NASSAU 1. Brookside Preserve, Brookside Avenue, Freeport, ssaudubon.org Season: All year. Features: This 22-acre nature sanctuary features natural woodlands and freshwater wetlands, native plants and more than 50 species of birds. Milburn Creek flows through. 2. Cow Meadow Park Preserve, South Main Street, Freeport, 516-571-8685, www.nassaucountyny. gov Season: All year. Features: 150 acres, ¼-mile hiking trail through bayberry thicket along saltwater marsh accommodating 156 species of nesting, migrating and wintering birds; small birdwatching tower. 3. Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, 50 Barry Dr., Glen Cove, 516-571-8010, garviespoint museum.com Features: 62 acres overlooking Hempstead Harbor; museum presents LI geology and history, 5 miles of trails, self-guided nature trail. Children s Summer Workshop Tue.-Thur.; 12 sessions; $75 for 3 half days, ages 5-10. 4. Hempstead Plains, Nassau Community College, Garden City, 516-572-7570, friendsofhp.org Features: 19-acre tall-grass prairie. Tours, volunteer workdays, poetry and art workshops in spring and fall. Rare and endangered plant species. 5. Leeds Pond Preserve, 1526 North Plandome Rd., Plandome, 516-627-9400, www. nassaucountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 35-acre site with 16 acres of forest (oak, maple and tulip trees); 40-minute, self-guided trail along pond. 6. Lido Beach Passive Nature Preserve, Lido Boulevard, Point Lookout, 516-431-9200, toh.li Season: All year (except holidays). Features: 40-acre site, indigenous plants, tidal wetlands, variety of grasses, vegetation and marine life, bird-watching, walking path. 7. Massapequa Preserve, Merrick Road and Ocean Avenue, Massapequa Park, 516-571-7443, www.nassaucountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 423 acres, largest freshwater wetlands system in a Nassau Park. No amenities in preserve; 4 ½- miles of Bethpage bikeway, 5 miles of the Greenbelt hiking trail. 8. Mill Pond Park, Merrick Road (east of Bellmore Avenue), Wantagh, www.nassaucountyny.gov Features: Long and narrow 54-acre preserve includes a large pond that draws numerous
native waterfowl, along with nature trails that wind through a wet woodland with red maple, coast pepperbush and skunk cabbage. 9. Muttontown Preserve, Muttontown Lane, East Norwich, 516-571-8500, www.nassaucountyny. gov Season: All year. Features: 550 acres, 10 miles of nature trails, 20 miles of bridle paths (no horse rentals), 2 self-guided trails, cross-country ski trail, ponds and woodlands. Birding: Draws Eastern bluebirds and warblers in migration. 10. Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve, 1600 Merrick Rd., Merrick, 516-804-2000, toh.li Season: All year. Features: 50 acres surrounded by tidal wetland. Contains native wetland and upland vegetation; graded hiking trails, guided echo kayak tours, wheelchair-accessible fishing pier on Merrick Bay and canoe and kayak launch. 11. Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area, 500 Slice Dr., Oceanside, 516-766-1580, toh.li Season: All year; open Tue.-Sat. except holidays. Features: 52 acres, mainly salt marsh; a mile of trails; 10 displays, including local marine specimens; bird-watching, group tours (by reservation). 12. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Rd., Sands Point, 516-571-7900, thesandspointpreserve.com Season: Trails open daily, 9 a.m. 5 p.m.; parking fee for mansion grounds. Features: 216 acres, forests, meadows, lawns, shore cliffs, freshwater pond, trails. Contains 3 historic buildings: Hempstead House, Castlegould and Falaise. 13. Stillwell Woods Preserve, South Woods Road, Syosset, www.nassaucountyny.gov Features: 270-acre preserve with old field and oak barrens communities. Greenbelt Trail runs through preserve; bicycle and equestrian trails. 14. Tackapausha Museum and Preserve, Washington Avenue north of Merrick Road, Seaford, 516-571-7443, www.nassaucountyny.gov Hours: Museum open 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun. ($2-3 fee), preserve open daily. Features: 84 acres, picnic area, natural history museum, 5 miles of nature trails. 15. Tanglewood Preserve, 1 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre, 516-764-0045, cstl.org Features: 11- acre preserve with two ponds and 3 buildings that serve as home to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning which offers science and technology programs for children.
