Orchard Beach

Always exciting to get submerged into Latin culture, dancing and music that happens every Sunday by the Orchard beach. Sunbathing, swimming and calm nature walks on well-maintained trails are also available, and all for just $12 parking fee on weekends 😀

beautiful beach, nice boardwalk, pretty good and vibrant crowd that adds to the beauty of summer time. walk north, you get to see people fishing, see glen island at a distance, and enjoy the beautiful water. there is a little trail leading to sort of like an island. it is a nice look out spot. there are about 3 concession stands, their sangria is summer-thirst-quenching!

Nice to see some wild life at the front part of the bbq area. Music is just out of control with people competing to hear their own at the beach and the bbq are as well. Best to visit during the week when is less crowded. Restrooms are far away, therefore people end up doing their business in the bushes or the beach which is disgusting.

Good to go during week days. Less people, less noice and relaxing place. When there are no lifeguard, it is no swimming, red flags you cannot go inside the water.

Orchard Beach: The Bronx’s Best-Kept Breezy Secret If you’ve ever wanted to escape the sand-scorched, shade-deprived chaos of Rockaway or Coney Island, Orchard Beach is your quiet rebellion. Small, quaint, and blessedly quiet, it’s the kind of place where you can hear your own thoughts, and not just someone’s Bluetooth speaker three towels over. There’s sand, yes, but also grass, actual grass! And shade. Real, leafy, glorious shade. Trees that don’t just exist for decoration, but for salvation. I didn’t know how much I missed sitting under a tree until Orchard Beach reminded me that sunburn isn’t a personality trait. The concessions? Surprisingly solid. Think beach-worthy bites that won’t make you regret your life choices. Burgers, fries, ice cream, and even a few curveballs that feel like someone actually thought about what beachgoers want. The staff? Friendly, patient, and somehow unfazed by the existential chaos of summer crowds. I asked for extra sauce and as a bonus I got a smile instead of a sigh - miraculous. Now, let’s talk history. Orchard Beach was born in the 1930s, a Robert Moses brainchild that stitched together islands with landfill to create the Bronx’s only public beach. It opened in 1937 with a bathhouse, a cafeteria, and enough locker space for 5,400 people. At its peak, it could host 100,000 bathers. That’s not a typo. One hundred thousand. The beach was so grand, it earned the nickname “Bronx Riviera,” which is both accurate and aspirational. And the future? Oh, it’s looking good. The iconic bathhouse pavilion, closed for years, is getting a $100 million glow-up. Think restored terrazzo floors, blue terracotta tiles, and ramps that actually make the place accessible. There’s even a new maintenance and operations building with solar panels and a green roof, completed ahead of schedule and under budget (a New York miracle). So yes, Orchard Beach is having a renaissance. And I, for one, am here for it. Come for the shade, stay for the history, and leave with a sun-kissed soul and a stomach full of fries.

Love it here this time of year. The beach access is free. Parking is free. They just put in a few nature walks. They are behind schedule with the main entrance rebuild.

Very large beach 🏖️ with nice sand but I wouldn’t get in the water but that’s just me, there was plenty of people swimming 🏊‍♀️ if you’re planning to go, go on the weekdays not the weekends it get pretty loud & packed beyond the limits.. so no weekends if you want quiet 🤫 & peace. Parking is $10 on the weekdays & $12 on the weekends… plenty of cops 👮‍♂️ around to feel secure..

I visit during the weekdays, I love it. Very peaceful and lot of guards even though there was not a lot of people. I really enjoy it. It was clean and everyone very nice. Also the playground was a plus 🥰

I've been on a mission to find the best public beach in New York City that's easily accessible via the subway or bus. This brought me to Orchard Beach in the Bronx. I will say that it was beautiful, it didn't feel like I was the City or the Bronx for that matter. However, it's not super straightforward to get there. You ride the green line all the way to the end at Pelham Bay station and then transfer to a bus for an additional 20 minutes. You then walk around a bunch of construction to find the only open entrance to the beach. The beach itself has soft sand and was pretty clean, but the water is super shallow (great for kids). I had a hard time getting back since the busses run super infrequently.

