Thain Family Forest

The Thain Family Forest is 50 acres of old-growth woodland that has remained essentially undisturbed for over 200 years — an extraordinary fact given that it sits in the Bronx, surrounded by one of the most densely populated cities in the world. This is not a planted park or a designed garden. It's genuinely old forest, with trees that predate the United States as a nation.

For families, the Thain Family Forest offers an experience that simply isn't available elsewhere in New York City: walking through a real forest with centuries-old trees, a natural stream, and the kind of atmospheric hush that only old woodland produces. Children who live in apartments and spend their days on concrete and asphalt respond to this environment in ways that are often noticeably different from how they respond to parks and playgrounds — more curious, more quiet, more observational.

The forest trails are unpaved and natural, which means strollers are mostly impractical. Families with children under 4 should use a backpack carrier. For children old enough to walk forest paths independently (4+), the uneven terrain, fallen logs, root systems, and stream crossings make the forest feel like genuine exploration rather than a guided tour.

Spring is particularly spectacular: native wildflowers carpet the forest floor before the canopy fully leafs out, and the stream banks are lined with trillium, trout lilies, and jack-in-the-pulpit. Fall brings New England-quality foliage to the canopy.

The Thain Family Forest is included in NYBG general admission. It pairs naturally with the Native Plant Garden for a 3-4 hour immersion in NYBG's most ecologically significant areas.