Old Croton Aqueduct 1: Bronx to Manhattan

The walk:
Leaving on time, we will walk to the Jerome Park Reservoir, where we will see both the full and the empty sections of the reservoir and the parts that make up the reservoir, learn how one works, and see an aqueduct gatehouse. We will continue along and atop the aqueduct as it makes its way to High Bridge with its famed water tower and over the Harlem River into Manhattan, in places along the walk we will be able to see the stone work that has protected the aqueduct for 135 years. We will walk through five parks and over the city’s oldest bridge, which contains the ghost of the original structure from before it was altered in 1928 to allow for increased boat traffic on the working Bronx River. This section of the walk will end at the Hispanic Museum and Library on Broadway and 155th Street. The walk is linear, ending two blocks from both the C train and the 1 train.

When: Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Where: in front of MON AMOUR COFFEE & WINE, 234 W 238th St, Bronx, NY (arrive early for coffee or whatever, we have a schedule to keep) If you need bathroom before the first stop, use the one here with a purchase.
How to get there: Take the #1 train to 238th Street in the Bronx. The coffee shop is a few doors East. If you come by Metro North, get off at Marble Hill and catch the #1 train uptown. Be sure to get a local MN train for Marble and be in one of the first five cars. If you end up on the express, continue to 125th Street and take the #4 train to Bedford Park and walk down Bedford Park Boulevard to the park benches across from Lehman College and wait for us. But do text.

Good to know:

• Walking conditions: Mostly pavement. One (or optionally two) steep climbs up stairs with railings. Otherwise a very gradual decline. Two potentially dangerous highway and road crossings, so we will adhere to crossing signals.
• Pace and distance: Most of the approximately seven miles of active walking will be at about 2 to 2 1/2 MPH with frequent information and photo breaks, ending around 1:30 or 2:00.
• This is not a pet-friendly event.
• You can buy food and drinks at Fordham or as we walk down University Avenue.
• There will be two or three bathroom breaks, one about half a mile after the start, the last at the end of the walk inside the Hispanic Museum. Most bathrooms are in parks, so be prepared.
• There will not be a formal lunch break, so bring easy snacks for walking or for the short breaks where we find benches in fresh air. The Hispanic Museum has a lovely courtyard that will be comfortable for a lunch at the end of the walk.
• Drop-out options: Bedford Park #4 train, Fordham Road Bx12 bus or Metro North, frequent Bx12 bust stop on University/Martin Luther King/High Bridge Manhattan side #1 train short walk but high stairs to #1 train.
• In case of highly predicted rain, I will let you know any plan changes the evening before.

BONUS: The Hispanic Society (where we end) gives free small group tours at 2:00, which must be booked ahead. If enough people express interest in enough time to do anything, we can probably book a tour. If you would like to be considered for the tour, please answer the question below.

Hike Leader: Gina Miller DAY OF ONLY text (347) 842-5452 with your name, and Christine Summerson (646) 491-0764.