I have been going to Orchard Beach since I was a child. I hadn't been there for a while, yesterday I went to celebrate a friends mother's birthday and had a fantastic time. Neither wind nor rain can stop a good party, these people are regulars there and they know how to throw a party. The music was great and the food and atmosphere were fantastic. It was byob and I brought my drinks with me and I had a great day. People that didn't know anyone there joined in on the fun and were welcomed like family. This is how good people roll.

Sometimes it good to go the beach; to think about life where you are going or when there ups and downs in life . To think about life can offer a person. To know there is a higher power that help with all problems of the world. The beach offer's beauty,wind sun light, air, peace with in your self.

I love the beach, and has lived in the Bronx for 2 decades but never set foot in Orchard Beach until yesterday And I'm pleasantly surprised. Lots of parking on the off season & it's free. Very peaceful & not a lot of people on a cold weekend morning. Only locals taking a walk with their dogs, family with little kids. We Felt very safe. I saw a few park workers doing clean up work. The beach & water looks cleAn & no garbage lying around. There are bathrooms available but didn't check them out, i saw they have food for sale too but close for the season. Perfect place if you just want to walk along the water & feel the salty breeze for an hour or two. Glad to discover this Riviera of the Bronx. I plan to come back in the spring when its warmer maybe for a picnic before it gets crazy for the summer season.

How do you get to this beach without an car? When to fordham took the 12 that says orchard beach they don't allow digging

Rangers don't care about loud music everywhere and yesterday after they send everybody home they close the public bathroom. The promenade was full with families on the boardwalk, cooking bbq and playing on the court. I asked the lady, who was supervising the cleaning and closing the bathroom, what these people could do if they need a bathroom. Her answer was just that she could wait to everyone go home. You pay U$ 12 to park your car and there's is no public bathrooms available for you and your family. That's a shame!

Nice beach has all to offer parking lot is big plenty of parking, if you go down to section 1 is a nude beach.

went there for the nude beach and no one was nude and no signs allowing it as well as a creepy drone flying around

I visited Orchard Beach with confused expectations because of the mixed reviews, but I really don't know what the negative ones were about. I had a lovely time. Even on a Saturday afternoon in July, it wasn't crowded; there were plenty of people enjoying it, but it was nothing like Jones Beach on a Sunday or Coney Island on Labor Day weekend. Parts of the beach were even empty. The vibe was very chill, with lots of families. No line at the snack bar. The sand and water really weren't dirty. I won't claim it was pristine, because I saw some litter here and there and some cigarette butts, but I was expecting so much worse from the reviews! The bathrooms were fine, not crowded at all, mostly clean, exactly what I'd expect from a city park bathroom. $2.75 for a subway-and-bus trip from Manhattan. Would definitely come back!

I have to rate this beach a 4 because is been apart of the community for so many years. I understand, different people have different opinions about this beach, but, that doesn't mean you have to take away the experience of another. Yesterday, which was when the picture was taken, we went to go watch a firework extravaganza show. Once you arrive the parking fee is $8. Try to remember where you parked as well because you can easily forget. They also have decent size restrooms ( if not overcrowded of course ). Orchard beach even has a concession stand with limited options ( i didnt get to try the food though) so if you have tried it let me know on the comments. Can't go wrong with all they have to offer, parks, sprinklers for the kids, tennis court, & if you go all the way to the left into the hiking trail you can see their beautiful scenery. The Dj was up on stage doing the damnn thing, had everyone dancing, laughing, & making great memories. The vibe was immaculate yesterday. Their was food trucks and different little vendors around to buy whatever you needed. Funniest thing though, the scam was real with the glow in the dark toys. Before the fireworks each item was $5 right!? why when we was leaving they started selling them for $5 for 2 i was like no wayyy!!! You can't make this up so yeah people sometimes is better to wait for the after math when everythin goes on sale. Afterwards, if you're crew is hungry ya can always head down to City Island which is only 5 mins away, Many different restaurant options to choose from. Seafood city personally is my favorite and they only accept cash, as well as, Tonys & Johnny's. Overall, the experiences have been amazing. If you are not looking for problems or don't have beef with people and looking for a close spot in the bronx to chill Orchard Beach is definitely a cool spot. They have it all for you. Hope you guys enjoy.

Not crowded in the edges left and right of the beach. People were chilling and I liked how peaceful it was. I took an uber here from Queens and it was about 26 mins. Water had a few garbage and wasn't insanely clean but that's every beach I went to in NYC. It was still clean for the most part. Had a good time. The park workers don't allow you to go deep into the waters. This a first for me as other beaches they didn't care. After 5 pm apparently you can't go in water anymore so go earlier.

