Hello, my name is
Megan

Walking Around Manhattan

In NYC, there's an annual event called the Great Saunter, in which people walk around the entire perimeter of Manhattan, about 32 miles, in a single day. I loved the idea when I heard about it, but there's no way I would be able to do it in one day, or at least enjoy doing it. So! I decided to do it in parts - about 4 miles at a time, over the course of several weekends.

Click the image thumbnails to expand them!

First Section (Sept 15th, 2024)

Map of Manhattan with a line going from Battery Park to 14th Street along the west side

I started at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, and ended the first day at Pier 57 (approximately 14th Street). This is an area I've spent a lot of time around already, but there was a lot I hadn't seen (or at least, noticed) before!

A picture of water with a silhouette of the Statue of Liberty visible in the distance
A picture of water with a silhouette of the Statue of Liberty visible in the distance
The Jersey City skyline from Lower Manhattan
The Jersey City skyline from Lower Manhattan
A structure with many columns in a pedestrian area surrounded by trees
A structure with many columns in a pedestrian area surrounded by trees
A long bench with the panels painted multiple colors on the side of a pedestrian area
A long bench with the panels painted multiple colors on the side of a pedestrian area
A picture from a pier of a docked sailboat and many skyscrapers
A picture from a pier of a docked sailboat and many skyscrapers
A boat labeled 'Don't Tell Mom'
A boat labeled 'Don't Tell Mom'
Two purple flowers
Two purple flowers
A grass field with some people sitting or standing and many ducks
A grass field with some people sitting or standing and many ducks
Two children's play structures shaped like large fish
Two children's play structures shaped like large fish
A picture of a pier from a distance with the words 'I want to thank you' painted on it
A picture of a pier from a distance with the words 'I want to thank you' painted on it
A metal structure over a sidewalk
A metal structure over a sidewalk
A metal statue of a stylized apple
A metal statue of a stylized apple

Second Section (Sept 22nd, 2024)

Map of Manhattan with a line going from 14th Street to 72nd Street on the west side

On the second day, I went from Pier 57 up to 72nd Street. The first day was pretty built-up and touristy, and this stretch is for most of it too. Once I got up around 60th Street, it very quickly started getting greener and quieter.

A boat with the label 'Frying Pan'
A boat with the label 'Frying Pan'
A restaurant on a pier with a large frying pan in front
A restaurant on a pier with a large frying pan in front
Colorful flowers behind a wire fence
Colorful flowers behind a wire fence
A painting of a woman on a wall across a busy street
A painting of a woman on a wall across a busy street
A boat with a sign saying 'eat tacos on a boat'
A boat with a sign saying 'eat tacos on a boat'
A large statue of a bottle on its side
A large statue of a bottle on its side
A large tree in front of an elevated road and buildings
A large tree in front of an elevated road and buildings
A shiny new pier alongside broken wooden posts
A shiny new pier alongside broken wooden posts
A wood path with plants on either side
A wood path with plants on either side
A broken down wood and metal structure in the water
A broken down wood and metal structure in the water
A path through a grassy area between a raised road and buildings
A path through a grassy area between a raised road and buildings

Third Section (Sept 29th, 2024)

Map of Manhattan with a line going from 72nd Street to 125th Street on the west side

On the third day, I went from 72nd street up to 125th street. A stretch of the waterfront path here was blocked off for construction, so much of this was along an elevated portion of Riverside Park.

A tree on a rainy day
A tree on a rainy day
A picture from the top of an outdoor staircase on a rainy day
A picture from the top of an outdoor staircase on a rainy day
A tree with a trunk that bends at a near right angle to lean over the path
A tree with a trunk that bends at a near right angle to lean over the path
Large trees with fall colors and many orange leaves on the ground
Large trees with fall colors and many orange leaves on the ground
Empty docks in the river on a rainy day
Empty docks in the river on a rainy day
A barrier between a path and road with various graffiti on a rainy day
A barrier between a path and road with various graffiti on a rainy day
A large yellow bunch of flowers in front of a stone wall
A large yellow bunch of flowers in front of a stone wall
Large flower bushes behind a bench on a rainy day
Large flower bushes behind a bench on a rainy day
A walking path framed by autumn trees on a rainy day
A walking path framed by autumn trees on a rainy day
Trees and many fallen leaves on a rainy day
Trees and many fallen leaves on a rainy day
A tree stump on the side of a path on a rainy day
A tree stump on the side of a path on a rainy day

It... rained a lot! For the record, it wasn't raining much when I started - by the time the rain got bad, I was already pretty far 😅

Video of rain on a path

Fourth Section (Oct 6th, 2024)

Map of Manhattan with a line going from 125th Street to Dyckman Street on the west side

The fourth day, and the last before I paused for winter, I went from 125th Street to Dyckman Street, at the top of Fort Tryon Park. Stretches of this walk were also closed off for construction, but some parts were right along the water (including an adorable little lighthouse!)

