Red Hook Running Offers Variety in Brooklyn

By Marnie Kunz

Red Hook running is full of seaside views, murals, and some surprisingly peaceful spots in New York City. One of my NYC lives was spent in Red Hook, the laid-back seaside community that is unexpected in a busy place like Brooklyn. Red Hook is somewhat cut off from other parts of Brooklyn due to its lack of subway access, but if you don’t mind a longer walk from the subway or taking a bus or bike, Red Hook is not far from downtown Brooklyn. If you’re wondering about running Red Hook or looking for new places to run in NYC, this blog’s for you. Check out my Red Hook travel video below as well.

Although some people know Red Hook as the only place to find an IKEA in NYC, the neighborhood has so much more to offer. From waterfront views of the Statue of Liberty to fresh seafood from Red Hook Lobster Pound, you’ll have plenty to do on your running adventure in Red Hook.

Red Hook in a Nutshell

Red Hook was a prosperous shipping and port area in the early 20th century, which you can see in the seaside community’s brick streets and architecture, ports, warehouses, and ferries. The area also was a major player in Brooklyn’s booming sugar industry, when New York City was the capital of sugar production in the world. The expansive Food Bazaar in Red Hook and other businesses are housed in the historic waterfront brick structure of what was formerly the Revere Sugar Refinery, which dominated the Red Hook waterfront for nearly 100 years.

Today Red Hook is a mix of longtime locals and the common Brooklyn phenomenon of hipsters and gentrification, with people seeking more space outside of Manhattan.

My favorite part about Red Hook running is the miles of beautiful pedestrian and bike paths where you don’t have people breathing down your neck, and can enjoy beautiful views, parks, architecture, and large-scale street art pieces.

Getting to Red Hook

You can use New York City’s MTA Trip Planner to help you find the best public transit options for your adventures in Red Hook. Although there is no subway line in the heart of Red Hook, you can take the G train to Smith/9th Street and then run about a mile (depending on what part of Red Hook you’re going to), bike, walk, or take the B61 bus from the subway to get into the middle of Red Hook. You can also take the B61 bus from downtown Brooklyn. Citi Bike is one of my favorite ways to get around Brooklyn, and the Citi Bike stations are all over the city so you can hop on the nearest one by using the Citi Bike app.

Red Hook Running

Red Hook offers incredible waterfront running views and paths. If you want to extend your run from scenic Dumbo, Red Hook is a perfect addition to get in some extra miles, and it is easy to follow the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway path South from Dumbo into Carroll Gardens and Red Hook.

The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is a scenic bike path connecting 26 miles of Brooklyn’s waterfront neighborhoods, and currently 20 of the miles are completed. Follow the path into Red Hook, and then you can run a few blocks over to Louis Valentino Park and Pier for stunning views along the water, including the Statue of Liberty.

The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is also awesome for biking, so hop on a Citi Bike or take your own bike and roll into Red Hook. Red Hook Running Track, located at Bay, Hicks & Henry streets, is a well-maintained track to run on as well, and it’s hard to find a track in NYC, so enjoy! (Update: The Red Hook Running Track is currently being renovated and is supposed to be completed by spring 2024.)

Red Hook running would not be complete without some murals, and you will see some on the waterfront greenway path. You can also head over to Ferris Street and Coffey Street, at the end of Louis Valentino Park, to check out some murals.

You can see my 4-mile Red Hook running route on the map here and try it out yourself or create your own, using some of these points as suggestions. This Brooklyn running route starts in the Columbia Waterfront District and continues into Red Hook. You can get to the start/end point by taking the Brooklyn Greenway Waterfront path (by bike or on foot) from Dumbo heading south along Columbia Street.

Here is a list of the best places to run in Red Hook:

Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is a scenic running and biking path in Brooklyn that winds along some of Red Hook’s waterfront and includes views of the Statue of Liberty and ships in the harbor.
Louis Valentino Park and Pier is a small park serving up big views, with piers overlooking the Red Hook Channel. You can see the Statue of Liberty from the Park and enjoy a stretching break with serene seaside scenes and the downtown Manhattan skyline in the background.
Red Hook Running Track is one of the few tracks in NYC and has plenty of park space surrounding it at Red Hook Park. The track is currently being renovated but hopefully, it reopens on time, in spring 2023. Stay updated on the Red Hook Track construction progress here.
Erie Basin Park offers an unusually clean running and pedestrian path along the waterfront by Ikea. The park includes waterfront views, docks, and grassy green fields that are a welcome respite from the bustling city beyond. My dog loves this park due to the open green spaces. I enjoy the peacefulness and views of the water and Statue of Liberty.
Coffey Park is a neighborhood park with a paved loop around the park, green space, and trees offering shade on warm days. It’s a smaller park with a community feel.
Van Brunt Street is Red Hook’s version of Main Street, with most of the businesses clustered on the street. It’s a great place to stop for food or coffee, and check out the neighborhood life.

Red Hook Eats

Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pies, adjacent to Louis Valentino Park and Pier, serves up fresh pies daily. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and relax on a warm day, and the pies come in small individual sizes if you are flying solo for your Red Hook running adventures. If you love seafood, you’ll want to try Red Hook Lobster Pound for a New England vibe, fresh lobster rolls, clam chowder, shrimp, crab, and more.

Have you experienced Red Hook running? Where are your favorite places to check out? Comment below and tag @Runstreet on Instagram to share your running adventures and get cheered on. 👋

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach, dog lover, Akita mom, and writer based in Brooklyn, NY.

Red Hook Running Guide - Peaceful Spots in Brooklyn

Red Hook Running Offers Variety in Brooklyn

Red Hook in a Nutshell

Getting to Red Hook

Red Hook Running

Red Hook Eats

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