If you are uptown or in Da Bronx it is easy to get to. On Sundays near the parking lot there is salsa music and dancing. There are also three tennis courts in good condition, as well as handball and basketball courts. There are concession stands as well as empanadas being sold on the beach. If you want quiet and relaxation field one is supposed to be a quiet zone but I wouldn't swear to that. It is a lively beach with clean bathrooms, free sunscreen and lifeguards on duty until 6pm. Pretend the water is aqua blue. It is a cool spot to chill by the water. Parking is $8-$10 per car.

This beach is nice. Tonssss of parking and the beach and boardwalk is huge! There are some nice picnic spots and nature trails and I just discovered a new section today that was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately the beach and parking lot usually have trash everywhere and the staff and volunteers try their best to keep it clean but it can be very overwhelming. It's such a shame because it really is beautiful there. Hopefully with time the city can come up with a plan to make restore it back to its glory.

As promised y'all I am back at the beach. Not bad really not a bad experience at all. My fur never got dirty, and I was really pleased with the quality of the water. It wasn't terrible. Y'all should check it out, and if you see a big cat on the sand don't throw anything at me.

What a beautiful getaway,this beach is super clean...so this is in the Bronx out by city island!!! You have to pay a $10.00 parking fee for the whole day .My husband and I got here at about 11:00am and the beach was already getting pack .People were just loving and living life today!!! There was also a festival going for Puerto Ricans day not to mention there are basketball courts,little park so if u don't do sand there also other options at orchard beach There where trash cans every where and the staff change the cans regularly so there's no trash over flowing do need a upgrade with the food at the snack bar staff is nice there are literally teenagers just making a living and doing an amazing job but the food is trash!!! Overall get day getaway would recommend going early

Was a amazing beach, but ranger park officers is not professional at all, we was at black belt martial arts testing, my students was walking in the water NOT SWIMMING, the park range officer came say we can't be in the water, with actitud, the other female officer is laughing not professional at all,

Well. Can't say I'm either impressed or dissatisfied. I'm from The BX originally so I know this Beach very well. It was nice. People were distancing mostly except in the water. The Orchard Beach Snack shop was open (I would give the shop 4 stars on it's own honestly) and pumping out orders. The wings were home made with a brother in the back that resembled my uncle and fried like him too. So that was good. I don't know if the slurpee machine broke down or if it was just ghetto af but we asked for 2 slushies and this young kid was in the back mixing it by hand. It looked tedious and slightly ticked me off because it's a BEACH. Kid must get a thousand orders for slushies daily smh. Looked torturous and to be frank I was irritated on HIS behalf because I just know it's a minimum wage position and those always seem to suck the most. Poor baby. But he did it with a smile, a tired smile, but a smile. So the reason for the 3 star rating? Yes, let's get to it. There are NO garbage cans stationed on the beach sand area. At all. Not one. So guess what comes floating into the water while swimming? Garbage. First it was a plastic bag. Then a wrapper. Then another bag. And a plastic cup. The lifeguards looked at me like I lost my shit when I grabbed the bag and started grabbing all the things floating into it. I mean, I know Orchard isn't Jones that leads to the Atlantic because it is man made. Still, there is life on those waters and plastic is a big NO for Aquatic beings. After I collected a pretty absurd amount of plastic, I get out the water to toss it in a garbage and realize there are no friggin garbage bins! So now I have this random bag of garbage and I have to trek across what feels and looks like a mile of SCORCHING hot sand to throw it out? Sheesh, where's my reward for good samaritan? At least convenience me for Christ's sake! I had to stick it in the sand and wait until we gathered our things to leave to throw it out because babbbbyyy, I was not trying to trek across that fiery sand twice. So for that, and because it brought back less then desirable memories of Orchard back in the hay days, 3 stars only.

I've been going here for years and this beach has come a long ways since I was a child. I remember when you couldn't walk an inch barefooted on the sand without getting glass lodged somewhere in your feet. I went a week ago with my family and the beach is kept much cleaner. There is a much higher police presence so you don't have as many out of control persons. This police presence must contribute to the cleaner beach in my opinion because people tend to not want to drink alcohol in front of police officers.

