Central Park, Oct 3–9: the Lower Loop goes Saturday morning, the drives go Thursday, and Monday is perfect and empty

Two closures to work around and one perfect day in between. Saturday the Terry Fox Run takes the Lower Loop 9:15–11 AM, and from Thursday the Big Apple Triathlon holds every drive in the park through the following weekend. Between them sits the best stretch of riding weather this autumn: sunny every day from Monday, 0% rain Tuesday to Friday.

Weather this week

Saturday 71° and sunny. Sunday 64° with a 54% shower chance. Then Monday 70° mostly sunny, and Tuesday through Friday sunny with a 0% rain chance at 62°, 66°, 71°, 71°. Nights fall to 48–56°, so mornings are finally cold — dress for the first chilly rides of the year.

Sat Oct 3, 9:15–11 AM — the Terry Fox Run has the Lower Loop

The Terry Fox Run stages at Bandshell Plaza and runs the Lower Loop from 9:15 to 11. The southern loop is unusable in that window — go before 9 or after 11, or use the bridle path and the Reservoir.

The Best Buddies Challenge also runs the Central Park South sidewalks 7–8 AM, so the Merchants’ Gate approaches are busy very early.

Once it clears, 71° and sunny with nothing else on the road. Worth knowing: the Community Wellness Walk holds the Great Hill Oval 11 AM–2 PM and City of Forest Day brings families into the North Woods from 10 AM — if you run the north end, expect company in the Ravine and around the Loch.

39 private bookings and East Meadow closed.

Sun Oct 4 — a duathlon at dawn, then rain

The Central Park Solo Duathlon Boat Relay stages at the Loeb Boathouse 7–9 AM — small, but it is on your line if you go early and counterclockwise.

After that, 64° and a 54% shower chance. Birding Basics meets at Belvedere Castle at 10 and the Seneca Village Tour goes at 2. Yoga at Dalehead Arch 10–11:30 if you want something slower on a damp morning.

Mon Oct 5 — nothing booked, 70°, clear drives

Not one scheduled event in the park. Mostly sunny, 70°, a 7% rain chance, and the whole loop to yourself.

This is the day. Take it if you can.

Tue Oct 6 – Wed Oct 7 — sunny, cold, and still clear

62° and 66°, sunny, 0% rain, nothing on any drive. Nights down to 48–52°, which means genuinely cold starts for the first time this season.

Cherry Hill fills in the evenings from Tuesday — the Conservancy’s film festival screens there at 7 PM nightly — so the 72nd Street approaches and the Lower Loop carry foot traffic after dark. Not a closure, but worth lights.

Thu Oct 8 – Fri Oct 9 — the triathlon takes the drives

The Big Apple Triathlon holds all-day permits on Cherry Hill, Wagner Cove, Bandshell Plaza, and Center, West and East Drive, the 72nd Street Cross Drive and the Lower Loop — from Thursday, continuing through the following weekend.

Assume the loop is unavailable from Thursday. The permits are 24-hour holds rather than a timed race window, so there is no reliable early gap this time. Check on the ground each morning, or move your long effort to Monday through Wednesday, which is what I would do.

Both days are 71° and sunny, which makes the timing a genuine shame.

Steady all week

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is closed all day, every day, and the permits have extended again — they now run to November 2. That is seven weeks elapsed with a month still on the board.

Bird Watching with Birding Bob runs five mornings from Loeb Boathouse at 7:30 and 8:30. Migration is tailing off, so these are the last good weeks.

East 106th Street lawn out Monday–Thursday; East Meadow closed both weekend days.

Quick recap

• Saturday 9:15–11 AM: Terry Fox Run on the Lower Loop. Before 9 or after 11.
• From Thursday: Big Apple Triathlon holds every drive, all-day permits, into next weekend.
• Monday is the week — 70°, sunny, zero events, clear drives.
• Tuesday to Friday: sunny, 0% rain, 62–71°, cold nights.
• Film festival at Cherry Hill nightly from Tuesday — evening foot traffic on the Lower Loop.
• Bethesda Terrace extended again, now through November 2.

Take Monday through Wednesday, Central Park Guide