Walking from the High Line to Little Island and Pier 57: A Step-by-Step Route

How do you walk from the High Line to Little Island and Pier 57?

It’s one of the easiest connections on Manhattan’s West Side. The High Line, Little Island, and Pier 57 are all clustered between West 13th and West 16th Streets, separated by a few blocks and one wide road: the West Side Highway (Route 9A). Here’s exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Get off the High Line at the right exit

The High Line runs from Gansevoort Street (south end) up to West 34th Street near Hudson Yards. For Little Island and Pier 57, use the 14th Street access point. This staircase and elevator bring you down to street level at the intersection of 10th Avenue and West 14th Street.

If you’re walking the High Line from north to south (coming from Hudson Yards or Chelsea Market), you’ll pass the 14th Street exit on your left. Don’t miss it. The Gansevoort Street exit at the southern end also works, but it adds a few extra minutes of walking.

Step 2: Cross the West Side Highway

From the 14th Street exit, walk one block west along West 14th Street toward the Hudson River. You’ll hit the West Side Highway. There’s a pedestrian crosswalk with a traffic signal at this intersection. Cross to the waterfront side.

This crossing is the only slightly annoying part. The West Side Highway is wide and traffic moves fast, so wait for the signal. It takes about 90 seconds.

Step 3: Reach Little Island

Once across the highway, you’re on the Hudson River Park esplanade. Turn left (south) and walk along the waterfront path for about two minutes. You’ll see Little Island rising on its tulip-shaped concrete pillars at Pier 55, near West 13th Street. The entrance is a footbridge from the esplanade.

Little Island is a 2.4-acre public park with landscaped hills, performance spaces, and panoramic views of the Hudson River and the New Jersey skyline. Free to enter. During peak summer weekends (typically late May through September), you may need a free timed-entry reservation via the Little Island website. On weekdays and most off-peak times, walk right in.

Step 4: Hit Pier 57

From the same waterfront esplanade, Pier 57 is even closer to the High Line exit. After crossing the West Side Highway at 14th Street, turn right (north) along the esplanade. Pier 57 sits at West 15th Street, about a one-minute walk.

Pier 57 is a massive renovated pier that houses Google’s offices on upper floors and a public rooftop park with free access. The ground level includes food vendors and rotating market-style pop-ups. The rooftop is the real draw: unobstructed river views, open green space, and far fewer crowds than Little Island.

Can you visit all three in one walk?

Absolutely. This is a natural loop:

1. Walk the High Line from any starting point (Hudson Yards at 34th Street or the Meatpacking District at Gansevoort Street).
2. Exit at 14th Street.
3. Cross the West Side Highway.
4. Turn right to Pier 57 (one minute north). Explore the rooftop park.
5. Walk south along the esplanade to Little Island at Pier 55 (three minutes south of Pier 57).
6. Return to the Meatpacking District via the esplanade or re-enter the High Line at the Gansevoort Street entrance.

Total walking time for the loop (not counting time spent at each spot): about 15-20 minutes.

How do I best explore the High Line and Little Island starting from Midtown?

Start at the High Line’s northern entrance at West 34th Street and 12th Avenue, right next to Hudson Yards and The Vessel. Take the 7 train to Hudson Yards (34 St-Hudson Yards station), which drops you steps from the entrance.

Walk the High Line south. The full walk from 34th Street to the 14th Street exit takes about 25-30 minutes at a comfortable pace, with stops to admire the plantings, public art, and the view of the Standard Hotel straddling the park near 13th Street.

Exit at 14th Street and follow the route above to Pier 57 and Little Island.

What about Chelsea Market?

Chelsea Market sits directly beneath the High Line between West 15th and West 16th Streets, at 75 Ninth Avenue. If you’re walking the High Line southbound, you’ll pass right over it. Exit at the 16th Street access point, walk one block east to Ninth Avenue, and enter through the main doors.

A smart sequence: Hudson Yards > High Line southbound > Chelsea Market for lunch > re-enter the High Line > exit at 14th Street > Pier 57 > Little Island. That’s a full afternoon, done right.

Tips a local would tell you

• Morning is best for Little Island. By mid-afternoon on weekends, the park fills up and the timed-entry system kicks in.
• Pier 57’s rooftop park is genuinely underrated. Most tourists don’t know it exists. Go.
• The Hudson River Greenway (the bike and pedestrian path along the waterfront) connects all of these sites. If you prefer flat, ground-level walking over the High Line’s elevated route, the Greenway is a solid alternative.
• Sunset from Little Island or Pier 57’s rooftop faces due west over the Hudson. Time it right.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The High Line’s surface is a mix of concrete pavers and planted beds. Little Island has hills and stairs. You’ll be on your feet for a while.