Corlears Hook is an independent guide to the Lower East Side waterfront. It is not affiliated with Paths to Pier 42, the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, NYC Parks or NYCEDC.

Getting here

No subway comes near the water. Getting here is a walk, a bus or a boat — and then a crossing.

The crossing problem

The FDR Drive runs between the neighbourhood and the shoreline for this entire stretch. You reach the water at designated crossings only: pedestrian bridges and underpasses at intervals along the route.

Crossings exist at points including Corlears Hook, Delancey Street, East 6th Street, East 10th Street and near Montgomery Street for Pier 42. Signage is inconsistent and some crossings close for construction, so it is worth checking a map before setting out rather than walking to the highway and hoping.

Subway

Nothing runs along the waterfront. The nearest stations are all a walk inland:

East Broadway (F) — closest for Pier 42, about ten minutes
Delancey Street–Essex Street (F, J, M, Z) — for the Williamsburg Bridge end and the middle of the shore
2nd Avenue (F) — for the northern section and East River Park
1st Avenue (L) — for the northern end of East River Park

From any of these, expect ten to fifteen minutes on foot, ending with a crossing over the FDR.

Ferry

NYC Ferry stops at Corlears Hook, which is by a distance the most pleasant way to arrive and lands you directly on the waterfront with no crossing required. Routes connecting to Brooklyn, Queens and Wall Street call there. It is a separate fare from the subway.

Bus

The M14A and M14D Select Bus Service routes reach the eastern edge of the Lower East Side, as does the M9 and the M22. These get you considerably closer than the subway does.

Bike

The East River Greenway runs the length of this shoreline, which makes cycling the easiest way to travel along the waterfront once you are on it. The Williamsburg Bridge bike path lands at Delancey Street and connects to Brooklyn.

Citi Bike docks are dense in the neighbourhood, though sparser on the waterfront side of the highway.

Before you travel

Construction along this shore has been continuous for years. Check NYC Parks for closures on East River Park and the greenway, particularly if you are relying on a specific crossing or a through route.