16. Tiffany Creek Preserve, Sandy Hill Road, Oyster Bay, www.nassaucountyny.gov Season: All year, daily. Features: 197-acre preserve is a mix of ecological communities within the oak forest. Self-guided trails. 17. Twin Lakes Preserve, Old Mill Road, Wantagh, 516-766-1580, toh.li Season: All year. Features: 57 acres; red maple, sweet gum, hawthorn, sycamore, tulip trees; freshwater fishing (license required); 4 ponds; bird-watching. 18. Welwyn Preserve, Crescent Beach and New Woods Road, Glen Cove, 516-571-8500, www. nassaucountyny.gov Seasons: All year, daily. Features: 204 acres, 4 trails in a swamp forest of tulip trees. Home to the Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County. William Cullen 19. Bryant Preserve, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn, 516-484-9338. Features: 141 acres with sculptures and formal gardens; home to the Nassau County Museum of Art. SUFFOLK 20. Arthur Kunz County Park, off Landing Avenue, Smithtown, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 97 acres, pierced by Greenbelt Trail; hiking, bird-watching. 21. Brookside County Park, 59 Brook St., Sayville, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 5.8-acre park was estate of architect Isaac H. Green. Great South Bay Audubon Society conducts guided nature walks 1-3 p.m. Wed. and Sun. weather permitting. 22. Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, Jerico Turnpike, Smithtown, 631-265-1054, nysparks.com Season: All year. Features: 534 acres; ½-mile trail accommodates wheelchairs, self-guided trails, 3 ½-miles of Greenbelt Trail, nature museum, fly-fishing April 1 Oct. 15 ($20 permit, reservation required), junior angler s fishing area (15 and younger, April 1 Oct. 31), bird walks, geology workshops, clinics, family programs ($3 children and adults). 23. Calverton Ponds Preserve, Old River Road, Calverton, 631-367-3225, nature.org Features: 350 acres; Pine Barrens and coastal plain ponds; woodlands and wetlands; map box with trail maps. 24. Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Sunrise Highway, Oakdale, 631-581-1005, nysparks. com. Parking fee $8. Season: All year. Free permit available from P.O. Box 505, Oakdale, N.Y.
11769; valid 1 year. Hours: 6 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Wed. Sun. October March. Permit required. Features: 3,473 acres, fly-fishing April 1 Oct. 15, catch and release Feb. 1 March 31 ($20 permit and reservation required), 50 miles of hiking trails, bridle paths ($50 permit required, no horse rentals), museum, gift shop. Grist mill, fish hatchery and main house tours by appointment. Regional Environmental Education Office (631-581-1072) offers nature walks and programs. 25. Cranberry Bog County Preserve, Riverhead Moriches Road, Riverhead, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 460 acres in Pine Barrens, with wetlands and woodlands, includes a ¾-mile interpretive trail around Sweezy Pond. Groups by permit. 26. David Sarnoff Pine Barrens Preserve, Route 104, Riverhead, 631-444-0273, www.dec. ny.gov Season: All year; except January s deer hunting season. Access by state Department of Environmental Conservation permit (free). Features: 2,700 acres of undeveloped land, bird conservation area; 7 ½-miles of marked hiking trails; hunters may be in the preserve October February. 27. Edgewood Oak Brush Plain Preserve, off Commack Road, Deer Park, 631-444-0273, www. dec.ny.gov Season: All year. Access by permit from state Department of Environmental Conservation permit (free). Features: 850 acres of Pine Barrens vegetation, pitch pine and scrub oak; 50 acres of open field, 5-mile hiking trail, 5-mile mountain biking trail, bird-watching. 28. Goldsmith s Inlet County Park, off Mill Road, Peconic, 631-854-4949, www.suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 60 acres; ½-mile hiking trail leads to L.I. Sound. 29. Hoyt Farm Park Preserve, New Highway, Commack, 631-543-7804, available only to Town of Smithtown residents with proper identification. Season: All year. Hours: Open daily 8 a.m. dusk Labor Day Memorial Day; 9 a.m. dusk after Memorial Day. Features: 133 acres, reproduction of Long Island Indian wigwam, animals, nature center (1-4 p.m. daily Memorial Day Labor Day), playground, picnic areas. HoytWicks Homestead Museum open 1-4 p.m. weekends Memorial Day Labor Day. Free concerts July-August (631-360-7644); maple sugaring late February-mid-March Sundays (1:30-3 p.m., call) Runoff water park 11 a.m. 4 p.m. Memorial Day Labor Day. 30. Inlet Pond County Preserve, Main Road access off Route 48, Greenport, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 50 acres on Long Island Sound, popular for surf fishing, free parking available.
