AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Van Cortlandt Park

John Muir Viewpoint & Van Cortlandt Lake via John Muir Trail

1.9 mi · ▲ 213 ft · 44 min

John Muir Viewpoint & Van Cortlandt Lake via John Muir Trail is a 1.9-mile out-and-back in Van Cortlandt Park near Bedford Park, NY. The route passes Van Cortlandt Lake before reaching John Muir Viewpoint at the turnaround, 0.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 213 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi20 – 125 ft2.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.88567, -73.88924
Nearest town Bedford Park, NY
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

John Muir Viewpoint & Van Cortlandt Lake via John Muir Trail

1.9 mi · ▲ 213 ft · 44 min

Elevation 19–124 ft

Out & Back · Van Cortlandt Park

Trailhead: 40.88567, -73.88924

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:27 AM · sunset 7:23 PM

Transit-accessible: Van Cortlandt Avenue West & Orloff Avenue stop 393 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  3. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  4. 150 ftPass Van Cortlandt Lake.
  5. 200 ftContinue straight onto Van Cortlandt Park Greenway, heading N.
  6. 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miContinue straight onto John Kieran Nature Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  10. 150 ftTurn right onto John Muir Trail, heading SW.
  11. 200 ftBear right, heading SW.
  12. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miSharp left, heading N.
  14. 400 ftReach John Muir Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 400 ftSharp right, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  17. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 100 ftBear left onto John Kieran Nature Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  20. 50 ftBear right onto Van Cortlandt Park Greenway, heading SE.
  21. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  23. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/john-muir-viewpoint-out-back

Trail surface

36% paved15% dirt15% gravel3% rock31% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:27 AMSunset 7:23 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Van Cortlandt Avenue West & Orloff Avenue stop 393 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Bedford Park, New York