Hyggehiking Central Park's Canopies

Our 8th Hygge gathering of 2025 will be Saturday, August 30th, from 10am-10pm.

We'll be wandering beneath the 20,000 canopies of Central Park, in search of the oldest, chonkiest, most intriguing trees!

This is a 12 hour hike spanning 5+ miles, and you are free to join us at *any* point in the day 🙌. All RSVP'd "yes" and "maybe" attendees on Partiful will receive a link at 10am to my realtime location for the entire day, along with my phone number, so you can see exactly where we are on Google Maps and call me directly if you need help.

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🌿 About Hyggehiking 🌿

Hygge means "a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being."

"Hyggehiking" is my own special blend, where we engage in that conviviality while trekking through green spaces throughout our city.

I host Hygge gatherings so we can come together to make new friends, discuss fun projects we're eager to work on, dive into deep, thoughtful discussions, and meet people who can help make NYC feel like a smaller, closer-knit community. We bring our friends, family, coworkers, anyone we think would enjoy spending the day alongside a variety of curious souls.

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🗺️ Itinerary 🗺️

10am-10:30am — David Rubenstein Atrium

✨ Our gathering spot is a public cafe/atrium with large moss walls.

10:30am-11:30am — Pinebank Arch, 59th St Observation Grove, Towering Pines Cuddle Rock

✨ Upon entering Central Park, our first stops will be at the conifer groves along the south end. Each of these are accompanied by large flat rocks, perfect for picnics, naps, and yoga. Great opportunity for us to stretch as we prepare for the rest of the hike!

11:30am-12:30pm — Hallett Nature Sanctuary, Canopy View Lookout

✨ We'll traipse through the most peaceful spot I've ever stumbled upon in Manhattan, then catch our first expansive Central Park canopy glimpse from the top of a ridge.

12:30pm-2pm — Urban Hawker, Mido's Halal, Sheep's Meadow Supertree

✨ We'll scout 6½ Avenue for lunch options, then make our way to Sheep's Meadow to picnic beneath its most iconic tree.

2pm-3pm — 65th St. Pine Needle Path, Summerhouse at the Dene, The Mall & Literary Walk, The Ramble

✨ This is a special treat for those who like barefoot walking, as the ground beneath the conifers along the 65th St. transverse is covered in soft pine needles. From there, we'll wander to a hanging garden, then gambol through Central Park's most iconic stretch of American Elm trees on our way to The Ramble, where we might encounter one of the local critters' favorite humans, who typically arrives around 2:30pm with nuts for the wildlife.

3pm-4pm — Old Tree, Twisted Tree, Wideboi Tree

✨ As we exit the Ramble, we may chance upon one of Central Park's oldest trees, a Black Tupelo. Then, we'll visit my personal favorite tree, which features three twisted and interconnected trunks that seem to defy physics. After that, a massive American Elm that's wider than it is tall!

4pm-5pm — Bonus triple trunker, Double Pinetum, Towering Elms and London Planes

✨ We'll pass by Summit Rock which sports another uniquely trunked tree, then meander through a grove of over 600 pine trees which dates back to the original Frederick Law Olmsted designs for Central Park. After that, we'll see a succession of supertall trees abutting the Reservoir.

5pm-6pm — Trellis Trees, Winding Vines, and Canopy Vistas

✨ We'll wind through the Conservatory Garden and the Harlem Meer, then seek out some rocky outcroppings with sweeping southern views.

6pm-7pm — Takeout Taco Tour, Great Hill

✨Between food trucks and two tiny Mexican eateries, we'll split up to scout out the best takeaway tacos, then regroup on the Great Hill for our second picnic of the day.

7pm-9pm — Raccoon Roosts at Oak Bridge, Hernshead Hangout

✨ As the sun begins to set, Central Park's critters come out to play. My favorite spot for raccoon spotting is the Oak Bridge, where I've never failed to find them, day or night. After that, we'll venture to Hernshead, a jutting rocky peninsula on The Lake, for extended conversations and unforgettable views.

9pm-10pm — Manhattan southwardly stroll

✨ I'll be making my way to the Lower East Side, so anyone who wishes to join can accompany me for the final leg of this hike, a jaunt down Broadway from 59th St. to 1st St.

Below, I've shared the path we'll most likely take. You can follow my live location, or call me at any point if you have trouble finding us.

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🎒What to Bring🎒

• comfy shoes

• sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sleeves)

• cash

• friends 🥰

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👋🏼About Your Host👋🏼

I'm Steve Dean, admirer of nature, denizen of the internet, steward of social and technological ecologies, dating industry consultant, and relationship coach.

Connect with me anytime through my website, Dateworking (http://dateworking.com).

I'm also building up a dating & relationship library on substack! https://stevedean.substack.com.