Pelham Bay Park was once home to small camps of coastal Native people known as the Siwanoy, or Southern People, who traded along a path much like today's Siwanoy Trail. On the holiday, Urban Park Rangers lead a hike along that route from the grounds of the Bartow-Pell Mansion. If you want to spend Indigenous Peoples' Day learning the history of the land you're standing on, this free walk is a thoughtful choice.
What to expect
Expect a ranger-led group walk of about an hour and a half through woods and shoreline landscapes, with stops to talk about the Siwanoy, their trade route and the local wildlife. Terrain is mostly trail, with some uneven ground.
Good to know
- Meet at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum at 895 Shore Road; it is a long walk from the 6 train at Pelham Bay Park, so plan on a bus or car.
- Wear sturdy shoes for trail walking.
- Bring water and bug spray for the woods.
- No registration is required.
- The mansion's grounds and gardens are worth a look after the hike.
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Common questions
Is the Siwanoy hike free?
Yes. NYC Parks lists it as free with no registration required.
Who were the Siwanoy?
Coastal Native people, loosely called the Siwanoy or Southern People, who camped in what is now Pelham Bay Park.
Where does the hike start?
At the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in Pelham Bay Park, 895 Shore Road.