31. Islip Greenbelt County Park, Islip, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 153 acres; links portions of the 34-mile Greenbelt hiking trail. 32. Linda Gronlund Memorial Nature Preserve at Barcelona Neck, Route 114, Sag Harbor, 631-444-0273, www.dec.ny.gov Season: All year except January deer season (Jan. 3-28) weekdays. Access by free seasonal permit, available from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Features: 300 acres of woodlands and tidal marshes, fresh and tidal wetlands; 4 miles marked hiking trails, some unmarked trials and roads; bird-watching. Hunters may be in preserve October February. 33. Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, with 9 refuges, Shirley, 631-286-0485, longislandrefuges.fws.gov Season: 3 refuges have public trails, accessible by day. All year, except for parts of Morton and Target Rock Refuges in nesting season (April 1 Aug. 30). Features: (a) Target Rock Refuge, end of Target Rock Road, Lloyd Neck; 80 acres, nature trails through hardwood forest, ponds and along rocky shore of Huntington Bay; good bird-watching in spring for warblers; fishing from shore; self-guided interpretive hikes and education materials offered; restrooms; information kiosk, $4 vehicle fee. (b) Wertheim Refuge, Smith Road off Montauk Highway, Shirley; 2,550 acres; hiking trails through oak and pine forest, grassland and wetland; canoeing on Carmans River (launch site at Montauk Highway and Smith Road). Fishing permitted from boat; interpretive hikes; crosscountry skiing; bird-watching; wheelchair accessible trail; restrooms. Special programs offered by Friends of Wertheim, www.friendsofwertheim.org (c) Elizabeth A. Morton Refuge, Noyack Road; nature trail through forests; bird-watching; self guided hikes; wheelchair accessible trail; restrooms; $4 vehicle fee. More than 250 bird species. 34. Mashomack Preserve, 79 South Ferry Rd. Route 114, Shelter Island, 631-749-1001, nature.org/ mashomack Season: All year daily (closed Tue. September-June. Visitor center open weekends only November May, then daily. Hours: 9 a.m. 5 p.m. March September; 9 a.m. 4 p.m. October February. Features: 2,039 acres with upland forest, mainly oak with beech, maple and dogwood; 22 miles of marked hiking trails, including Braille sign and wheelchair accessible trail; fresh and saltwater wetlands; popular with bird-watchers. Group tours and nature walks; environmental programs; reservations needed, displays at center. 35. Northwest Harbor County Park, off Swamp Road, East Hampton, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 337 acres along a salt marsh flowing into Northwest Harbor. Migratory waterfowl; bow deer hunting with seasonal and daily permit and key card.
