About us
The Shorewalkers:Members Only Group is open to active members of Shorewalkers. Our volunteer hike leaders lead over 250 walks a year, on weekends and throughout the week. To become a member, visit our website Membership Levels - Shorewalkers.
Some of our walks allow for members to bring a guest. Guests must sign our Waiver and Release (https://tinyurl.com/28cez6j8) to participate.
Who We Are:
Shorewalkers is a non-profit environmental hiking organization founded in 1982. Our mission is to promote and preserve New York City’s waterfront and raise awareness of its shorelines by leading invigorating hikes throughout the metropolitan area. Our signature event, The Great Saunter, is a 32-mile trek along Manhattan's shoreline, held annually on the first Saturday of May. Additionally, we host the Great Saunter Fall Challenge, a virtual event in early October.
To send a message to the Shorewalkers organization, use the link Contact Us - Shorewalkers or email Support@Shorewalkers.org.
You can access a video with instructions on how to use and navigate meetup at https://youtu.be/TCYG-xV7cbM. If you are having technical difficulties with Meetup, click the "HELP" link at the bottom of any Meetup page or submit a ticket at Submit a request – Meetup.
Come join us for a walk and experience NYC at 3 mph!
Upcoming events
28
Reverse Saunter — 34 miles
Staten Island Ferry Terminal, New York, NY, USTake the Great Saunter Fall Challenge! Register here to walk 32 miles over 16 days, starting October 3rd. Help Shorewalkers support our parks by donating $10 to participate, with all fees going to the Riverside Park Conservancy. This walk will count for all of your total miles!
Enjoy a fun & challenging walk along the epic Great Saunter course in reverse from East Side ➔ West Side. This walk is offered as part of the Great Saunter Fall Challenge.
Meet 7 am inside Whitehall (Staten Island Ferry) Terminal (2nd level, by the toilets). We start walking @ 7:15. Check for transit service changes before leaving home!
Late arrivals contact a leader; get to a location ahead of the group; tell us where to find you.
End Whitehall (Staten Island Ferry) Terminal. Congratulations! Eat & drink with us afterwards to celebrate!
Route & Pace: Starting at Whitehall (Staten Island Ferry) Terminal, we walk north along the east side of Manhattan, enjoy a short break in Inwood Hill Park, then continue south along the west side back to South Ferry. 34 miles at a fast pace (3.5 mph); about 12 hours including toilet & rest stops.
Note unlike the Great Saunter — an individual challenge you walk at your own pace — we will walk the Reverse Saunter together at a brisk pace.
Map use the Great Saunter Digital Map on your mobile device. Grant permission to monitor your location along the route. Use Strava or AllTrails to record your epic adventure. We will deviate from the May Saunter route at several points.
Rain date If heavy rain is forecast, we’ll postpone one week to October 17.
Bring drinks, hydration salts, snacks, hat, sunscreen, portable charger, and clothing layers to adjust to the day's changing temperatures. Pack sunglasses: the sun will be in our faces for much of the day due to the reverse course.
Snacks & Hydration water fountains are scarce — especially on the East Side. Places to buy drinks & snacks are scarce — especially after Inwood Hill Park. Plan accordingly to prevent dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, etc. Alert a leader before your supplies run low.
Toilet Stops Whitehall Terminal (before walk), St. Vartan Park (E 35th St), Carl Schurz Park (E 84th St), Frederick Johnson Playground (W 150th St), Inwood Hill Park, 72nd St., Pier 84 (44th St), Chelsea Piers, Whitehall Terminal (after walk). Alert a leader if you need an unscheduled toilet stop.
Drop-out points all along the route in case you tire or are unable to keep up with the main group. Alert a leader if you decide to drop out.
Preparation, Health, and Safety: Attempt this walk only after completing the appropriate fitness training in the weeks before the walk. Not suitable for slow walkers. Stay ahead of the sweep. Watch for bikes in both directions. No dogs. Pack a care kit if you're prone to blisters. Alert a leader if you need to stop to care for your feet or attend to another health concern.
Achtung change your RSVP promptly if you cannot attend. Habitual late-cancelers & no-shows will be purged from the going list.
Look the part by getting your Great Saunter Fall Challenge merch at our store. Fall Challenge participants: remember to print your bib with any number you like.
Leader Dan D [msg on Meetup]
Co-host Sheila ChungMany thanks to our Aug 29 & Sept 5 advanced scouting volunteers!
Event guests must sign Shorewalkers' Waiver and Release to participate.
