Staten Island's Greenbelt, the run of connected parks and woods across the middle of the borough, has a full week ahead. NYC Parks lists a guided hike in High Rock Park, a trail race around Willowbrook Lake, an owl program for families and a Lenape storytime between Thursday, November 5, and Thursday, November 12. Three of the four are free.

Thursday, Nov. 5: High Rock Park and Ohrbach Lake

A Greenbelt adult hike leaves from the High Rock Gate in High Rock Park at 11 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. The route goes through High Rock Park and around Ohrbach Lake inside Pouch Boy Scout Camp, with fall color along the way. It is free with registration. Parks asks hikers to wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather.

Saturday, Nov. 7: the Fall Flat 5K

The 2026 Fall Flat 5-K Greenbelt Trail Race starts at 9 a.m. from 1 Eton Place in Willowbrook Park. The course follows the White Trail and loops Willowbrook Lake, and it is flat enough that Parks pitches it to novice runners and walkers as well as competitive ones. The trail winds, so runners follow course markers.

Online registration on Eventbrite is open until 5 p.m. on Friday, and race-day registration begins at 8 a.m. Fees are on the Eventbrite page. Spectators are welcome along the course.

Sunday, Nov. 8: The Owls of Staten Island

Educators at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Avenue at Brielle Avenue, run a program on the owls that live on the island from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The session covers which species are found here and how they are adapted to hunt, then each participant dissects an owl pellet and works out what the bird ate. If the weather holds, the group finishes with a short walk on the Nature Center trail. It is free, with registration on Eventbrite.

Thursday, Nov. 12: Lenape and Corn

The Nature Center's afternoon storytime on November 12, ending at 4:30 p.m., is about the Lenape, the Native people of Staten Island, and about corn, with a corn craft for children to take home. It is free with Eventbrite registration, and Parks notes that craft supplies are limited, so registering early matters.

Getting there

The Greenbelt Nature Center sits where Rockland Avenue meets Brielle Avenue, with parking on site. Willowbrook Park's Eton Place entrance is off Victory Boulevard. For any of the free programs, registration links are on each event's NYC Parks page.

Sources