Miles of water, scenic views and natural coastline await you around Jamaica Bay, which has shaken its past as a dumping ground for the city and resurged in recent years as a wild landscape.
There are multiple ways to enjoy the bay, from active kayaking and hikes to eating and drinking a few steps away. You can take advantage of these opportunities while the summer is still here, but many of them are on offer throughout the year.
Hike, Bike, Explore
Parks and nature trails line either side of the bay, in two boroughs.
In mainland Queens, Springfield Gardens’ Idlewild Park shares a name with the original name for nearby JFK Airport, and includes scenic salt marshes. Rosedale’s Hook Creek Park consists of 111 acres of natural land with kayak and canoe launches.
The Rockaway Peninsula has many bayfront parks, including Bayswater Point State Park, a state-run park with fishing, a picnic area and easy hiking trails. It’s also one of many good spots to check out the birds that live in the bay — and was once a bird sanctuary.
Bayswater Park has more parks and fields, including one for cricket, as well as a playground, spray pad and skate park.
Rockaway Community Park features marshes and a playground, and is a popular spot for fishing. It’s near the Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary, which is good for hiking.
The Vernam Barbadoes Peninsula sits between two inlets, the Vernam and Barbadoes basins, and is a marshy spot for bird watching and taking in views.
The newly opened Bay Breeze Park features a brand-new playground, plenty of seating and clear views of the bay. Near the NYC Ferry dock, there is a lush walkway park from Beach 108th to 116th streets that is popular for fishing.
Tribute Park, near Beach 116th Street, was built as a memorial to residents who died during the 9/11 terror attacks.
Across the bay in Broad Channel is Sunset Cove Park, offering bucolic views of the Manhattan skyline and sunsets. Farther up Cross Bay Boulevard is the federally operated Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a birding hub with walking paths, bathrooms and a great gift shop with Jamaica Bay-themed swag.
Across the bridge in Hamilton Beach is Hamilton Beach Park, which is also operated by the National Park Service and not far from the A train.
In Brooklyn, Spring Creek Park has cricket fields, hiking trails and natural areas like salt marshes.
Shirley Chisholm State Park, once a former garbage dump, boasts 10 miles of paths for a bike ride , hike or picnic. (The park has a bike loaner program.) You can also fish from three locations with waterfront access.
Canarsie Pier and Park is popular for fishing, with kayak and canoe launches. Plumb Beach off the Belt Parkway, just east of Sheepshead Bay, is popular for windsurfers and kitesurfers.
Rent or Ride a Boat
For $160, you can rent an 18-foot fishing skiff for up to five people at Marina 59, which doesn’t require a license.
Sail Rockaway, based in Edgemere, offers sunrise and sunset boat tours along with sailing lessons and a summer camp for kids.
The Community Boathouse on the peninsula also provides kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding from their bayfront location. And the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy organizes kayaking on the bay from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.
The volunteer-run Sebago Canoe Club has existed for more than 80 years on Paerdegat Basin, which feeds into Jamaica Bay. Club members include sailors, kayakers, canoeists and rowers, and have access to all types of water vessels. The club limits membership but hosts open-house days during the summer, with the next event scheduled for Sept. 19. The waitlist for next year is now open, and the club prioritizes residents in the 11236 ZIP code.
Not to be forgotten,, the NYC Ferry showcases part of the bay up to Beach 108th Street in Rockaway Park. You can ride for less than $3 per trip with a 10-trip pass, or $4.50 for a one-way ticket.
Eat and Drink
The expansive bay has some waterside spots to eat and drink, with many offering sunset views and docks to take your boat right up to the restaurant.
Rosedale’s Bayhouse Bar, across from Meadowmere Park, is just 10 minutes from JFK Airport, providing a respite from the hustle of nearby Rockaway Boulevard.
Farther west along the bay are the Bungalow Bar and Similan on the Bay, which both have beautiful views of the bay and docking opportunities. Similan serves Northern Thai cuisine while Bungalow serves elevated bar food and is close to the Cross Bay Bridge.
Across the bay and bridge, Adrienne’s features contemporary Italian food and a dock.
Postcard Brewing is a bayfront beer garden, which sometimes has food.
The Wharf is almost hidden behind a gas station on Beach 116th Street in Rockaway Park, offering a place to dock a boat and enjoy the sunset.
On the edge of Jamaica Bay, in Breezy Point, you can get to two bayfront restaurants — the BayHouse and Kennedy’s — by letting the attendants in the gate booth at the entrance to the private community know where you’re headed.
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