A bike path under an elevated road
A bike path under an elevated road
An Amtrak train going by behind a fence
An Amtrak train going by behind a fence
A statue in a park that looks like a boulder with a pink structure sticking from the top
A statue in a park that looks like a boulder with a pink structure sticking from the top
A swingset in a fenced playground surrounded by green trees
A swingset in a fenced playground surrounded by green trees
Some ducks on the river with a bridge in the distance
Some ducks on the river with a bridge in the distance
A walking path surrounded by trees with a bridge in the distance
A walking path surrounded by trees with a bridge in the distance
A photo from the river shore of a distant skyline
A photo from the river shore of a distant skyline
A small red lighthouse under a bridge
A small red lighthouse under a bridge
A small tree on the river shore with a sailboat visible in the distance
A small tree on the river shore with a sailboat visible in the distance
A pedestrian bridge with a sign saying 'Our Community is Our Strength'
A pedestrian bridge with a sign saying 'Our Community is Our Strength'
A bunch of flowers next to a street
A bunch of flowers next to a street
A statue in a park in a squared zigzag shape
A statue in a park in a squared zigzag shape

Fifth Section (May 3rd, 2025)

Map of Manhattan with a line going from Dyckman Street on the west side around the top of the island and to 155th Street on the east side

Once it started getting warmer again, I started back up at Dyckman Street on the west side, looping around the top of Manhattan and ending up at 155th Street on the east side. Did you know that after you enter the east side waterfront walkway at Dyckman Street, there's no way to cross back over Harlem River Drive until you reach 155th Street? I didn't!

A small run-down building covered in plants
A small run-down building covered in plants
A tree with part of the trunk hollowed out
A tree with part of the trunk hollowed out
The underside of a highway with cars parked under it
The underside of a highway with cars parked under it
A staircase up to the elevated subway with a 'No Entry' sign
A staircase up to the elevated subway with a 'No Entry' sign
Trees with pink blossoms and many petals on the ground
Trees with pink blossoms and many petals on the ground
A stone fence covered in plants along a riverside walkway
A stone fence covered in plants along a riverside walkway
Three consecutive bridges visible in the distance
Three consecutive bridges visible in the distance
The underside of a bridge with a similar bridge visible further along the path
The underside of a bridge with a similar bridge visible further along the path
A stone structure overgrown with plants with assorted graffiti
A stone structure overgrown with plants with assorted graffiti
A tower on a hill at the start of a bridge
A tower on a hill at the start of a bridge
Buildings visible through trees and bushes on the other side of a grassy area
Buildings visible through trees and bushes on the other side of a grassy area

Looping around the top of the island was pretty neat - from under the Henry Hudson Bridge, I could see a small bit of land poking into the water in the distance, and when I looped around to that bit of land, I could see the spot I had just been a little while ago.

A path beneath one side of a bridge that goes over the river
A path beneath one side of a bridge that goes over the river
A small area of land visible across the water through trees
A small area of land visible across the water through trees
A bridge jutting out from a hilly, forested area across the water
A bridge jutting out from a hilly, forested area across the water

I also found a cute area called, of all things, "Swindler Cove" - right before getting stuck on the river side of Harlem River Drive for the next almost 50 blocks :)

A small garden with small arches and various flowers
A small garden with small arches and various flowers
Clusters of white flowers on a bush
Clusters of white flowers on a bush
A small pond with water flowing down rock tiers

Sixth Section (May 11th, 2025)

Map of Manhattan with a line going from 155th Street to 96th Street on the east side

On the sixth day, I went from 155th Street to 96th Street. A lot of this was away from the water, at times quite a bit inland! Some sections were under construction, and some just didn't offer riverfront access at all. There was some interesting art along this stretch though!

