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Walking the length of the 1 Train

A reflection and guide for my twist on the “walking the length of Manhattan” challenge centered around Barnard’s trusty subway line. 

Photography by Abigail Rabbitt/The Barnard Bulletin

December 4, 2024

After 14.5 miles and 4.5 hours, I walked over thirty thousand steps in one day by following the track of the 1 train. Starting in Inwood and ending in Battery Park, this journey may have worn out my feet, but it allowed me to truly see the extension of Manhattan, appreciate the differences in neighborhoods, and visit the several landmarks accessible right off of the 1 line. 


I’ve tracked my journey below, marking what I noticed, what I did, and what I recommend if you desire to take on a similar challenge. Drag a friend along with you like I did, or try to get people to join you for segments along the way. Long walks move faster with good conversation!


215 St


I rode the 1 train to the northmost stop in Manhattan, 215th Street. I stepped off the train just below the Baker Athletics Complex. Despite having been here before, I realized my memories of the area were clouded by a homecoming-spirit haze. Admittedly, I had never walked this far uptown before and was excited to see what discoveries were in store as our journey downtown began. 


215 Street: the first stop.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

207 St - 191 St


Walking alongside Inwood Hill Park on Broadway (not quite along the 1 train yet; we took the most convenient walking route possible), it was a quiet Sunday afternoon. Windy and chilly, I took in the remaining fall foliage as we reached Fort Tryon Park and noticed the Met Cloisters, an extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to Gothic art, peaking out above the trees at the top of a hill.


The Met Cloisters peaking out about the trees in Fort Tryon Park.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

181 St


I had reached Washington Heights and strolled past the George Washington Bridge after about an hour of walking. Depending on when you start, this may be the point at which you start to get hungry for lunch — it definitely was for me. Washington Heights is a neighborhood full of authentic Latin American cuisine and is an excellent place to stop. We went to Malecon, a Dominican restaurant on 175th and Broadway that specializes in delicious rotisserie chicken. For other options in the same neighborhood, Floridita is a Cuban-Dominican fusion restaurant, and Flor De Mayo serves excellent Chino-Latino food. 


A festive street just adjacent to the George Washington Bridge.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

168 St - 137 St - City College


Throughout this area, I spotted the Columbia logos and branding as I approached the Columbia University Medical campus’s neighborhood. At this point in my journey through Upper Manhattan, I couldn’t help but notice the dual signage on several storefronts in both English and Spanish, a testament to the large Spanish-speaking population in areas like Hamilton Heights. As I walked by the Hispanic Museum and Library at 155th Street, I mentally added it to my list of must-visit museums in New York City. 


This uptown stretch of the walk felt like the longest in a lot of ways, but it was through several neighborhoods I had never explored before. There was so much to take in, and I am eager to return soon to discover more. 


An example of the dual-language signage in Hamilton Heights.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

125 St


At 125th Street, the neighborhood definitely began to feel more like home territory. Through Columbia’s Manhattanville campus and into Morningside Heights, this area is filled with solid places to stop: see my previous Recommendations north of 120th Street article for recommendations on where to rest and grab a coffee or a bite. 


Manhattanville.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

116 St - Columbia University


Reaching 116th Street and Barnard’s campus felt like a major accomplishment. Passing by the Barnard gates, this is a great place to recruit more friends to join you in your journey for a few (or twenty, for enthusiastic participants) blocks. 


A glimpse of home.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

Cathedral Pkwy (110 St) – 86 St


This was a very familiar and easy walk, since it's so close to campus and is host to several of my favorite restaurants and local businesses. These blocks went fast, accompanied by friends. 


96th Street and the Upper West Side
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

79 St


I found myself desperate for a coffee at about this point in my trek, so we stopped at Irving Farm, one of my favorite coffee shops on the Upper West Side. There are a plethora of options for sustenance right on Broadway, such as the classic Zabars for bagels and other noshes, Mille-Feuille for coffee and pastries, and Viand Cafe for typical diner food. 


72 St


Another spot to stop around here is the iconic Grey’s Papaya if you are feeling the New York City pride and wish to indulge in a NYC classic. 


66 St - Lincoln Center


At 66th Street, we sat on the steps of Lincoln Center to catch our breath after 3 hours of walking and relished in the iconic cultural center, admiring the architecture and hard-to-deny presence of artistic creation. 


59 St - Columbus Circle – 34 St - Penn Stn 


This is where my pace increased ten-fold. Since this part of Manhattan is filled with tourists at any given time of day, this is a smart place to practice the art of swerving and moving as fast as humanly possible. Although exciting to see popular attractions like the billboards in Times Square and Madison Square Garden, this almost 20-block experience was a nice reminder of how quiet and calm Morningside Heights is in comparison to the hustle and bustle of Midtown Manhattan. 


Columbus Circle.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

The darkening sky in Times Square.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

28 St – 14 St


Since my feet were inevitably in pain, I took pleasure in watching the block numbers go down in this segment, reflecting on the 200-ish blocks we had walked throughout the day. 


Christopher St - Stonewall


At the Christopher Street Station, we walked by the historic Stonewall Inn, the site of the Stonewall riots that sparked the LGBTQ+ rights movement, in the West Village. This is where we decided to stop and grab dinner: there are several options, but we chose Taco Mahal, a Latin-American and Indian fusion taco spot, where I ordered chicken tikka masala wrapped in garlic naan, like a taco. After 10 miles of walking, the West Village is a lively place to stop and rest your feet.  


The Stonewall Inn in the West Village.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

Houston St - Chambers St


This is where I truly began to feel the weight of the many miles we had behind us. We had been walking for four hours, but nevertheless, we continued to trail through Tribeca, with merely a couple of miles ahead. If you feel like straying from the 1 line, you can walk through Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown here — perfect neighborhoods to window shop and grab a quick bite if you are hungry. 


World Trade Center


We swerved away from the 1 line momentarily to visit the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center. I had never seen the monument, and at this point, it was dark out. Walking along the pools, I took the time to slow down and reflect before making the final push to Battery Park. 


It was my first time seeing the World Trade Center up close.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

I slowed down the final leg of my journey at the 9/11 Memorial.
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

South Ferry


Reaching Battery Park, we stood in front of the final station. I’m sure many Barnard students are familiar with the name since it echoes through the station while waiting for downtown trains at 116th Street: “There is a downtown one train to South Ferry approaching the station. Please stand away from the platform edge.” “South Ferry” always felt like a faraway, hypothetical destination that I would never reach: the end of the 1 line. Yet, here I was, feeling rewarded after hours and miles of dragging my feet through Manhattan, taking in the length of the island. Despite my exhaustion and physical pain, I felt overwhelmed with adrenaline and pride at what we had accomplished in this journey. 


Jumping for joy at the final stop of the trek: the South Ferry subway station
Photography by Charlotte Hart/The Barnard Bulletin

Although tiring, this was a journey I recommend everyone add to their bucket list. If you choose to participate, I suggest that you start early to avoid the early sunset, check the weather, dress appropriately, and wear running shoes (or prepare for sore feet if you are like me and don't own a pair). Finally, bringing friends along makes this trek an enjoyable bonding experience and is essential to making the time go faster. I highly suggest each Barnard student partake in this experience before graduating to truly appreciate the island of Manhattan! 

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