The High Line, New York: accessibility profile

An elevated 2.3 km park that is step-free from end to end, but only about half its access points have a lift.

The walkway itself is one of the best pieces of accessible public space in New York. Built on a disused freight viaduct about 9 metres above the street, it runs 2.3 km from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street with no steps along its length, a smooth precast concrete deck, and a clear width that the park describes as two wheelchairs wide. Planting is set at eye level from a seated position, benches recur every few dozen metres, and the whole route is gently graded.

Getting up there is the honest catch. The High Line has around a dozen access points and only some of them are lifted: Gansevoort Street, 14th Street, 16th Street, 23rd Street and 30th Street have lifts, and there is a further lift at 31st Street on the Moynihan Connector. The remainder — including the popular 18th, 20th, 26th and 28th Street entries — are stairs only. Arriving at the wrong staircase means a detour of several blocks at street level.

Lift reliability is the second variable. The park runs a public elevator status page precisely because outages happen, and because the lifts are the only vertical route for wheelchair users, one broken cab genuinely changes your itinerary. The practical habit is to check the status page before leaving and to have a second entrance in mind. Three park-level entries at 30th Street at Hudson Yards, 31st Street and 34th Street avoid the lifts entirely.

Facilities on the park are limited but adequate. Accessible restrooms are at the southern end near Gansevoort and at 16th Street, where there is also a lift, so plan around those two points rather than expecting facilities spread along the route. Wheelchairs can be requested in advance through the park's form with at least one business day's notice, reviewed on weekdays. Seating is generous, shade is not.

What the measurements mean

The main entrance is step-free. There is no dedicated accessible parking, so plan a drop-off instead.

The lift cabin is 150 × 180 cm, enough room for a powerchair and a companion together. Its door opening is 100 cm. Internal routes are around 200 cm wide, so two wheelchairs can pass each other.

There is an accessible toilet. Grab bars are fitted. Turning space is about 180 cm, enough for a full turn in most wheelchairs.

Surfaces are smooth & even, which rolls easily. The steepest gradient is around 2%, gentle enough for most users.

The nearest step-free station is 34th Street–Hudson Yards on the 7 line, about 150 m away. Note that 23rd Street is not step-free, despite being close.

Assistance animals are welcome. Staff are trained to assist. Seating and rest points are available along the route.

What to expect

Lifts serve Gansevoort Street, 14th, 16th, 23rd and 30th Streets; the other access points are stairs only.
Check the park's elevator status page before you set out — a single outage can add a kilometre.
Level street entries exist at 30th Street at Hudson Yards, 31st Street at the Moynihan Connector and 34th Street.

Getting there step-free

34th Street–Hudson Yards Metro · 7 · 150 m Step-free

14th Street–Eighth Avenue Metro · A/C/E/L · 600 m Step-free

23rd Street Metro · 1 · 700 m Not step-free

Full accessibility profile

Every attribute below is recorded against the same protocol, so figures are comparable between places. Values are marked Measured or Estimate, and the sources are listed above.

Entrance & arrival

Step-free entrance Measured Yes

Accessible parking Measured No

Elevators & lifts

Elevator (cabin) Measured 150 × 180 cm

Elevator door width Measured 100 cm

Accessible restroom

Accessible restroom Measured Yes

Grab bars Measured Yes

Turning space Measured 180 cm

Surfaces & slopes

Surface quality Measured Smooth & even

Maximum slope Measured 2%

Path width Measured 200 cm

Getting there

Accessible transport Measured Step-free metro

Step-free transit nearby Measured Yes

Sensory & communication

Audio guide Measured Yes

Braille signage Measured No

Tactile paving Measured No

Quiet hours Measured No

Sensory map Measured No

Policies & assistance

Assistance animals Measured Yes

Trained staff assistance Measured Yes

Seating & rest points Measured Yes

Practical tips

Accessible restrooms are only at the south end and at 16th Street, both beside lifts.
The northern end connects step-free into Hudson Yards and the accessible 7 train at 34th Street.
Summer afternoons on the exposed deck get very hot; there is little shade between 20th and 30th Streets.

The High Line: common accessibility questions

Is the High Line wheelchair accessible?

The walkway is fully step-free for its whole 2.3 km on smooth concrete wide enough for two wheelchairs. Access from the street is the limitation: lifts serve Gansevoort, 14th, 16th, 23rd and 30th Streets plus the Moynihan Connector at 31st, while the other entrances are stairs only.

Which High Line entrances have elevators?

Gansevoort Street, 14th Street, 16th Street, 23rd Street and 30th Street, plus 31st Street at the Moynihan Connector. Level park-height entries also exist at 30th Street at Hudson Yards and at 34th Street. Check the park's elevator status page on the day, since outages are common.

Which accessible subway station is closest to the High Line?

34th Street–Hudson Yards on the 7 line is fully accessible and sits at the park's northern end, roughly 150 m away. At the southern end, 14th Street–Eighth Avenue on the A, C, E and L is accessible and about 600 m from the Gansevoort lift. 23rd Street on the 1 is not accessible.