3.5 stars. I've been here only in winter, and I'm kinda happy about it. I've heard nightmare stories about the density of human bodies here during the summer months, and I wouldn't be interested to come here during that time and fight for an available square foot of sand. Just look at the huge parking lot, and you'll understand how crowded it gets here. On winter days it might be cold, but the boardwalk is deserted, and the beach very atmospheric. In the summer you can bathe and play sports on the multiple available playgrounds. However, when it's more quiet you can enjoy walking around, especially along the nature trails leading to the Twin Island, Two Trees Island and Hunter Island. Kazimiroff Nature Trail is the best path, leading to the woods and eventually to a coastline overlooking Hog Island and Glen Island. Beautiful.

I love Orchard Beach primarily because its on the sound and doesn't have any heavy waves like the open ocean. It has its drawbacks, mostly people being really noisy taking their speakers out onto the sand with no regard for anyone else, and they for some reason removed all the garbage cans from the beach itself relocating them on the boardwalk, however the beach is cleaner now go figure. The bathrooms aren't very clean but they are usable. The snack bar is ok, nothing great but burgers and fried stuff. You can rent umbrellas for $10. Parking is also $10. Sometimes they have concerts which is also really noisy if you're trying to relax. No one will ever touch your stuff on the sand, you could leave your wallet there and it will still be there when you return. Sometimes there is a discarded plastic bag or aluminum can on the beach or in the water but not much considering the huge amount of people that use this beach. The huge pavilion from the 1930's is empty, I heard years ago it was being revitalized but nothing has ever happened. A real shame showing how the Bronx is marginalized by the City. But its great taking the 12 bus, walking 100 feet and being on the beach or the picnic area.

The beach is open from 7:30-3pm you are urged to wear you facial coverings wether its a scarf or a mask and also maintain you social distancing. That being said there are numerous trails you can walk through and enjoy the sights of nature. Many people were fishing on the back end of the beach where are you take the trails through the woods there's a nice open area that opens up to some rocks where people were fishing off the rocks. When we went to the beach they were sifting the sand and leveling it with the machinery so there were not that many people on the beach. Everyone has been cramped inside the house for weeks and now that the weather is getting nice people are definitely flocking to the beach to enjoy being outside and enjoy being around other people even if you have to stay 6 feet apart. The parking lot was full of cars and to the side of the parking lot they have areas for barbecuing and many people did camp out with their families and had a nice outdoor meal together and played music and danced and laughed and just had a fun time

They always have Latin Salsa live bands, and musicians, playing music in the Orchard beach parking lots, and as you come into the parking lots, you can actually see and hear the salsa musicians and their music going off! Its a great experience! Theres an exeptional timbalero that comes every saturday and sunday, from Boston, Massachusettes, who was actually born and raised in the Bronx, and he gets down on the timbales! His name is Danny! Great guy! Live bands in the parking lots is way better than that fat dj that plays out of style old ass salsa music in the back part of Orchard beach! I reccommend to everyone to stop by the parking lot area and check out the live salsa band and musicians every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer time from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The reviews are scary, but my experience wasn't that bad. It's a small beach, a man made beach that's been around since the 1930. The crowd is definitely a diverse crowd, this is New York City people if you are scared of Blacks and Latinas then why the hell did you move here...fuggedaboudit....get over it already ... it's The Bronx.. c'mon son really. The sand was clean and life guards were on deck. Everyone had their radios out but the volume was at a distant roar. I visited on a week day and found the surroundings peacefully mundane. Serene view of the water. Children's laughter in the distance. Lifeguards leave at 6 p.m. Beach closes at 7 p.m. The concession stand is over priced, bottle water is $4.00.....moral of that strory, bring your own water. Basketball and volleyball courts are well maintained and picnic area with green grass and bar-b-cue pits are clean and near by. 3 stars... the bathrooms are sketchy. S-K-E-T-C-H-Y. P.S. This is not the Caribbean, this is The Bronx.

