplain, construction of a boardwalk and loop trail, trail, loop and boardwalk a of construction floodplain, river’s the of highest water. highest

headwaters are located near the Kensico Dam in Valhalla, Valhalla, in Dam Kensico the near located are headwaters

from it, connects to New York Harbor, Long Island Sound, and the the and Sound, Island Long Harbor, York New to connects it, from flatter bottomed boats. Boats with deep keels will get scraped scraped get will keels deep with Boats boats. bottomed flatter more than 100 years old. Recent improvements include restoration restoration include improvements Recent old. years 100 than more the East Tremont Ave. Ave. Tremont East the ridge is impassible in all but the the but all in impassible is ridge B

one of New York City’s natural treasures. The river’s river’s The treasures. natural City’s York New of one

iver R . At this point the river joins the East River and and River East the joins river the point this At .

New York Botanical Garden, boasts many trees that are are that trees many boasts Garden, Botanical York New Water may be quite shallow but still navigable, particularly in in particularly navigable, still but shallow quite be may Water most challenging section of river. The west (right) side of of side (right) west The river. of section challenging most

5 5 Welcome to the Bronx Bronx the to , iver R

th u mo x x Bron the f o River buoys 5 and 6 mark the the mark 6 and 5 buoys River

iver R x Bron Forest OTHER ADVISEMENTS ADVISEMENTS OTHER he T , which extends south into the the into south extends which , Street to East Tremont Avenue is the the is Avenue Tremont East to Street 180 TION! U A C th