What Is The "Rambles" Section Of Central Park At 78th Street?

'The Ramble' area of Central Park is 38 acres of wilderness. The Park's designers, Olmsted and Vaux, were particularly proud of this area of the Park. Olmsted called it a 'wild garden'.  

'The Ramble' is bisected by a running stream called 'the Gill'. It runs over rocks and under rustic bridges to a lake below. The stream can be turned on and off with a water tap. How very New York!  The steep and rugged terrain, which includes a gorge, makes The Ramble popular with hikers.

With its trees, shrubs and meadows, the Ramble is a haven for wildlife. Squirrels, raccons and hawks are often spotted there. The Ramble has been voted one of the top fifteen bird-watching sites in the United States. Bird-watching is not something that most people associate with New York City! There are around 250 species that use The Ramble as a stopover in their yearly migration.