I'm not a beach person - I'll go to them but it's not something I crave as soon as the warm weather comes. If I do go to the beach, I usually drive out to Robert Moses or visit my godmother's house for the day on the Jersey shore. That being said, I've never actually "beached" at Orchard Beach. When I was a kid we used to take annual school trips here and spend time on the grassy fields and walk the nature trails. Since admission and parking are free after Labor Day, I decided to spend my morning walking around and exploring. This is a man-made beach situated on the Long Island Sound; but before you get to the beach, take note of the parking lot - it's huge! I think every teenager who grew up in the Bronx (including myself) learned how to drive in that lot; obviously the parks department caught wind of it because as I pulled in I noticed a sign stating "no driving courses allowed in parking lot" =p The beach is closed during the off-season, but you still have access to the boardwalk, nature trails, sports courts, and playgrounds. It was an overcast day so there weren't too many people there, but it was nice because I felt like I had the place to myself - very peaceful. There's an impressive pavilion located on the boardwalk which looks like it houses a number of concession stands and shops - however the pavilion is original to the beach and has experienced extensive structural damage. As such, it's gated off for restoration/renovation. Overall I had a pleasant morning walking and exploring - there's definitely a lot to do besides the beach. I can't say how the beach itself is or how it's like during the on-season, but for a quiet, peaceful autumn morning walk it's a great option.

Lots of good things: space (if you walk a little, you can set up 20 feet at least from other people), tons of parking with a easy way to drop off, sprinkler playground for kids, bathrooms (not clean but usable), snack shack with only slightly overpriced drinks and food, at low tide, there is a good amount of beach for kids, tons of life guards, some food and drinks sold on the beach (like cotton candy) Other things: lots of music from many people, found at least three pieces of glass in the sand where kids were playing, water is crowded with a steep drop off to deep water, it's huge but some parts were dirty--it's hard to maintain.

My friends, you may not realize that human bones from Hart Island Cemetery have been washing up on Orchard Beach. (Hart Island is NYC's potter's field. If you can't afford to be buried in a cemetery, you wind up on Hart Island.) Due to erosion on Hart Island, especially because of Hurricane Sandy, human bones have been washing up on Orchard Beach. CBS News has reported that FEMA won't begin to repair the cemetery until 2020.

Golly gee!!I By far this is one of the most dirtiest beaches I've ever been to!!! A while back, after dinning at City Island, we decided to walk it off and head to Orchard Beach to check it out. The walk itself was about 2 miles which we didn't mind. However, the beach itself was definitely not an oasis once we arrived. Understandably this is a small beach, but my god was this beach absolutely filthy!!! Cans and bottles littered all over the place with boom boxes competing with one another just to out play each other. Worst off, this beach was super crowded. Perhaps, it was hot that day and everyone wanted to visit the beach but personally for me, this is one beach that l seriously do not care to revisit again...EVER!!!

This is the go to beach for people in the Bronx. Having never been here, I ventured up to see what it was all about. The beach itself was clean but I was surprised how empty it was. In fact, it is located inside a very quiet part of Pelham Bay Park and right before you reach City Island. All in all, it is a good beach for relaxation with very few food options. Probably will not be back though.

I ventured up to the Bronx today with my husband to visit two places we'd never been before: City Island & Orchard Beach. We love beaches, so we're always eager to visit one, particularly a new one, when the opportunity arises. Orchard Beach came up during my Google search for beaches in/around NYC. I was interested because of its geography and history (on Pelham bay, which feeds into a side of the LI sound I'd never been to... man-made in the 1930/ under the supervision of Robert Moses...), and further intrigued because it was referred to in several article as "the (French) Riviera of New York City." I was super skeptical of this title, especially since it's a sound/bay beach in the Bronx, but we wanted to visit City Island anyway and figured we'd hit up the beach afterward and make a day of it. The Riviera, French or otherwise, it is not. The beach is relatively small and, as it's on the sound (Pelham Bay is not actually a bay), the water is shallower (therefore warmer!) and calmer than that of ocean beaches. This is a plus if you've got a bunch of kids in tow, which most other visitors did, or if you're a weak swimmer. This isn't the case with me, but I knew what I was in for beforehand. Despite the utter lack of waves, there were a ton of lifeguard at duty... More per square foot/per person than in the Rockaways, I'd say. There were also lots of stressed out moms yelling at their kids, and adults who had clearly brought more children than they could handle. The boardwalk has concession stands and large (and relatively clean-ish, at least when we were there!) bathrooms. We didn't spot showers or anything to rinse off, which was kind of a bummer... Although you get a lot less sandy when there are no waves to cover you in tons of salt & sand. We stayed till 6:00pm, at which point lifeguards started blowing their whistles nonstop the get people out of the water, some beach/park employee drove his ATV into the water (saltwater is really bad for... everything, dude. Hope you scrubbed it down after!) to scold people for still being in the water, and a woman came over the PA system (hadn't realized there was one!) to announce that the beach was closing, and that the last bus (Bx12) was leaving at 7:00. It was a decent way to kill a few hours and a respectable place to sunbath/wade around in the shallow water, but definitely not my scene. I like bigger waves, more adults, more food choices in the immediate area, and more accessible public transportation. I think I'll be sticking to ocean beaches in Queens and on Long Island for the rest of the summer.

