The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir – Central Park’s Famous Running Loop
Filling much of the northern half of Central Park is a vast, shining 106-acre lake: the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Ringed by one of the most famous running tracks in the world and offering some of the best skyline reflections in the city, it is a favourite of runners, walkers and photographers alike.
💧 A lake with a purpose
The Reservoir was built in 1862 as part of the Croton system that supplied drinking water to a fast-growing New York. It served that role for well over a century before being decommissioned in 1993, when the city’s water began arriving through other means. Today it is purely a scenic and recreational treasure — a huge, calm mirror in the middle of the park.
👟 The world’s most famous running track
Around the water runs a 1.58-mile cinder track that is one of the most beloved running loops anywhere. Every morning and evening it fills with joggers circling the lake beneath the open sky, the skyline rising on every side. Even if you are not running, the path makes a wonderful walk.
👑 Named for Jackie O
The Reservoir was renamed in 1994 in honour of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who lived nearby on Fifth Avenue and was often seen walking and jogging around it. Her love of this particular corner of the park is part of the reason it carries her name today.
🌸 Blossoms, skyline and sunsets
In spring, cherry and crabapple trees bloom along the track in clouds of pink and white. At sunset, the water turns gold and mirrors the skyline — one of the most photographed views in the whole park. Waterfowl paddle across the surface year-round.
🚲 The easiest way to see it
The Reservoir stretches roughly from 85th to 96th Street. The bridle paths and park drives around it are perfect for a pedicab, which lets you take in the water and the skyline reflections without walking the full loop.
✔ See it on the Central Park pedicab tour from $30
✔ Combine it with the Met and the Obelisk on the east side
✔ Ready to go? Book your ride here
🗺️ What’s nearby
The Reservoir sits in the park’s upper half, close to several highlights:
🏛️ The Metropolitan Museum of Art — on Fifth Avenue just south
🗿 Cleopatra’s Needle — the ancient obelisk behind the Met
⛲ Bethesda Terrace & Fountain — the heart of the park to the south
❓ Frequently asked questions
Where is the Reservoir in Central Park?
In the northern half of the park, roughly between 85th and 96th Streets.
How long is the running track around it?
The loop around the Reservoir is about 1.58 miles.
Who was it named after?
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who lived nearby and often walked and jogged around it.
What is the easiest way to see it?
A private pedicab tour takes in the water and the skyline views without the long walk. Rides start at $30.
Shimmering water, skyline reflections and the most famous running loop in the world — the Reservoir is one of Central Park’s great open views, and a pedicab makes it easy to enjoy. Book a Central Park pedicab tour from $30.
