The Croton Aqueduct trail in NYC from the Bronx: How to find it!
Read the article this discussion is about
- Jim_Henderson
- Jim_Henderson
- Jim_Henderson
This archived discussion is "read only".
» Jim_Henderson - Trail Reviews
Hey, this is delightful. I've been writing reviews of New York and suburban bike trails in my own little BBS, The Double Helix at 212-956-8076 and was wondering if there's a place to publish them more widely. If Jim Pucci will E-mail me, I guess I can just send my notes to him. Free of charge, naturally, and to be used as he sees fit. One thing I must complain a bit about, however, is that his instructions to finding such things as the Old Croton Aqueduct southern entrances are less clear than they could be. Also I haven't yet been able to find reviews of the Bethpage and Jones Beach route, and of the Sawmill River route north from Yonkers. But heck, it's wonderful to find that someone else is interested.-- posted by Jim_Henderson
» Jim_Henderson - Getting on the OCA from The Bronx
This is an excellent little article, but it misses the question how to get on the Old Croton Aqueduct from The Bronx. Instead it's more about the Old Putnam Railroad, a topic worthy of its own Web page. A page about OCA should mention one of my favorite ways to get to it with the least amount of hill climbing.Take Broadway north into Yonkers. Turn left on New Main Street. Don't go all the way to the waterside but watch out for Warburton Avenue. Turn right and go north on Warburton, which is a well maintained road and about as flat as you get in southern Westchester. It passes the Hudson River Museum, for one, and offers lovely views of New Jersey. In Hastings it goes right, up a fairly gentle hill, and terminates at Broadway. Go across Broadway into one of the little dead-end streets. They run straight into the Old Croton Aqueduct. You don't have to get off OCA again until the outskirts of Tarrytown.
This route misses the Yonkers parts of OCA, such as the disconnected and trash-strewn segments in southern Yonkers, but it's a more efficient way to reach the prettier and more usable parts.
Maclean Avenue also provides a way, though very hilly, from east of Van Cortlandt Park to New Main Street and Warburton. I prefer to take the 1 train to its terminus on Broadway.
-- posted by Jim_Henderson
» Jim_Henderson - OCA in Bronx
I was bicycling home by an indirect route, crossed the Harlem River to Fordham Road, climbed the hill and unexpectedly encountered the Old Croton Aqueduct running south along the ridge. I didn't know OCA ran only a quarter mile from the Harlem River in that neighborhhod.In the upper 180s it runs between Aqueduct Avenue East and University Avenue, providing a short but pleasant bike path. In the lower 180s it is closed to bike traffic, part being used as a playground, requiring a detour into University Avenue. This gap seriously diminishes the usefulness of the route for bicycling. In the upper 170s OCA runs down the middle of University Avenue as a sort of mall, again usable as a bike path though the curb cuts are at an inconvenient location for those of us lacking the short wheelbases and long gumption to mount curbs.
In the lower 170s University Avenue is one-way, requiring me to get off and walk. OCA continues under the avenue to 170th St, where it veers sharlpy west (right) and crosses the Harlem River on the High Bridge, entering Highbridge Park a few blocks north of the water tower there. Unfortunately the High Bridge has been closed to traffic for decades. I had to go down to Yankee Stadium and Macomb's Dam Bridge to Central Harlem. The Sun getting too low to allow me to investigate Highbridge Park for more signs of the Old Croton Aqueduct, I continued home instead.
This part of OCA is historically interesting but only partly useful as a bike path unless it is improved by the Greenway program or otherwise. It would be especially pleasant if the High Bridge were re-opened. Save a lot of hill climbing. One day soon I'll try the portion north of Fordham road, but probably not as part of my commute.
-- posted by Jim_Henderson
Please follow the guidelines set forth in the Suite101 Posting Etiquette when adding to the discussion.