Best partially paved trails in New York City, New York

Prospect Park has so many child-friendly attractions that you might find a single visit won't do them justice. You can also bring a ball and play in an open field, watch dogs frolic at dog beach, and walk through the ravine, New York's last remaining forest. In summer, the bandshell at 9th St., near the Harmony Playground, hosts concerts and dance performances. A stable offers trail rides in the park. Accessibility: The perimeter trail has a combination of paved surfaces and dirt surfaces. The paved sections have an estimated average grade of 3% and a max grade is 8% at about 2.3 miles. Assistance may be needed for wheelchair/mobility equipment or stroller users in sections where the grade is steeper than 5%. The paved trails are typically at least five feet wide.Show more

Note: this is the official orange trail on the Park's mapping system. Show more

The Ridgewood Reservoir is a popular paved path on the Brooklyn-Queens border in Highland Park. The now decommissioned reservoir is a public park where you’ll find plenty of walkers, runners, bikers and skaters. You’ll have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife, such as the snapping turtle or garter snake. Or, get lost among the Black Cherry or Red Maple trees. There are some incredible views, such as nearby cemeteries, the Rockaways and even the Atlantic Ocean. Show more

Please note: Running is not permitted within the cemetery. Show more

Accessibility: This asphalt, brick, concrete, and wooden boardwalk trail is estimated to typically be at least 7 feet wide. The slope is estimated to be mostly gentle and range from -4% (downhill) to 4% (uphill) grade. There are at least 2 ADA-compliant car parking spots with access aisles at the paved trailhead lot.Show more

The High Bridge is a pedestrian and cycling only bridge that connects Manhattan and the Bronx. This a nice trail that is partially paved and partially dirt. Accessibility: There is street parking on University Avenue near the High Bridge entrance, but it is unclear where the closest designated handicapped-accessible spaces are. To get onto the bridge, you can use a ramp north of 170th Street and University Avenue on the Bronx side. Once you have crossed the bridge, you can use a ramp at 167th Street and Edgecombe Avenue on the Manhattan side. The trail surface for about the first 0.5 miles is paved, smooth, and typically at least 12 feet wide, with portions of the trail having a yellow dividing line that reduces the width. At about 0.5 miles the trail turns into a packed dirt trail. The estimated grade of the paved portion until 0.5 miles is mostly gentle (5% or less), so this portion of the trail will likely be navigable for most wheelchairs/mobility equipment or strollers. Once the trail turns into dirt, there are several steep (8-12%) and very steep (over 12%) sections, so wheelchair/mobility equipment or stroller users may need assistance or to avoid the dirt section from 0.5 miles to 1.6 miles. Show more