In short - worst beach I ever been to. Its a bummer, cause it is in a nice location. Lots of loud music from many people on the beach and performance stage. Sand and water filthy, with lots and lots of garbage. Guards told us not to swim, as the water is very dirty...

This is a pleasant beach to relax in The Bronx. It's tucked away in Pelham Bay Park so you'll have to get there by car or bus. I think it's slightly cleaner than Coney Island or Brighton Beach. Not as big as the ones in Brooklyn but it's a good option up in the Bronx.

Would not recommend this beach especially, during Covid. We went on a sunday in July and overall the experience was poor. Despite social distance guidelines, the city made no attempts to curb the amount of people who were there, and thus the beach got very crowded by around 11AM. People there were also blatantly not following social distancing or mask guidelines, with multiple parties setting up their chairs/towels/umbrellas within 2 feet of our stuff, despite us very clearly having our stuff set up and no one was wearing masks. Also people were disrespectful of their environment, with multiple families leaving trash and allowing their kids to leave trash on the beach. People were playing extremely loud music everywhere and basically not allowing others to enjoy any peace and quiet. The water was also filthy - so muddy that you can't see your feet with the water at ankle level.

After three years of living in the Bronx, I finally made it to Orchard Beach this morning. I'd hesitated for a while because of the mixed (okay, often negative) reviews. My expectations, then, were well-exceeded when I arrived just before 9 a.m. At that hour, the beach was mostly empty. It was cleaner than expected, featuring a boardwalk, ample bathrooms, and food service (coffee, egg sandwiches) starting at 9. Pelham Bay Park is right behind it, so visitors have easy access to shade and hiking trails. City Island, of course, is also right next door. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer. All in all, a pleasant surprise close to home.

If you are like me and love going to the beach but would rather beat an hour and a half of traffic going out to Long Island, then Orchard Beach is the place for you. There are many negative comments about the water, prices, and people that frequent this beach but if you take it for what it is and don't have such high expectations, you'll be quite pleased. A view of the water, a nicely paved Boardwalk with food and beer, and the sand beneath my toes, and I'm happy. This is my first summer coming here and I always notice that the garbage cans aren't overflowing with trash, unlike most beaches I've been to in NY. They take very good care of the beach, bathrooms, and boardwalk. Yes, people come here with their loud families on the weekends. They play whatever music puts them in the mood to dance and raise their plastic cups. Babies cry. Old people complain. Officers patrol the sand frequently making sure no funny business is going on. It's all American. If sports is your thing, then bring a racket and/or a ball of any sort. You can find FREE tennis, basketball, handball, volleyball courts, and charcoal grills to smoke whatever meat and vegetables you choose to bring. I can't think of anything they've missed. As I lay alone in my beach chair sipping on this $6 coors light without anybody bothering me, I'm at ease and I already can't wait to be back.

We live in Westchester and come to Orchard Beach from time to time. The beach is quite nice during the week--its clean, not too loud and perfectly enjoyable. I've been here once on a weekend, and I will NEVER do it again. It's overly crowded and obnoxiously loud. It's as though everyone it determined to drown out the other persons music. Drives me crazy. No, I don't expect it to be quiet, but the dueling rap, salsa, and blazing hip hop and R&B can grate on ones nerves. If I can hear your music through my headphones and my music we have a problem. I'm pretty dedicated to OB, just during the week when it's pleasant.

