Little Red Lighthouse

I discovered this place by accident while walking along the west coast of Manhattan. As it turns out, some friends of mine who had read «The Little Red Lighthouse,» asked me about it when I posted photos of it online.
The area is really picturesque with great views of the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New Jersey, and, oh yeah, the lighthouse itself.
I’ve heard that they occasionally open the lighthouse to the public, and you can check things out inside. I’d love to be at one of those openings, but unfortunately I never had the pleasure.
It is a bit of a hike to get to, but as some reviews have already said, the hike is definitely worth it. If you take the subway to the George Washington Bridge, walk along the north side of the bridge. You then take a right (when you can’t walk west anymore) and then a left over a bridge that takes you over the train tracks. You then walk south and then along a winding road to the lighthouse. Or you can walk along the Hudson River (the first time I walked there, I had walked north from West Harlem Piers Park).
My directions make the walk sound a bit more complicated than it really is.
Once you get there, you can have a picnic or barbeque, or just relax and enjoy the area.

I love coming here! When you’re here the bridges are majestic and unreal.

This is a bit of a hike to get to, but well worth it. I took the A to 175^st and walked over. There is a ramp down to the highway level and then an underpass to take you to the NY Greenway that takes you to the park where the lighthouse is located. The view of the hudson and the George Washington Bridge is unparalleled. Gorgeous any time of the year. The lighthouse was originally made to guide ships in the dangerous Jeffery’s Hook area of the Hudson River but has long since been retired as a lighthouse. When it was going to be torn down, NYCers banded together to keep it and thank goodness they did! This lovely piece of history will stay!

My rating is actually 4 and a half stars.
Stumbled upon this gem while on a run. It’s a nice park with beautiful views of the hudson river. It’s not crowded so bring the kids along but the downside of that is it’s a little bit of a hike going down to this place. We came in at 181^st. There seems to be a sprinkler so I guess it’s a sprayground during the summer. There are picnic tables with barbecue grills.
This is a nice route to include in your training runs because of the uphill/​downhill course you get going to the park.

I wanted to walk down to this but realized I was super sore from running, so I went on a bike ride and found myself here. I think it’s the last one left in NYC but I didnt read the history, just a cool place.

This is one of my favorite places to go to in Manhattan to watch the sunset — amazing views of both the bridge, New Jersey, and lower Manhattan :) Definitely worth a trip if you are in the area.

If you are like me who likes places by the water, then this is a go-​to place to relax, read a book, sight see, do biking as there is a bike trail and have a date. The lighthouse is small but what a sight and in the city.

Love to pass this on my runs. Beautiful hidden gem.
I love to rest up here during long work out sessions.

If you don’t know the story behind this — this adorable lighthouse has gone through a lot to be preserved and is one of the last remaining lighthouses in New York City. It’s made famous due to a children’s book, where this official New York City landmark is the star. Work a quick trip (it’s not far to get to from the George Washington Bus Terminal on 178^th St).

Love walking here and back from the 157^th street entrance near my place. On a nice day, bring a blanket, snack, and a good book and you can spend hours here with an incredible view. Nice hidden NYC gem.

How cute!!! I loved this!!! I didnt even know we had a lighthouse, let alone the last one in manhattan. It is historic, beautiful, and informative. Photogenic and worth the trip to look at some amazing views of the jersey sky line, and the bridge, come at sunset, that is the best. there are 4 picnic tables, perfect for a picnic and wine. or for running and exorcising, whatever your interest is (mine is food and wine for sure haha) be careful of bicyclists going to fast… stay to the side of the road when walking, and just go to the lighthouse, stay and relax a while. make sure to read about it, it has clips from the book that are so cute.

Great area for a run along the river in the warmer months. And how cool is it that it is NYC’s ONLY lighthouse? Definitely worth a visit if you live/​work in the area, or if you’re willing to go for a long run along the Hudson.

Who can forget the lighthouse story book? I just read in AMNY that the little red lighthouse would open up for people to go inside and up to the top (40 feet) today, and had to check it out.
The process was pretty tedious and inefficient-​you sign in, then you wait for your name to be called, then you wait as you go up and down the stairs & ladder. But other than that, can you really give this lighthouse such a low rating?
Not much to see at the top that you already saw on the bottom, but it was nice to go up, crawl through an open square space, and see the big, decorative key used to enter this baby building. Plus, having the GW bridge and waters in the background made it extra scenic. I’m sure coming here on a sunny versus windy day would be nice, since there are several picnic benches around, as well.

The Little Red Lighthouse is a cute little NYC gem that few people know about. It’s not in operation and you can’t go inside but it’s nice to look at and know the history of it. I first found it when I was biking the NYC greenway from Inwood down to Battery Park and had no idea there was a historic lighthouse in Manhattan seemingly hidden under the GW bridge. Apparently they open the tiny lighthouse to visitors every once in a great while but I’m sure it’s more picturesque from the outside anyway.
As always, here’s a history lesson:
Originally called the North Hook Beacon where it stood in Sandy Hook, NJ from 1889 (when it was built) to 1917
Moved to this location to help Hudson River navigation from 1921 – 1947
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as «Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse» (it’s also a NYC landmark)

Only lighthouse in NEW YORK, NY!
Located under the George Washington bridge.
If you are strolling on the west side path, take a trip over here, the area is quite nice. I know it is far for you down towners, but make a trip of it.

Nice little park right under the GW brige. There is a bike path that goes through it and it has 10 tennis courts.

I don’t get the hype about this place, but eh, I’m not a native new yorker.
It’s small and cute, and it reminds me of the little Lighthouse under the Golden Gate Bridge at fort mason.
It’s cool, and a neat little find. If you want to seem like a know-​it-​all, bust out this little gem when someone claims to have seen everything in NY. I don’t know how to get here via fossil fuel, but the easiest way to get here, well easy if you don’t mind riding a bicycle a few miles, is via on the West Side Highway bike trail.
I ride by it all the time, as my self propelled mode of transportation chisel my manly sculpted legs on each powerful pedal stroke as I head past the Cloisters and Fort Tryon.
When I visit here with my boo in the future, I’ll provide an updated review — everything seems more amazing when she’s around.

The Tourists and hipsters can have the High Line, this is for real New Yorkers!
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse in 1979.
The trail getting there is pretty long and it is half the adventure. It looks like a rustic New England trail and it feels like it is worlds away from the city! There are clean bath rooms that are maintained. They have running hot water and the bathrooms are heated. The trail goes all the way to Battery Park City.
Going back up to the street level you have to go the way you came. Otherwise it is another half mile to the street at least.
Walk here and you’ll get buns of steel!

What a view, never been so close to the George Washington Bridge and suspect most people don’t even know you can get this close, let alone see such a marvel as a little red lighthouse. Great spot on the Northern section of the greenway in Manhattan too for those looking for a long hike/​walk or bike.

Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse sits beneath the George Washington Bridge, an adorable little beacon pluckily standing ground against the big grey behemoth above it. Incongruous and so very cute, this is the basis of the 1942 children’s book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.
There are several picnic benches nearby, so it’s quite easy to make a day of it and stroll along the Hudson greenway, have a leisurely picnic, play some tennis in the nearby courts, watch the sailboats pass. Bring the kids, they’ll love it.
To get here, take the A to 181^st St, walk toward the Hudson River, cross over the West Side Highway on the footbridge at 181^st St & Cabrini Blvd and follow the walkway under the George Washington Bridge.
Each October it’s open to the public during Open House New York and you can climb up to the observation deck. Fun!