Hell Gate: Perilous Waters and Hidden Secrets

Explore Hell Gate’s treacherous history on a walking tour. Uncover shipwrecks, river pirates, and explosive plots. Discover New York’s hidden past.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Wards Island Park - Offers a view of Hell Gate, Mill Rock, and Roosevelt Island.
Randalls and Wards Islands - Provides a view of Astoria Park and the Triborough Bridge, along with features of Wards Island.
Hell Gate Bridge - At the Wards Island end of Hell Gate Bridge, participants will learn about the unique engineering of this iconic bridge…

What's Included
  • All fees and/or taxes
What's Not Included
  • Tea and coffee
Additional Information

Navigate the challenging waters of Hell Gate, a notorious one-mile section of the East River located between Manhattan and Astoria, Queens. This area is infamous for its dangerous currents, sharp reefs, and legendary whirlpools that have claimed numerous ships. As you travel along Randall’s Island, discover the intriguing and often eerie tales of the…

Location
Randall’s Island Athletic Field #83
East River Lane
Randall's Island Park (the collective name for Randall’s Island to the north and Wards Island to the south) at the Wards Island end of Wards Island Bridge (also known as 103rd Street Footbridge). The Wards Island Bridge connects the island to East Harlem in Manhattan.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(8 Ratings)
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1 star
Colleenjb6949sf
Aug 15, 2024
An immersive exploration of a unique slice of NYC! - The Hell Gate Tour by Purefinder New York blew me away with its unique blend of history, mystery, and captivating storytelling. This tour uncovers a part of New York that even many lifelong New Yorkers don't fully appreciate. I have lived here for over 13 years and had no idea of the deep and fascinating past of this area of the city. We were lucky enough to have Krombie, the creator and owner of Purefinder, as a guide. She was not only incredibly knowledgeable about the specifics of Hell Gate's history but also brought it to life with an authenticity and passion that's infectious. Walking through this often overlooked area, hearing about the lives that once revolved around the Hell Gate waters, and seeing the remnants of the past gave me a new appreciation for this city's rich heritage. Whether you are a New Yorker or a visitor eager to dig deeper than the usual tourist spots, you will be glad you ventured on this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Akpanoluoe
Jul 24, 2024
An endlessly entertaining historical storytelling experience - Krombie is one of the best storytellers on the planet, and her Hell Gate tour was rich in history. So cool learning about the foiled Nazi plot to blow up Hell Gate Bridge, and about the massive whirlpool that used to exist at Hell Gate and destroy ships. Oh, and all the Hollywood movie tie ins to the area was an unexpected treat! Go solo and make friends, or bring friends for a fun group activity, you can't go wrong and it's a lovely way to spend an afternoon
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fearless58752691118
Jun 25, 2024
Amazing Tour of NYC’s Secret Histories - This was so fun and so informative!! Great date idea if you’re looking to change things up :) Bringing the city in a whole new light. Would give 10 stars if I could…
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Izumiy
Nov 7, 2022
Best Walking Tours in NYC by Fantastic Storyteller with Deep Knowledge - I took the Hell Gate tour and the Psychiatric History of New York tour, both guided by K. Krombie, the BEST, FANTASTIC storyteller with amazing depth and breadth of knowledge based on her thorough research/investigations of the relevant history. Through her tours, I, a NYC resident, was totally mesmerized afresh by the richness of the city’s history behind both familiar and unfamiliar landscapes, buildings, architectural structures, murals, etc., including those which no longer exist or were buried under the ground. I highly recommend K. Krombie’s guided tours to anybody, NYC residents and tourists alike, who are drawn to the curious and unique history of NYC. I am looking forward to taking her Death in New York tour next.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
366penelopef
Aug 30, 2022
Hell Gate - Krombie gave a comprehensive 2 hour tour of Randalls and Wards Islands and the Hell Gate strait with unflagging enthusiasm on one of the hottest days of the year.! While her tour was clearly thoroughly researched,, her tone was never once pedantic and we were rapt the entire time. Krombie is a treasure! I highly recommend any of her tours, but this one is particularly magical.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jonnydollar
Aug 14, 2022
The tour was fascinating, informative, and highly entertaining. - The tour was fascinating, informative, and highly entertaining. Amazing amount of history, humor, and intrigue told in that really kept my attention. Lots of information on the many NYC urban myths that are actual real events I have heard over the 30 years I have lived in New York City. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bosbinn
Aug 12, 2022
Wonderful tour through the history of Hell Gate. - There were so many parts of this tour that I liked...It's hard to choose one experience. Among my favorites, however, was the tour guide's ability to tell the story of the history of Ward Island, Randal's Island and the surrounding area with such enthusiasm and command of the subject. I knew so little about Hell Gate, but came away with a significant appreciation for the journey people had taken to develop this part of New York City. For future travelers, wear good walking shoes since there is a lot of territory to cover. Believe me, it will be worth it!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mariecf7953kt
Aug 11, 2022
Deep dive into fascinating histories - Krombie is a passionate and fun storyteller who took us on a whirlpool (excuse the pun) tour of the Hell Gate water from the vantage point of the fascinating and scenic Ward’s/Randall’s Islands. So much information was packed into a tour that covered such intriguing histories as sunken ships, spies, potter’s fields, burial grounds, explosions, movie locations, and the peculiar social institutions that once dotted the islands, as well as the institutions that now exist. Highly recommended for those who like delving into lesser known histories of NYC, and who like exploring spots that even some New Yorkers don’t know about.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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April 2025
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