The Narrows
Stand at the "tidal gate" of North America, watching the world’s container ships navigate the same mile-wide pinch of water that once welcomed Dutch explorers and British armadas.
The Narrows
In 1776, the Narrows became the staging ground for the largest amphibious invasion in military history up to that point. On August 22, British forces used flat-bottomed boats to ferry an overwhelming force of British and Hessian troops from Staten Island, landing them on the beaches of Gravesend Bay and the shores of the Narrows.
At a Glance
- Route
- Owls Head Park south along Shore Road Promenade, through John Paul Jones Park, Fort Hamilton, Denyse Wharf beneath the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and along the Shore Parkway Promenade to the 69th Street Pier
- Distance
- Approximately 4.5 miles
- Duration
- Half-day
- Difficulty
- Easy — paved promenade and park paths
- Best Season
- Year-round; fall and winter for spectacular harbor light and bridge views; summer for ferry access
- Greenway
- Shore Road Bike Path—a scenic, multi-use path running alongside the waterfront Belt Parkway
High glacial ridges and a historic shoreline guide this route down to the Narrows—the deep, mile-wide tidal gateway through which virtually every ship entering New York Harbor has passed since the seventeenth century. Before the rigid urban grid ironed out the coast, this was a rugged wilderness of wooded hills and muddy tidal margins. Today, the dramatic slopes and rocky elevations stand as a striking reminder of Brooklyn's original topography, preserving a rare glimpse of the hills, woods, and streams that existed before massive urban grading projects leveled the borough. It remains one of the most strategically significant stretches of water in North America, where massive container ships navigate the same deep channel that once welcomed Dutch explorers and British armadas.
Owls Head Park
Situated on a glacial ridge in Bay Ridge, Owl's Head Park features rolling hills, a popular skate park, a dog run, and sweeping views of the Upper New York Bay and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The Dutch originally named this area "Yellow Hook" (Gele Hoek) due to the color of the clay soil visible along the cliffs. In 1928, the site was a private, 27-acre estate owned by wealthy manufacturer and developer Eliphalet Williams Bliss who left it to the city; the villa was demolished in the 1940s to make way for the park.
Shore Parkway Promenade
This paved path, sandwiched between the Belt Parkway and the open water, forms one of the great linear harbor walks (and bikeways) in New York City. Here the city turns fully toward open water. Unlike the heavily armored waterfront of Sunset Park, parts of the Bay Ridge promenade preserve glimpses of natural shoreline — large stones and uneven rocky edges. The Shore Road path stretches 4.5 miles from the 69th Street Pier (American Veterans Memorial Pier) in Bay Ridge down to Caesar's Bay. Look for the bench dedicated to "Saturday Night Fever and all the Brooklyn dreamers" — marking the spot where John Travolta's Tony Manero stood looking at the bridge in the 1977 film.
Veterans Memorial Pier (69th Street Pier)
The northern end of the promenade, where local fishermen cast for striped bass and the NYC Ferry provides a scenic link to Manhattan. Atlantic breezes and unparalleled views, a place to pause and watch the harbor operate as a living system. At sunset the bridge towers become silhouettes against the harbor sky. Caesars Bay Bazaar, the southern terminus at Bay Parkway, features free parking, a promenade popular with anglers, access to the greenway, and wide views of the Verrazzano Bridge.
Shore Road Park
Thirteen miles of looping trail in the upper sections of Shore Road Park elevated above the main Belt Parkway, providing a lush green canopy. Narrows Botanical Gardens is located near 72nd Street — this volunteer-run oasis features a rose garden, a lily pond, and a sanctuary for monarch butterflies. About a block upland from the gardens is the Revolutionary War Cemetery (Barkuloo Cemetery at 34 Mackay Pl, open Sunday afternoons). There is a pedestrian bridge at 79th Street. Nearby Old Glory Lookout at 81st Street is an elevated platform featuring a massive flagpole and an unobstructed, cinematic view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. At the crest of the hill overlooking the Narrows, the Shore Road Gazebo at 90th Street can be reached via a pedestrian bridge crossing over the Belt Parkway.
John Paul Jones Park
"Cannonball Park" — John Paul Jones Park offers a quiet atmosphere centered on maritime memory and one of the finest public overlooks in southern Brooklyn. This site honors the Revolutionary War naval hero who declared "I have not yet begun to fight," and features a 1776-era cannon and the Dover Patrol Monument.
Fort Hamilton
One of the oldest continuously garrisoned federal military posts in the United States, it was built after the War of 1812 to close the Narrows to enemy fleets. Fort Hamilton's best-known historic landmarks include the Robert E. Lee House, the residence where Lee lived while serving as post engineer in the 1840s; Colonels' Row of six historic townhouses; the former Officers' Club; and the now-closed St. John's Episcopal Church, known as the Church of the Generals.
Harbor Defense Museum — Housed in the fort's original "caponier" (a stone flanking structure), the museum contains artifacts ranging from the American Revolution through World War II. It is the only Army museum in New York City. Note: Visitors must present a valid photo ID at the main gate at 101st Street to enter.
Completed in 1964, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is so vast that its two towers are approximately 1.6 inches further apart at the top than the base to account for the curvature of the Earth. The deep tidal passage beneath it was likely formed by post-glacial meltwater breaking through the terminal moraine thousands of years ago. Look for the small, fast boats of the Sandy Hook Pilots, who have guided vessels through the challenges of these currents since the late 1600s.
Shore Parkway Promenade (Caesar's Bay)
8973 Bay PkwyStretching along the edge of Gravesend Bay, the Shore Parkway Promenade near the Caesar's Bay Shopping Center offers one of the most expansive and dramatic waterfront views in southern Brooklyn. Locals still refer to this area as "Caesar's Bazaar" in a nostalgic nod to the legendary, cavernous weekend flea market that occupied the site from 1982 to 1995. This seawall stretch is a legendary local hotspot for catching striped bass and bluefish.
Getting Here
| Stop / Location | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bay Ridge Av (R train) | Subway | Northern entry; walk west toward Owls Head Park and Shore Road |
| 77 St (R train) | Subway | Mid-route access to Shore Road Promenade and John Paul Jones Park |
| 95 St (R train) | Subway | Southern end of the route; short walk to Fort Hamilton and the Narrows |
| B37 bus | Bus | Runs along 3rd Av through Bay Ridge; cross street access to the waterfront |
| NYC Ferry — South Brooklyn Route | Ferry | 69th Street Pier stop; connects to Wall Street/Pier 11; ferry.nyc |
| Owls Head Park | Walk | Enter from Colonial Rd & 68th St, or from the Shore Road Promenade |
| Fort Hamilton / Harbor Defense Museum | Walk/Drive | Enter at 101st St & Fort Hamilton Pkwy; photo ID required; check fort hours |
| Shore Parkway Promenade | Bike/Walk | Access from Owls Head Park south; connects to the 69th Street Pier and runs under the Verrazzano Bridge to Caesar's Bazaar |
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