Red Trail is a 4.0-mile dog-friendly trail in New York City, NY. Includes leash-required policy details · medium shade. Elevation gain is about 92 ft. Looking for more options in New York City dog-friendly trails or across dog-friendly trails across New York? Use the sections below for dog policy, access points, shade/heat, water, terrain, and safety.
Dog Fit
Dogs allowed status, leash expectations, and suitability by dog type
ℹ
Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet in all NYC parks. NYC Admin Code §17-342. Off-leash hours allowed in designated areas of many parks from 9 PM–9 AM and before 9 AM.
Suitability by dog type
By Dog Type
How this trail suits different kinds of dogs
🐾
Small Dog
Toy & small breeds
70%
Good fit
✓Manageable length
✓Well-shaded route
🐕
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
65%
Good fit
✓Gentle slope
–Moderate — plan rest stops
✓Good shade available
⚠️
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
93%
Great fit
✓All dogs leashed — controlled
✓Can cut short if needed
🌸
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
77%
Good fit
✓Well-shaded — stays cooler
💪
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
87%
Great fit
✓Good training length
✓Gentle grade — good challenge
✓Can shorten route if needed
💧
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
65%
Good fit
✓Swim spots confirmed on this trail
–Water near parts of the trail
–Leash required — limits water play
Trail Suitability
Who this trail works best for — and what to watch
ℹ
Well-shaded, with swim access trail — good fit with minor considerations
Swim access confirmed — water features along the route
Safety & Conditions
Hazards, heat exposure, crowd level, and nearby emergency vet context
HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATSome shade
CROWD—
Terrain & Comfort
Elevation, surface, shade, heat, and water signals for dog hiking comfort
EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeModerate
WaterSome
Elevation & Width
Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 4.
Trail Effort
Easy
Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.
EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:92 ftGain/mi:23 ft/miSteep sections:Medium
Rated from 92 ft gain + 23 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
Trail Width
Narrow
Narrow
< 6 ft
In-between
6-10 ft
Wide
10+ ft
NARROWTypical: ~0 ftWIDE
Mostly single-file with tighter passing space.
Surface & Paws
Surface coverage helps you plan for paw comfort and choose routes that match your dog's tolerance for rough or hot terrain.
Surface
What your dog will walk on
Mostly: Dirt
Surface data is limited, so expect changing conditions.
Roughness unknown
Surface along the trail
Top surfaces
Not mapped
85%
Dirt
5.6%
Ground
4.9%
Quick read
Roughness: Unknown
This trail is mostly Not mapped. Surface data is incomplete for some sections—expect variety.
Best fordogsrunnerscasual hikes
Shade & Heat
Shade coverage and heat exposure are summarized to show when this trail is safer for warm-weather dog hikes.
🌳 Shade
MEDIUM
Moderate shade coverage
69.3%
Shade along the trail
Exposure mix
Sun
31%
Partial
0%
Shade
45%
Dense
24%
Quick read
Roughly half the trail has meaningful tree or canopy coverage. Expect mixed sun and shade.
Water Access
Water proximity is tracked along the route (33%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.
Water
Hydration & splash potential
Near water: 33%
Swim: Likely
Water nearby33%
Water along the trail
Water types nearby
BeachLake/PondSpringCanal+2 more
Beach • Lake/Pond • Spring
Quick read
Water is limited near the trail—bring enough for you and your dog. Swimming spots may be available. Check current/flow after rain.
Access & Entry
Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs
Parking LotsUnknown
Capacity—
FeeUnknown
This section covers 3 trailheads listed, parking availability, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.
Primary trailhead
📍
Parking #1
Primary🔓 Private land💵 Fee not posted📍 ~120 m from trail
Other access points
📍
Parking #2
🔓 Private land💵 Fee not posted📍 ~120 m from trail
📍
Parking #3
🔓 Private land💵 Fee not posted📍 ~140 m from trail
Parking details
Map & Route
Trail layout, trailheads, parking, and dog-relevant points of interest