Join Us for the 2026 Great Goat Graze-Off Walk

UPDATE: The walk has been rescheduled to Sunday, July 19, its rain date. Riverside Park has moved the event because of the weather forecast and uncertain air quality on Saturday.

Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Time: 10:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. We begin walking at 10:45 a.m. sharp. We’ll spend about an hour at the 2026 Great Goat Graze-Off, featuring three of Riverside Park’s weed‑eating goats.
Distance: ~6.5 miles at a moderate pace, with several drop‑out points.
Meeting Location: NW corner of Broadway & West 145 St, at the exit of the #1 train’s 145 St station, in front of McDonald’s.
Bring: Water, sunscreen, hat, snacks, lunch.
Restrooms: Riverbank Park before heading north; additional restrooms available later along the Hudson River Greenway.

🐐 About the Walk
We’ll kick off the day with an unconventional spectacle: a competitive eating event starring Riverside Park’s famous weed‑eating goats. The 2026 Great Goat Graze-Off begins at 11 a.m. just north of Ten Mile River Playground (near W. 151 St). The event is overseen by George Shea of Major League Eating — the same host of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest — and is currently the only professional eating competition between goats.

After enjoying the festivities, we’ll head south along the Hudson River Greenway, stopping for lunch near the West Harlem Piers. We’ll continue to W. 59 St and finish at Columbus Circle. If the day is hot, we’ll shift to the upper-level paths of Riverside Park for shade and breezes.

🌿 Background: The Goats Are Baaaaack
For the past six summers, the Riverside Park Conservancy has brought in goats from upstate New York to clear poison ivy and invasive plants from steep slopes. These hard‑working animals can eat up to 25% of their body weight in vegetation daily, and have already restored areas around W. 120 St and W. 143 St. This year, they’re tackling a new site near W. 137 St.

See more details at https://riversideparknyc.org/goatham/.

Hike leader: Brigitte, 646-651-3911 (day of walk only).