I recently went on a walk from the George Washington Bridge near 175th St in Manhattan down the path all the way to 96th. The path doesn’t follow the Hudson the entire way, but overall it’s a lovely walk. It’s quiet, especially in January. And there’s a surprising amount of nature for being Manhattan.

The route takes you through Inwood Hill Park, Fort Tryon, and eventually down along the river. The winter light was flat and gray in that specific New York January way, but the path stays interesting because the terrain keeps changing: you’re on bluffs, then river level, then back up. The George Washington Bridge looks different from below than it does from a car.

I’d do this again in late fall or early spring when the leaves are doing something. In summer it’s probably crowded. In January you mostly have it to yourself.