The Palisades: Carpenter’s Loop trail

A wooded loop on the Palisades, across the Hudson just past the George Washington Bridge. It starts at Fort Lee Historic Park. First up onto the Long Path above the river, then a steep descent on Carpenter’s Trail to the water, and back south on the Shore Trail, under the bridge, with views of Manhattan.

Where

Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA

Length

2.8 miles (4.5 km), loop

Time

about 1.5 h

Difficulty

moderate

Route

loop

Difficulty colour

red run

Up and down

↑ 112 m · ↓ 112 m

Colours work like ski runs and match the app: they come from the length, the climbs and the steepness. Highest point: 96 m.

Where to start

Fort Lee Historic Park: the entrance is on Hudson Terrace in Fort Lee, New Jersey, just south of the George Washington Bridge and opposite Bruce Reynolds Boulevard. From Manhattan, walk across the bridge on its south path or take a bus to Fort Lee Bridge Plaza. Parking in the park is metered.

Before you go

This is the short version of Carpenter’s Loop from the park’s description. The full loop, 5.5 miles, goes via the Dyckman Hill Trail. That trail has been closed since Hurricane Ida damaged it in 2021 and will stay closed until it is repaired.

The park warns that its trails are more rugged than first-time hikers expect. The descent on Carpenter’s Trail is on steep stone steps, a drop of 320 feet. Wear hiking shoes and bring water and snacks.

Poison ivy and ticks are common on the Palisades. Long clothing with repellent sprayed at the cuffs is your best defense. Check the park’s advisories before you go.

Park areas are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; at Fort Lee Historic Park, until 7 p.m. from November through March. The riverfront is not served by public transportation, so start and finish the loop at the top, at Fort Lee Historic Park.

In an emergency, call the Parkway Police first: 201-768-6001, then 911.

Facts checked on 31.10.2026.

Sources

• Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey — Trails & Hiking: Carpenter’s Loop (5.5 miles, 2.5 hours, can be shortened by about half), the Long Path and the Shore Trail, Carpenter’s Trail (320-foot climb), buses
• Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey — map and description of Carpenter’s Loop from Fort Lee Historic Park (2023)
• Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey — Fort Lee Historic Park: the fort in 1776, hours, metered parking, Carpenter’s Loop
• Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey — Advisories: Dyckman Hill Trail closed, park hours, police phone number
• Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey — Ross Dock Picnic Area: restrooms, boat launch, no public transportation to the riverfront
• Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey — Nature: diabase about 200 million years old, talus, a National Natural Landmark since 1983
• Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey — History: Carpenter Brothers’ Quarry, the women’s clubs, the 1900 commission, J. P. Morgan
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — the making of the George Washington Bridge: September 21, 1927 to October 25, 1931, towers 604 feet high
• New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — The Long Path: 358 miles from the George Washington Bridge
• Streetsblog NYC — the George Washington Bridge south path opens to pedestrians (October 16, 2026)
• OpenStreetMap — “Carpenter’s Trail,” “Long Path - Section 1” and “Shore Trail,” hiking routes