36. Orient Point County Park, end of Route 25 near the Orient Point ferry, Orient, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 48 acres, mile-long beach, ½-mile hiking trail. Birdwatching, views of Long Island Sound. 37. Otis Pike Preserve and Peconic Headwaters Natural Resources Management Area, Between Route 25A and Long Island Expressway, Calverton, 631-444-0273, www.dec.ny.gov Season: All year except during January deer season. Seasonal access permits available from state Department of Environmental Conservation. Daily hunting access permit (free) required November December and January deer hunting season. Features: 4,500 acres of pine and oak forest, fields, wetlands, ponds. Peconic River runs through area. Bird-watching, fishing and canoeing. Unmarked roads and trails for hiking. Hunters use area October February. 38. Poxabogue County Park, Old Farm Road, Bridgehampton, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 26 acres, ½-mile nature walk; winter waterfowl-watching. 39. Prosser Pines County Park, Yaphank-Middle Island Road, Middle Island, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 56 acres, white pine, mile-long, self-guided nature trail, bird-watching. 40. Quogue Wildlife Refuge, 3 Old Country Rd., Quogue, 631-653-4771, quoguewildliferefuge.org Season: All year. Features: 305 acres, 7 miles of self-guided trails; distressed wildlife complex with permanently injured native wildlife; All year ice-harvesting exhibit. Nature center with exhibits, library (open 11 a.m. 4 p.m. Tues., Thurs., Sat. and Sun.); summer camp ages 4-18. 41. Robert Cushman Murphy County Park, off River Road at Swan Pond, Manorville, 631-854- 4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 2,200 acres, part of Peconic River watershed. Bird-watching, fishing (license needed) on Swan Pond (free canoe ramp). 42. Rocky Point Natural Resources Management Area, between Routes 25 and 25A, Rocky Point, 631-444-0273, www.dec.ny.gov Season: All year except during Jan deer season. Access is by seasonal permit from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and a daily-access hunting permit Nov Dec and in Jan deer hunting season (free). Features: 5,800 acres, pitch pine and oak, some open fields; plus 13.8 miles of marked hiking trails, trailhead for Paumanok Path to Montauk Point (suffolkcountyny.com for more information), 6 ½-miles of bridle trails, 30 miles mountain bike trail. Bike trails closed Nov. 1 March 31. Hunters: Oct March 31. Firearm deer hunting Jan weekends.
43. Smithtown Greenbelt County Park, off Route 347 at Nissequogue River, Smithtown, 631-854- 4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 118 acres, part of the Greenbelt Trail. 44. South Shore Nature Center, 130 Bayview Ave., East Islip, 631-224-5436, townofislip-ny.gov Season: All year; open 9 a.m. 5 p.m., every day; closed on major holidays. Features: 206 acres; 2.3-mile self-guided trail through salt marsh; upland oak and hickory forest; freshwater bottomland of tupelo, red maple; pond-side shrubbery, including pepper bush, arrowwood and highbush blueberry; indoor honeybee hive, nature museum (with saltwater fish tank and reptiles); picnic area and butterfly garden. The staff provides treats for the deer, who are bucket trained and will come up to give you a closer look. Weekend family programs ($2 residents, $4 nonresidents, $1 trail guides) 45. Suffolk Hills County Park, off County Road 51, Riverhead, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 985 acres; site of Bald Hill, highest point on the East End. Outstanding views; bow deer hunting in season with permit and key card. 46. Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Dr., Smithtown, 631-979-6344, sweetbriarnc.org Hours: 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Sun. Sat.; butterfly (June Sept.) and moth house, open 10 a.m. 4 p.m. daily, June September, Features: 54 acres, hiking trails through an array of habitats including wetlands, fields and forests with views of the Nissequogue River; self-guided nature trails, picnic area, restrooms. Part of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail runs through the preserve. Wildlife rehabilitation with nonreleaseable eagle, hawks, owls. 47. Terrell River County Park, off Montauk Highway, Center Moriches, 631-854-4949, suffolkcountyny.gov Season: All year. Features: 260 acres; hiking trails, bird-watching. 48. Uplands Farm Sanctuary, 250 Lawrence Hill Rd., Cold Spring Harbor, 631-367-3225, nature. org/longisland Features: 93 acres of old fields, deciduous hardwoods, grasslands and a former dairy barn. Habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. Marked trails for hiking, daily from dawn to dusk. 49. Westhampton Management Area, Route 31 between Suffolk County Airport and Sunrise Highway, Westhampton, 631-444-0273, www.dec.ny.gov Season: All year except January s deer hunting season. Access by state Department of Environment Conservation permit (free). Features: 420 acres of dwarf pitch pine and scrub oak.