Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Trail Map (click to enlarge)
Jamaica Bay Unit Home Page | Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Home Page
There are five hiking trails within the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at Gateway National Recreation Area, though only four are accessible at all times of the year. A trail around the East Pond can only be hiked when migratory birds are in the park—usually spring and fall. During this time the water level of the pond is lowered to expose the muddy bottom near the shore, creating a mud flat. Birds love to hunt in the mud for things to eat. When the water is lowered, the trail around East Pond is exposed, though it is very muddy—knee-high boots are recommended. When the birds aren’t migrating through the area, the water level is raised and the trail ends up being flooded. I visited in the summer and therefore could not hike around the pond. However, you can still get a view of it by hiking the East Garden Trail at any time of the year.
Three of the trails can be hiked together to form a loop: West Pond Trail, North Garden Trail, and South Garden Trail. See the following trail reviews for complete details:
West Pond-North Garden-South Garden Loop Hike
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Last updated on December 27, 2021
