The Pool

Near the West 100th Street entrance to Central Park is a somewhat secluded landscape featuring a small water body known as the Pool.

This peaceful area is a popular spot for relaxing and picnicking. It also offers some of the Park’s best fall foliage viewing, with red maples, sweetgums, and willows along the shoreline displaying spectacular color. The Pool’s proximity to the Park’s northern woodlands and the presence of water also makes the area a great spot for viewing birds and other wildlife.

The Pool is also part of a sequence of landscapes connected by water. At the eastern edge of the Pool, the water flows under a rustic bridge and tumbles down a 20-foot cascade, becoming a meandering stream known as the Loch. This water body flows through the woodland landscape known as the Ravine to the east, eventually flowing into the Harlem Meer.

The creation of this series of water bodies was guided by the existing presence of water in this area, primarily a stream called Montayne’s Rivulet. This stream originated at what is now Columbus Avenue and West 95th Street, entering the Park near 100th Street. The Pool is still fed partially by this stream, but mostly by City water. A small grotto near the south edge of the Pool hides the 48-inch pipe that provides the source.

Things you can do here

  • Guides

    Birding Guide

    Interested in birdwatching? Learn how to respectfully spot the more than 210 bird species that make an appearance in Central Park.

    Tags: Wildlife

  • Self-Guided Tours

    Central Park Woodland Walk: The North Woods

    Stroll through an idyllic landscape designed to bring a taste of the Adirondacks to Central Park.

    Tags: History / Art & Architecture / Plants and Trees

  • Tours

    Central Park Nature Walk: The North Woods

    With its winding paths, lush tree canopy, beautiful birdsong, and charming waterfalls, this sprawling landscape provides the perfect escape.

    Tags: Art & Architecture / Wildlife / Plants and Trees

  • Guides

    Guide to Fall Foliage in Central Park

    Each fall, many of Central Park’s roughly 18,000 trees transform into golden shades of yellow, orange, red, and more.

    Tags: Plants and Trees

  • Self-Guided Tours

    Upper West Side Tree Walk

    Spot dozens of species of trees and learn something new while enjoying a peaceful walk.

    Tags: Tree Walk / Plants and Trees

  • Self-Guided Tours

    Wandering in the North Woods

    Discover the peaceful, wild woodland that’s little-known to most visitors.

    Tags: Art & Architecture / Plants and Trees

    • Also in the area

    Read more

  • About the Conservancy

    A Shared Space: Finding Connection Through Conservation

    Urban greenspaces like Central Park connect city dwellers to the intricate and dynamic ecological systems we need for reflection and recreation, and other species count on for survival.

    Tags: Conservancy Staff / Pollinators / About the Conservancy / Nature Lovers

  • Park Information

    10 New Year’s Resolutions for a Central Park-Lover

    Here are 10 ways to combine a desire for a new you in the new year with the joy of spending time in Central Park.

  • Restoration and Maintenance

    A Growing Challenge: Harmful Algal Blooms in Central Park

    Over the years, the Central Park Conservancy has been diligently monitoring the growth and location of harmful algal blooms in order to best inform the public and protect our visitors and wildlife.

    Tags: Summer / Conservancy Staff / Nature Lovers / Water Feature

  • Plants and Trees

    What Are Central Park’s Most Colorful Fall Trees?

    In appreciation of this photogenic time of year, we asked a Conservancy arborist what trees you should look for this autumn and where to find them.

    Tags: Fall / Trees

  • Park Information

    A Reflection of Nature Itself: The Different Landscapes of Central Park

    Central Park is made up of a variety of landscapes that are diverse, intricate, and interconnected—just like the communities of Park-lovers who enjoy them.

    Tags: Trees / Nature Lovers / Lawns / Landscapes