A colorful mural on the side of a building
A colorful mural on the side of a building
A strange wooden figure setting on a bench in a grassy field
A strange wooden figure setting on a bench in a grassy field
A turtle structure with faded paint on a playground, visible through a chain-link fence
A turtle structure with faded paint on a playground, visible through a chain-link fence
A large box with beaded sides next to a brick wall
A large box with beaded sides next to a brick wall
A walking path alongside an overgrown lower area next to the river
A walking path alongside an overgrown lower area next to the river
A pedestrian icon on a walking path, with a smiley face painted on the head
A pedestrian icon on a walking path, with a smiley face painted on the head
A monochrome art piece on metal, mounted on a fence next to the river
A monochrome art piece on metal, mounted on a fence next to the river
A mural showing branches with blossoms along a wall underneath a bridge
A mural showing branches with blossoms along a wall underneath a bridge
A large metal sculpture in a park
A large metal sculpture in a park
A bridge going to a grassy area with tall buildings visible in the further distance
A bridge going to a grassy area with tall buildings visible in the further distance
Leaves and flowers next to a walking path
Leaves and flowers next to a walking path
A colorful flower garden behind a fence alongside a brick building
A colorful flower garden behind a fence alongside a brick building

Seventh Section (May 25th, 2025)

Map of Manhattan with a line going from 96th Street to 35th Street on the east side

On the penultimate walk, I went from 96th Street to 35th Street. There were some inland stretches, especially around the UN.

Trees and bushes on either side of a road with a red 'Wrong Way' sign visible behind a tree
Trees and bushes on either side of a road with a red 'Wrong Way' sign visible behind a tree
A broken section of path along the river, behind a chain-link fence
A broken section of path along the river, behind a chain-link fence
A fence covered in ivy with a bench beneath it
A fence covered in ivy with a bench beneath it
A small lighthouse on the end of an island in the middle of the river
A small lighthouse on the end of an island in the middle of the river
A metal sign saying 'John Finley Walk' showing a silhouette of a man and bird, with a live pigeon perching on top of the sign
A metal sign saying 'John Finley Walk' showing a silhouette of a man and bird, with a live pigeon perching on top of the sign
A bridge across the river to an area with many buildings
A bridge across the river to an area with many buildings
A white cat painted vertically on a purple background next to a door
A white cat painted vertically on a purple background next to a door
A tree with clusters of white blossoms
A tree with clusters of white blossoms
A bridge across the river with a lit street lamp visible in the foreground
A bridge across the river with a lit street lamp visible in the foreground
A pattern in the tiles of a walking path
A pattern in the tiles of a walking path
Various purple, pink, and white flowers
Various purple, pink, and white flowers
A large statue of a man on a horse fighting winged creatures
A large statue of a man on a horse fighting winged creatures

Last Section (June 8th, 2025)

Map of Manhattan with a line going from 35th Street to Battery Park on the east side

The final stretch! I went from 35th Street to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal - where I started back in September. I haven't spent as much time on this side as on the west side, but this was definitely back in relatively familiar territory. Still saw some things I hadn't noticed before!

A large statue of a sitting dalmatian balancing a taxi on its nose
A large statue of a sitting dalmatian balancing a taxi on its nose
Purple flowers with a bee buzzing around them
Purple flowers with a bee buzzing around them
The river visible through trees and flowers in side-by-side planters
The river visible through trees and flowers in side-by-side planters
A bunch of purple flowers in front of the river
A bunch of purple flowers in front of the river
The Williamsburg Bridge with the Domino Sugar sign visible in the distance
The Williamsburg Bridge with the Domino Sugar sign visible in the distance
Clusters of pink and green blossoms on a bush
Clusters of pink and green blossoms on a bush
A variety of flowers in the median of a road with an elevated highway visible in the background
A variety of flowers in the median of a road with an elevated highway visible in the background
The Manhattan Bridge visible behind a section of elevated highway painted purple
The Manhattan Bridge visible behind a section of elevated highway painted purple
The Brooklyn Bridge in the distance from a walkway beneath a highway painted purple
The Brooklyn Bridge in the distance from a walkway beneath a highway painted purple
The Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges visible on either side of the image, both going over the river
The Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges visible on either side of the image, both going over the river
A series of murals in black, white, gray, and yellow, with the words 'You are not alone' on each
A series of murals in black, white, gray, and yellow, with the words 'You are not alone' on each
A boat painted red with the name 'Ambrose', with many tall buildings in the background
A boat painted red with the name 'Ambrose', with many tall buildings in the background
A building jutting into the river with mixed traditional and modern architectural styles
A building jutting into the river with mixed traditional and modern architectural styles
A small brick church surrounded on all sides by glass skyscrapers
A small brick church surrounded on all sides by glass skyscrapers
A statue of Hello Kitty in front of a modern skyscraper
A statue of Hello Kitty in front of a modern skyscraper