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Take your furry confrere on a deluxe gambol that's good for both of you.

Starting subway: 1 to 125th St

Ending subway: 1, 2, 3 to 72nd St

Distance: 3 miles

Time: 1 hour

Calories burnied: 300

1. Riverside Park proves one of the most pro-mutt spaces in the city--it has three dog runs, and your hairy pal is allowed off-leash in many areas. Our canine-friendly adventure begins at the site of General Ulysses S. Grant's tomb on a grassy island by Riverside Drive at 122nd Street. (Big dogs can't ride the subway, so you may need a pet taxi--call Canine Cab Company, 917-838-5557.)

2. Head south and peer over your shoulder at mammoth Riverside Church as you descend the path into the park, walking toward the royal-blue rectangles of the tennis courts at 119th Street. Arrive courtside and continue down the paved promenade to explore the peeps and chirps in the bird sanctuary, where your four-legged companion can scare (and be scared by) the area's nuthatches, warblers and mockingbirds (116th St-124th St).

3. At 105th Street, you'll find the first of the three bustling dog runs. Just across the path toward the water, Hudson Beach Cafe offers the ideal stopping point for catching a sunset, a cold one or volleyball on the courts below. (They often have live music on weekends.)
4. Where the promenade ends, follow the path that curls under the parkway. Emerge onto the final stretch of Cherry Walk--named for 25 blocks (100th St-125th St) of cherry trees lining the walkway along the Hudson.

5. You'll feel the river breezes pick up as you walk with your pooch to the clay tennis courts at 96th Street. Catch a match and maybe even a concert on the adjacent lawn (an events schedule is available at riverside-tennis.org).

6. Pass under the parkway at 92nd Street and backtrack to take in the gorgeous display of well-tended blooms at the colorful 91st Street Garden (this spot was the best thing about You've Got Mail).

7. Descend westward into the park to arrive at the gates of the 87th Street dog run and let your pooch play with other furry friends while you play with their friendly owners.

8. The promenade ends at 83rd Street, where the Warsaw Ghetto Memorial pays tribute to the victims of Nazi brutality. Bear right and make for the river, walking south to the Boat Basin Café---a perfect summer stop offering casual bites, fresh water for your dog and gorgeous views of the Hudson.

9. Pass under the highway just beyond the running track. The third dog run, at 72nd Street, lies just ahead, as does the Eleanor Roosevelt Monument on the corner of Riverside Drive.

10. End your journey with a meal at Westside Brewing Company (340 Amsterdam Ave at 76th St, 212-721-2161). They welcome dogs in the outdoor seating area and serve burgers on English muffins--suddenly, you have a new favorite place.--Tammy McCarley

McCarley is the author of Best Hikes with Dogs: New York City & Beyond. For more information, go to blueskydogsny.com.

From the Time Out New York Walks feature, May 2007