Forever Wild Forests of New York City:

Shorakapok Preserve - Inwood Hill Park

Shorakapok Preserve lies in the center of New York City’s 196-acre Inwood Hill Park, situated at the northernmost tip of Manhattan. Shorakapok Preserve is the only remaining natural forest on the island. The majority of the preserve is a thick deciduous, secondary forest, containing mature red oak and some of the largest tulip trees in the City. The forest is also home to some unique and impressive geological features such as glacial potholes and caves which were used by the Lenape (Delawares) Native American tribe as shelter from prehistoric times through the seventeenth century.

Within the preserve, there is a rich, moist valley between two rock ridges called The Clove. During the early spring, the valley is covered in wildflowers, which are able to thrive before the thick canopy is filled. Some of these wildflowers include downy yellow violet, bloodroot and Dutchman’s breeches. The forest is also home to over 150 species of birds, including hairy woodpeckers and black-capped chickadees.