The Kintecoying Lodge 4 – Historical Trails

Feb 18, 2022

If you are visiting New York City or are looking for a fun day hike for your unit, consider one of our three historical trails:
  • The Old New York Historical Trail in Manhattan
  • The Revolutionary War Historical Trail in Manhattan
  • The Flushing Religious Freedom and Scouting Historical Trail in Queens

The Old New York Historical Trail and The Revolutionary War Historical Trail

The Revolutionary War Historical Trail

Located at the Northern tip of Manhattan in the Inwood-Washington Heights area, “The Revolutionary War Historical Trail” is a walking tour rich in the history of the early Dutch colonists, the American revolution, the city of New York, and the entire country. Some areas included on the tour are:

• Dyckman Farmhouse • Ft. Washington Park • Morris-Jumel Mansion

• Inwood Hill Park • The Cloisters • Sylvan Terrace • High Bridge Park

This four to five hour trail promises to be enjoyable and educational for all. It includes climbing numerous steps and is somewhat hilly in parts. There are some areas along the trail where lunch may be purchased. Washington Heights has an abundance of Dominican cafés that you can visit for an exceptional eating and cultural experience.  Spanish is the dominant (or only) language spoken in some of the cafés. You can also bring a bag lunch to be eaten in any of the parks. There are restroom facilities in Inwood Hill Park and Highbridge Park that are open to the public.

We suggest that you do not stop at the Cloisters as you will not finish the trail the same day. The Cloisters is worth its own day trip.

The Old New York Historical Trail

Located in lower Manhattan, “The Old New York Historical Trail” is a very popular walking tour rich in the history of New York and the entire country. Some areas included on the tour are:

•The South Street Seaport Museum • Fraunces Tavern • Washington Square in Greenwich Village
• Castle Clinton • Wall Street, the financial capital of the world • Chinatown & Little Italy
• Federal Hall, site of Washington’s inauguration • Trinity Church and graveyard

This six to seven hour trail promises to be enjoyable and educational for all. Lunch may be purchased along the trail. We suggest you try a restaurant in Chinatown for an exceptional eating and cultural experience. You can also bring  a bag lunch.

There are restroom facilities in most public parks, some churches (if they are open) and the public piers at South Street Seaport.
We recommend that you do not visit Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial Museum or the National Museum of the American Indian as you will not be able to complete the trail the same day. These are worth another day trip.

We advise you to purchase a or print a paper map of Manhattan or use a mapping app on a smart-phone or tablet.

The Flushing Religious Freedom and Scouting Historical Trail

Flushing was founded in 1645. The Quakers, coming from the Netherlands, settled in the area in 1657 and meetings were held in people’s homes. Historical events and sites on the trail include:

• The Flushing Remonstrance • The Bowne House Friends Meeting House
• George’s Episcopal Church • Daniel Carter Beard’s Home

The trail is just over two miles long and can easily be hiked in a couple of hours, unless time is spent visiting several of the houses of worship or historical buildings along the way. The trail booklet has links so you can find out when the sites are open to the public. We advise you to research these locations to see if they are open on the day of your hike.

There are areas along the trail where lunch can be purchased. Flushing has many Asian restaurants that you may want to visit for an exceptional eating and cultural experience. There are also the usual fast-food places. You can also bring bag lunches for a picnic in one of the parks, weather permitting, of course.

There are public restrooms in Flushing Library, Macy’s Department Store, Weeping Beech Park, and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

General Information

The historical trails are open to any individual or group. You do not need to register for a date to walk a trail. Please observe these guidelines:

  1. We suggest that hikers be at least ten years old. For youth who are younger, it may be best to take two days to hike an entire trail.
  2. Trails should be walked in groups of at most ten people. Youth groups must have at least two adult leaders for every eight youth. The size limit will help prevent congestion at some points along the trail.
  3. The trails visit places where people live, work and worship. Your group’s behavior will affect those who walk the trails after you. You are not only representing your group, but also the Scouting movement.
  4. Scouts are encouraged to walk these trails in a field or activity uniform.
  5. For safety, an adult should be within earshot while youth are using any restrooms, while also respecting the youth’s privacy.

The cost of each trail is $3.50 per person. The fee, payable in advance, covers the cost of one trail booklet and one patch per person. These items will be sent to you upon receipt of your application and payment. Please allow two weeks for delivery. These items are not sold separately! The minimum order is three sets of booklets and patches (per trail).

Special offer: If you order sets for both Manhattan trails at the same time, the price for the combined order is only $6.00 per person. (It is not possible to hike both trails in the same day.)

To order trail sets please complete the order form below or print and complete the flyer and mail it with your payment to:
Historical Trail Committee; Kintecoying Lodge 4, B.S.A.; c/o Patricia Bain, Adviser; 445 East 86th Street, Apt. 1B; New York, NY 10028-6434