The High Line rail-trail is an urban marvel, stretching 1.5 miles and towering almost 30 feet above street level through several neighborhoods in the lower west side of Manhattan.
The first section of the High Line was opened in 2009 and runs approximately 10 blocks from Gansevoort Street to the north entrance at 20th Street. The second section of the High Line, from 20th Street to 30th Street, opened in June 2011 and doubled the length of the current trail. In September 2014, a new segment, known as High Line at the Rail Yards, extended the trail farther north to W. 34th Street.
The corridor was built in the 1930s to remove rail traffic from streets bustling with industry. The elevated design improved street-level safety and allowed freight cars to roll directly into the buildings so that workers could load livestock and meats at the slaughterhouses and agricultural goods at factories and warehouses. The corridor fell into disuse in 1980. While owners of property under the High Line lobbied—unsuccessfully—to level the structure and make way for development, the neglected corridor quietly turned into an overgrown natural landscape.
In 1999 Chelsea residents Joshua David and Robert Hammond founded an organization to preserve the demolition-bound corridor as a public park. Friends of the High Line waged a hard-won battle that resulted in the support of city officials, and in 2005 the transfer of High Line ownership from the CSX Rail company to New York City.
To experience the High Line is to have a rare view of the city skyline and the Hudson River, with the amenities (and restrictions) of a popular public park. The finished portion of the greenway artfully incorporates characteristics of the old corridor. Sections of original railroad track are visible in the concrete slab designs that make up the surface of the path. Other sections of the trail reveal original art-deco steel railings paired with modern wooden benches that organically connect to the concrete surface.
Heading north from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District, you pass through a series of unique features, including the Gansevoort Woodland, Washington Grasslands, Sun Decks and Water Features, Chelsea Grasslands 23rd Street Lawn and a wildflower field. The grasslands and gardens have been planted with many of the wild grasses and other self-seeding plants found on the corridor during the 25 years it lay dormant. The overall effect is a wholesome combination of organic beauty and stylized form that will leave you longing for more.
The trail is open daily from 7 A.M. to 10 P.M. (8 P.M. in winter). There are access points at Gansevoort Street, 14th, 16th, 18th and 20th streets. Elevators are located at 14th and 16th streets. When the park reaches peak capacity during the summer season, you may be required to access the High Line from Gansevoort Street. Bicycling is prohibited, but bike racks are located on street-level at most access points.
The Gansevoort Street entrance can be reached via public transit, including the A / C / E / L to 14th Street and 8th Avenue, 1 / 2 / 3 to 14th Street and 7th Avenue, M11 to Hudson and West 14th streets, M11 to Washington Street, M11 to 9th Avenue and M14 to 9th Avenue.
The 20th Street entrance can be reached via public transit, including C / E to 23rd Street and 8th Avenue, 1 to 23rd Street and 7th Avenue, M23 to 10th Avenue and M34 to 10th Avenue.
I like to explore old railroad beds. Sometimes they still have rails, usually not. The High Line gives you a taste of what I find when I go exploring. It's been "civilized" in that the creosoted ties are gone, replaced by non-cancer-causing pressure-treated "rails". They're not as big as real ties, and they don't have real spikes, and ...
But enough railfan whining. They've done a bang-up job simulating an abandoned railroad bed. Go. Enjoy it.
When in New York I highly recommend taking some time to check this out. Great views nice trails
Currently about 1/4 of it is closed due to construction but I went this weekend for the first time and the view was great, it wasn't overly crowded, there are small food kiosks and random sidelined quiet entertainment. Overall I enjoyed my walk on the high line.
I really enjoyed an evening walk on the High Line. It was really pretty with the sun setting and the city light just starting to shine. I agree whole heartily with the reviewer who called it a different world from the city streets below. It was a highlight of my trip to the city.
Pleasant walk on a Sunday morning, impressed with the greenery and views, lots of access points. Will do again on a weekday to see if we can avoid some of the crowds.
One of the things I love most about the High Line is that it's different every time I visit it. Depending on the season, the time of day, and people who happen to be there, it's never the same experience. Photographers and artists will find an infinite supply of inspiration on the High Line.
My wife & I sent a week in NY with our daughter. She took us to the HIGH-LINE. This has to be one f the greatest idea's ever. It is very well planned out and talk about quite !! it was like being in another world while being in the Big Apple.
Looks like they are extending the path some more which is great to see, can't wait to go back and walk the new section and send more time on the HIGH-LINE.
If you go to New York city you have to visit the HIGH-LINE.
Cheers
We so enjoyed walking on this trail when we visited New York in early September. We had read about it in the Times and decided to check it out. It was quite an amazing feeling to be walking above the city streets. The view of the Hudson is spectacular. The day we were there, a volunteer was working on the wildflowers and herbs planted along the way, and these were quite wonderful. It's a very unique combination of the urban cityscape with the organic landscape of the wild plants and flowers planted in the beds created by old railroad ties.
I've had a number of memorable rail-trail experiences around the country - from the remote beauty of the Greenbrier River trail in West Virginia to the sweeping vistas of the West County trail in Napa Valley but nothing really compares to the experience I had on the High Line in New York City this past weekend. You can't really compare the natural scenic beauty of these great rural trails with an urban city trail but the experience of walking down the High Line as you take in impressions of concrete, steel, natural organic landscapes, towering skyscrapers and wide views of the Hudson River, all contributed to the surreal feeling of almost quietly being suspended above and far removed from the busy Manhatten city streets down below.
The first section that opened this past June is just over half a mile in length and we accessed the southern section from the Gansevoort street stairs. The High Line's excellent design includes sections of old tracks and iron railings and the concrete slabs on the trail make room for many sections of natural plant and grass varieties that were part of the old abandoned corridor's natural landscape. Highlights of the trail were the beautiful design elements of the trail itself, the glass art display at the Chelsea Market spur symbolizing the varieties of color reflected of the Hudson river and the views and reflections of the Frank Gehry building along the northern section of the trail. Highly recommended!
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