Fall Foliage Central Park walk to the new Davis Center

This will be an approximately 4 mile walk starting at the 5th Ave/60th street entrance to Central Park ending at the new Davis Center located in the former location of the Lasker rink and pool alongside the Harlem Meer in Central Park.

This will be a very similar walk to the one I led this past April 2025 when the Davis Center opened.

The plan is to walk a route from the starting point to the Pond, the Mall, the Bethesda Terrace, the Lake, the Ramble, Great Lawn, North Meadow, The Pool, The Ravine ending at the new Davis Center.

TIME: 12:45 pm for sign-in. 1:00 pm for departure

MEET: Meet at the General Sherman statue at 5th Ave / 60th street (northwest corner) entrance to Central Park. The nearest bathroom may be inside the Arsenal located a short walk north of the meeting location opposite the zoo. This building may be closed on weekends. Nearest subway is the N,R & W 5th ave / 59th street station.

DISTANCE: Approx 4 miles

TERRAIN: Hilly park walk, mostly on paved paths, but with many dirt paths and “rocky” steps. There will be a some of walking up and down short hills, so it’s best to wear sturdy shoes.

BATHROOMS:
0-mile mark Inside the Arsenal opposite the zoo at 5th ave and East 64st. This may be closed on weekends.
1-mile mark at Bethesda Fountain
4-mile mark at Davis Center

PACE: Comfortable, steady walking pace, over hilly terrain, pausing for photos at pretty locations. (If you are looking for a fast pace or slow stroll, this is not the walk for you. Little if any commentary, since I want to keep the group moving in order to cover the route in 2 hours. I will try to answer any questions people have about the park.

END LOCATION: Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, which is close to 110st.
(subways 2,3, C)

Ending time approximately 3:00 pm.

BRING: Water, snacks. No lunch stop, eat lunch before the walk.

WEATHER POLICY: In case of iffy weather, hike leader will post a comment on this page by 8am the day of the hike to confirm status. Dress for the weather.

LATE ARRIVALS: Walk starts promptly at 1:00 pm. If you arrive late, my plan is to walk from the starting location to the Pond, Gapstow Bridge, Carousel, the Mall stopping at the Bethesda Fountain for a bathroom break.

RSVP POLICY: Please be courteous, if plans change and you cannot attend, kindly change your RSVP with enough time for someone else to take your spot. This walk is for Shorewalkers members.

CONTACT: Post questions on the meetup website before the meetup starts. Once started, it impossible to check for any messages.