The New York City Parks Dept is running some very cool programs in Orchard Beach, These Cool progrms include Hiking, Survival skills, to Bird watching. I recently had the pleasure of going to the Owl Prowl. It's was a great exprience, the Ranger was super helpfulin explaining the local wildlife and these birds of prey. While on the hike we were so lucky to find a great horned owl.The ranger was nice to let us view this little guy on his spotter. These NYC Parks program are great for the whole family. and be found on the link below. Have fun and get out and find an Owl. http://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/weekend-fun

For so long I had heard that this beach wasn't worth a visit...I now know I was given wrong advice. This beach is gorgeous, a 10-mile crescent shaped beach that's BEAUTIFULLY maintained. There are places to fish, hike, grill, enjoy nature and dance salsa! It's never too packed because it's HUGE. There's a very large parking lot, easily the size of a few football fields! It's $8/weekdays and $10/weekends. There are clean bathrooms and the most glorious trees to enjoy the shade under. Grateful to find my special beach

I was a part of a meet up group that walked from Pelham Bay Park, Orchard Beach and City Island. This was my first time visiting this beach and I wasn't worried because I was with a group but I didn't know what to expect. Growing up in Brooklyn and living in Queens we heard so many negative things about Orchard Beach I said I would never go. However, you get older and you realize you have to check things out for yourself. I am so disappointed in myself that it took all these years to see that this beach was just that a beach/park where everyday people were just enjoying themselves. It was a lot cleaner than I expected and I didn't witness any madness or craziness that I naively envisioned. I said to myself, "sh*t this isn't any worse than Coney Island." Granted we only stayed on the beach for about an hour but I really enjoyed myself while there. I liked that they had areas where you can picnic and eat your food. Any views by the water is a plus and it was hot outside so that breeze from the water felt good. The one negative thing I saw was that you had to pay for parking. However, that would be a fee I would pay because the beach is way out and the closest mode of public transportation was a bus which stopped right by the beach, talk about convenience. I picked up an Italian ice from one of the many vendors on the beach and just chilled for a while before we moved on with our walk to our next destination. I plan on visiting this beach again but this time for the day and just enjoy the water and environment. Stop listening to naysayers and check out a place for yourself and then make your own assessment. Keeping in mind we're NOT in the Caribbean so don't have high expectations and try to compare ANY NYC beach to that gorgeous beach vacation you had in the past. LOL

Maybe it was less crowded here than usual last Saturday because of the threatening thunder and lightning storms (that never came, by the way). Still, I think that this beach has been underrated by most of its reviewers! An incredible journey to the end of the local 6 train line brought us to Pelham Bay Park. So quiet there, and the nearby arboreal Hutchinson Parkway evoked feelings of being on the edge of the countryside (which New England is, in comparison to New York City, at least). We wanted to catch the Bx5 express bus to Orchard Beach, but the Bx12 arrived earlier, and was essentially the same thing, and there was only one other person on it at noon. The bus took us RIGHT THERE to a beautiful park that opened up to the crescent shore mirrored by an ampitheatre structure that was a home to vendors of butt-font shorts with "Orchard Beach" printed on them, assorted swimwear, and concessions. One cool thing to know about this beach is that it was artificially engineered in 1936: http://www.lehman.edu/vpadvance/artgallery/arch/buildings/orchard_beach.html Therefore, it has more of the aspect of a pond or lake, and the waters were super calm. I have no idea how clean or dirty the water is scientifically, but when a plastic bag blew into the water, rowdy swimmers toyed with it only briefly before placing it in one of the numerous yet inoffensive (because they were spotless and empty) wastebaskets peppering the beach. At one point, a cleaning crew also came by, spearing the last few bits of detail on the beach with looks of grim satisfaction on their faces. Young, cheerful lifeguards in bright orange clothing sat three to a chair, making sure everyone was safe...so the only scary and disruptive thing about this beach might have been the hungry seagulls constantly on the prowl, but mindful packaging of our food kept them at bay. People, don't feed gulls...don't even throw your trash at them; they will be encouraged!!! Yeah, a few groups were loud - cussing, laughing, flirting, whatever...but where aren't there these sorts of groups? On the whole, this beach was very quiet, and anyway, no one bothered anyone else. There was some "naco" music, but I liked it. I felt like I was in a totally different land, actually. A great and accessible escape from the concrete jungle.

This beach and the parking lot were disgusting when we got here at 9:30. It's not right that whoever has the responsibility of keeping the beach clean and usable is not doing their job. We'll try once more next weekend.

