Manhattan is a bigger island than people think when they’re compressed like sardines in subway cars or on midtown streets.  This Saturday a group of us went hiking in the Fort Tryon Park and Inwood Park, which are just around the corner from each other.

Fort Tryon Park is best known for the Cloisters- a medieval style castle which apparently has cool stuff to check out.  We weren’t interested in paying the $20 suggested donation, so we wandered around, and found the Heather Gardens and Allison’s Walkway, both of which are plenty scenic.

While leaf-changing season is probably long over in Vermont and New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey are in full transition, leading to some spectacular views across the river.

Inwood Park is just a few blocks over from Fort Tryon Park.  While the former is moderately populated with folks wandering around post-Cloisters, Inwood Park is virtually empty.  It’s trails loop for miles, and provide for old-school fun activities, like stick jousting.

For everyone who has been craving a day to get out of the city, this is about as easy as it gets.  Both Fort Tryon Park and Inwood Park are accessible via the A Train or the 1 Train.  We took the A Train up to 200th Street, which was perfect for both parks.  If you walk the length of Inwood Park it kicks you out on the northern tip of Manhattan, near the 215th street stop on the A line.

It’s a real treat that in addition to Central Park and Prospect Park, New York is full of little gems like these guys that tend to fly under the radar.