Hell Gate Guided Walking Tour in New York City

Overview

Delve into off-the-beaten-path New York history on the Hell Gate walking tour.

Hell Gate is the one-mile stretch of the East River between Manhattan and Queens where countless ships were sunk or destroyed by the terrifying rocks, reefs, and whirlpools. Discover the islands in and around Hell Gate—Wards, Roosevelt, Rikers, North & South Brother—as seen from Randall’s Island (accessible on foot, by car, or by bicycle via the RFK Bridge—from East Harlem, Astoria, and Port Morris—or the Wards Island Bridge/103rd Street Footbridge from Manhattan).

Main features:

Find out about Hell Gate’s ship-swallowing whirlpools.

Learn about the plot to blow up the Hell Gate Bridge.

Discover the river pirates of the Hell Gate islands.

Hear about the Hell Gate Explosions and the General Slocum Disaster.

Peer at the jail complex of Rikers Island and the quarantine ruins of North Brother Island.

City: New York City

Sun 06 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $34.00

Make a reservation

Sun 06 Apr

Starting at $34.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

All Fees and Taxes

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

What To Expect

Wards Island Park

Vantage point to view Hell Gate, Mill Rock, and Roosevelt Island.

Randalls and Wards Islands

A vantage point to Astoria Park and the Triborough Bridge, and features of Wards Island.

Hell Gate Bridge

At the Wards Island end of Hell Gate Bridge, tour attendees will hear about the unusual engineering of an iconic bridge as well as the plot to blow it up.

Randall's Island Park

Tour attendees will see the remainder of Little Hell Gate that separated the islands, the truss bridge over the covered strait, and classic film locations. Will see the northern part of Hell Gate from Sunken Meadow, the former islands adjoined to Astoria, and the power plants of the East River. A vantage point of Rikers Island, North and South Brother Islands, and the biggest prison barge in the world.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (8)

bosbinn

Aug 2022

There were so many parts of this tour that I liked...It's hard to choose one experience. Among my favorites, however, was the tour guide's ability to tell the story of the history of Ward Island, Randal's Island and the surrounding area with such enthusiasm and command of the subject. I knew so little about Hell Gate, but came away with a significant appreciation for the journey people had taken to develop this part of New York City. For future travelers, wear good walking shoes since there is a lot of territory to cover. Believe me, it will be worth it!!!

mariecF7953KT

Aug 2022

Krombie is a passionate and fun storyteller who took us on a whirlpool (excuse the pun) tour of the Hell Gate water from the vantage point of the fascinating and scenic Ward’s/Randall’s Islands. So much information was packed into a tour that covered such intriguing histories as sunken ships, spies, potter’s fields, burial grounds, explosions, movie locations, and the peculiar social institutions that once dotted the islands, as well as the institutions that now exist. Highly recommended for those who like delving into lesser known histories of NYC, and who like exploring spots that even some New Yorkers don’t know about.