Hidden gem in the Bronx. 10 times better than Coney Island and right up there with Rockaway (extra +++ if you live in the Bronx because it's so close). The sand is beautiful with minimal rocks. The boardwalk always has live music!

We were here in the winter, so there wasn't a ton of beach activity on that day. We took a walk along the boardwalk and got an overall view of the area. It is pretty nice, with lots of white sand, playgrounds, sports areas, and decent dressing and bathroom facilities.

Although I would not venture out in the questionable waters, the beach is nice to visit for a stroll down the boardwalk with my family's dogs. On a nice day, you'll here loud upbeat music playing, with children running about. The basketball courts are adjacent and there is always a game going on. Not too far from the main section of the beach, there are tables in a lovely grassy area, where you can bring food and have an outdoor get together, away from the other, busier parts of Pelham Bay Park. They have limited bbq grills in that area so, if you don't get there super early, you should definitely bring your own portable grill. In mid-October, they host the annual Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk, which is why I last visited. They also have an annual Mud Run that includes wading through the cold waters, running in the sand and bushy areas, and a few obstacle courses along the way. We've always had a great time when we've gone and although I would not brave the water, it is a nice local getaway.

This is a very loud, boisterous, usually crowded, mostly Latino in demographic beach. It's not the cleanest beach, but it is better than some I've been to. I do wish some of the beach goers would watch the profanity. It is excessive in both unnecessarily LOUD speech and in various boom boxes competing for the most ignorant song you've ever heard yet. The old ladies are a hoot, very friendly!

im from uk and the bathrooms were disgusting like so disgusting i dont ever want to visit this place again when i come back to visit

The best part of Orchard Beach is not the beach itself, nor is going there during peak season. First, Orchard Beach is part of the Pelham Bay Park system, so it is connected to all types of park features, from playgrounds, tennis, basketball, handball courts, bike and walking trails, wooded areas, picnic areas, a lagoon with kayaks, and the beach itself. Although it doesn't allow swimming all year long, it is open to the public, and they offer programs such as bird watching. A part of the trail leading off from Orchard Beach takes you into Hunter Island which is a zoological and geological sanctuary. There is a trial that takes you along the perimeter of the island where you can see gorgeous quartz veins, laminae of folded beach, glacial erractics, and the living fossil that is the horseshoe crab. From NYC Parks website: "Located north of Orchard Beach, the Hunter Island Marine Zoology and Geology Sanctuary takes in all of Twin Islands, Cat Briar Island, Two Trees Island, and the northeastern shoreline of Hunter Island. It contains many noteworthy geological features including glacial erratics, large boulders that were deposited during the last ice age nearly 15,000 years ago. The rocky coast of Twin Islands, reminiscent of the New England shorefront, is the southernmost outcropping of Hartland Schist, the major bedrock component of such coastlines. The sanctuary supports a unique intertidal marine ecosystem that is rare in New York State." http://www.nycgovparks.org/greening/nature-preserves/site?FWID=43 As for the beach itself, its small and can be very overcrowded in the summer. However, the very ends of the beach - both sides - has no life guard in season and it generally becomes a haven for those seeking quiet. For locals such as myself, its a good place to go on summer weekdays to get some sun and relaxation. But I suggest bringing your own food. The selection for sale is very limited.

Went there on Sunday, as soon as we got there around 11:30, it wasn't crowded and we were able to get a decent spot to set up our umbrella and blankets. It wasn't until I walked to the water's edge that I regretted my decision to go there. There was garbage floating in the water. I saw paper towels, fritos bags, coffee cups, and lots of feathers. I barely let my toes touch the water, but was terrified of going in any further. I walked along the beach hoping for a cleaner area but sadly, there was none. It amazed and disgusted me that there were people actually swimming in such filth, even children. I will never again go to this "beach".

Would be great if people were respectful, clean, and quiet there! The best time to go is spring time when it's still clean and the crowds haven't destroyed it yet. It's unfortunate people that go there have no respect for nature or others.

Went to orchard beach on an extremely hot Saturday and I'm pleased to say that it exceeded my expectations. The beach and the water were free of trash and debris, and the atmosphere was fun with lots of families and children enjoying themselves. There are also lots of activities such as basketball and tennis, and there were a few snack bars open. It isn't the closest place from the train, but it is an easy cab ride from Pelham Bay Park on the 6 train.