19 attendees
Queens Parks Walk ; Flushing Library to Alley Pond Environmental Center
Queens Public Library at Flushing, 41-17 Main St, Flushing, NY 11355, USA, Queens County, NY, US*** IMPORTANT: DATE CHANGE *** WALK NOW ON SATURDAY OCT 10!!!
Due to the forecast for heavy rain on Sunday, this walk has been moved to Saturday. All other details remain the same. I hope you can still join us!
Take the Great Saunter Fall Challenge! Register here to walk 32 miles over 16 days, starting October 3rd. Help Shorewalkers support our parks by donating $10 to participate, with all fees going to the Riverside Park Conservancy. This walk will count for all of your total miles!
Join us for another delightful 15 mile walk/hike through the “green heart” of Queens, where you’ll feel far away from the city and closer to nature. Our route connects several parks and scenic trails, with most of the journey surrounded by trees, meadows, and peaceful paths.
📍 Meet-Up Location
🕘 9:00 AM
📍 Flushing Main St LIbrary (Subway #7 or LIRR)
We will meet in front of the Flushing Public Library in the intersection of Main St and Kissena Blvd
Please arrive on time — we will start walking promptly at 9:00 AM.🚶♂️ The Walk / Hike
This is a faster, steady-paced hike covering 15 miles.
Recommended: Trail shoes & Hiking poles
A good portion of the route will be on park trails.
During the hike we will pass through major Queens parks and several connector parks, including a visit to “Queens Giant,” NYC’s oldest and tallest tree, as well as the Alley Pond Environmental Center.
About 90% of the walk is away from busy roads, offering long green stretches where you might forget you’re still in New York City.
🌿 Parks & Trails Along the Route
- Kissena Corridor Park & Kissena Park
- Cunningham Park
- Vanderbilt Motor Parkway
- Alley Pond Park Trails (White, Tulip Tree & Yellow Trails)
- Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC)
🏁 End of the Walk
The hike will end the Alley Pond Environmental Center
229-10 Northern Blvd Douglaston NY 11362From there you can take local buses to Main
St subway station or walk to LIRR Station:- Q12 → Main St & 38 Ave
- Walk down Northern Blvd one mile to Bell Blvd to (Bayside LIRR Station) trains to Penn or Grand Central
🍎 Good to Know
- Bring plenty of water, lunch, and snacks
- The route is mostly through parks — there are no shops once we start
⚠️ Important:
This is a 15 mile hike with limited drop-out points.
Please only join if you are comfortable walking this distance.
After Kissena Park, the only way to leave the hike is via local buses to nearby subway or train stations.
👣 Hike Leaders
Ivan F
📱 Text with your name: 917-446-0013
Tiffany Mills
📱 Text with your name: 718-300-1655
Sigrid Stropnik
📱 Text with your name: 404-991-8229
Persons will be moved to going list after anwering question.
13 attendees
International Food and Art Walking Adventure
Essex Market, 88 Essex Street, Manhattan, NY, USTake the Great Saunter Fall Challenge. Register here to walk 32 miles over 16 days, starting Oct. 3. Help Shorewalkers support our parks by donating $10 to participate, with all fees going to Riverside Park Conservancy. This walk will count for 5 1/2 miles of your total.
On this moderately paced 5 1/2 mile walk it is all about exploring a variety of food choices for lunch at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, followed by a “taste” of art at MOMA’s PS1 in Long Island City. The walk will last about 5 hours on city streets. The terrain is flat, except for mild elevations on the bridges.
We will meet on the 2nd floor of the Essex Market on Delancey Street. From there, we will
walk over the Williamsburg Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and then walk along the
waterfront through Domino Park, with its outstanding views of Manhattan. We will visit the original Smorgasburg in Williamsburg for lunch before continuing on
through Greenpoint, and over the Pulaski Bridge from Brooklyn to Queens to view the ongoing Courtyard Commission: Precious Okoyomo and a new exhibit "Homeroom: Artists Against the Bomb" at MOMA's PS1 in Long Island City.Our walk will end near the Court Square Subway Station in Long Island City (E,F, G, and 7 trains) and Trader Joe's.
There will be other drop-out points along the way.
If there are walkers who wish to extend the walk, they can walk back to Manhattan over the 59th Street Bridge.At Smorgasburg, most vendors accept credit cards or electronic payment methods and food items generally range in price from $15-$30,
At PS1, there is no entrance charge but you must go through security and open your bags for inspection to enter.MEET: The Essex Market, inside the building on Delancey Street and Essex, on the 2nd floor to the right of
the stairs/elevators near the bathrooms, at 10:45 am. We will leave promptly at 11 am.
