Staten Island · Richmond County
Mount Moses
NYC Parks
- Location
- Off Todt Hill Road, Todt Hill / Lighthouse Hill
- Size
- Part of Staten Island Greenbelt acres
- Hours
- Dawn to dusk
- Type
- NYC Parks
Mount Moses is a peak within the Staten Island Greenbelt near Todt Hill, the highest natural point on the Atlantic coast south of Acadia National Park in Maine. The summit area provides hiking trails through mature forest with distant views.
Todt Hill rises to 409.8 feet above sea level, making it the highest point in the five boroughs and the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard south of Maine's Cadillac Mountain. The name comes from the Dutch 'dood' (dead), possibly referring to a burial ground.
The Greenbelt surrounding Mount Moses contains over 2,800 acres of contiguous forest, wetlands, and meadows, creating one of the largest preserved natural areas in New York City.
The area around Todt Hill has been one of Staten Island's most exclusive residential neighborhoods since the 19th century. The Crimson Beech house, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1959, is located nearby and is the only Wright-designed house in New York City.
Mount Moses provides hikers with access to the highest point in the five boroughs, in a forest that feels remarkably wild for a location within New York City limits.