Nearby subways: Delancey Street Station: F,M,J, or Z trains.• Bring extra water, and a hat.
• We will have two more bathroom breaks after Essex: Smorgasburg and PS1.
• In case of rain, the walk will be cancelled..If you want to bring a guest, please have them sign a waiver at:
https://tinyurl.com/28cez6j8If your plans change please cancel before the walk so that we know how many people to expect..
Hosts:
Barbara Lanzara (917) 623-2589
Alissa Rivin. (347) 782-1431
Please use phone text if you need to contact us on the day of the hike. Include your first
name at the end of the message. (We will not be able to communicate using the
MeetUp app during the hike).33 attendees
Outdoor Art and Community Gardens in Downtown/Lower Manhattan
WTC Oculus, Greenwich Street, New York, NY, USDate: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. (end time may vary depending on time spent in each garden).
Meeting Location: Inside the Oculus, main floor, near the L’Arte Del Gelato kiosk.
Directions: Take the #1 train to WTC Cortlandt; R/W to Cortlandt Street; 2/3 to Park Place; A/C to Chambers Street; PATH or E to World Trade Center; or 2/3/4/5, A/C, J/Z to Fulton Street.
Distance: ~5 miles, with dropout points along the route.
End Point: First Avenue & E 14th Street (near crosstown buses and the L train).
Pace: Moderate, with multiple stops; mostly flat city streets, with a few uneven paths inside gardens.
Bring: Water, snacks/lunch, sunscreen, hat.
Restrooms: Available at the Oculus (start), Lions Gate Field building in Sara D. Roosevelt Park (Broome & Forsyth), and Tompkins Square Park (near end).About the Walk
We’ll explore outdoor art installations, murals, and several beloved community gardens in Chinatown, the Lower East Side, Little Italy/SoHo, and the East Village—celebrating the vibrant cultural mosaic that defines New York City.Highlights Along the Route
- Oculus Plaza: Check out the art installation "REWIND" by contemporary New York artist WhIsBe: oversized childhood toy sculptures including a giant gummy bear, rocket ship, dinosaur, robot, and colorful building blocks.
- City Hall Park: Explore Genesis Belanger's “Heads or Tails” installation featuring whimsical sculptures of fruit trees, birds, and reimagined Lady Justice figures that explore value, authenticity, and justice in civic live.
- Manhattan Municipal Building: Admire the Guastavino tile arch system—a marvel of structural and aesthetic innovation introduced to the U.S. in 1885.
- Police Plaza: Pause at the Sugar House Prison Window, a haunting remnant of a Revolutionary War-era prison with a tragic legacy.
- Freeman Alley: Take a peek into this narrow Lower East Side passage off Rivington Street famous for its ever-changing graffiti and street-art murals, making it one of New York City’s most vibrant outdoor art spaces.
Community Garden Highlights
- M’Finda Kalunga Garden: Founded in 1982 to reclaim public space and support low-income housing. Today, it’s a vibrant hub for cultural events, gardening, and even chickens. The garden sits atop a historic African burial ground, where free and enslaved Black New Yorkers were buried from the late 1700s until 1853.
- Elizabeth Street Garden: A nearly 200-year-old public space recently saved from demolition thanks to community advocacy.
- Liz Christy Garden: NYC’s first community garden, established in 1973 by the Green Guerillas. A testament to grassroots urban renewal.
- 6th Street & Avenue B Community Garden: A large, leafy community garden known for its winding paths, flower beds, vegetable plots, fruit trees, and outdoor gathering spaces. Created by neighborhood volunteers in the early 1980s on a former vacant lot, it remains a vibrant community hub that hosts gardening programs, workshops, performances, and seasonal festivals
- 6BC Botanical Garden: A hidden gem in the heart of the East Village, 6BC is beloved by locals and visitors alike—especially for its whimsical tree house with a tiny library tucked inside. It’s a bucket-list stop for anyone who loves secret gardens and community spirit.
We'll enjoy our lunch break in M’Finda Kalunga Garden.
Hike Leader
Brigitte (646-651-3911, day-of only).Take the Great Saunter Fall Challenge. Register here to walk 32 miles over 16 days, starting Oct. 3. Help Shorewalkers support our parks by donating $10 to participate, with all fees going to Riverside Park Conservancy. This walk will count for 5 miles of your total.
25 attendees
Past events
1632
