Outdoor Fun on Long Island
Arboretums
Enjoy a walk among the majestic trees of these Long Island arboretums. Some Indoor facilities may be suspended. Be sure to check their websites for the latest information on services offered.
Bayard Cutting Arboretum - Great River
“With 691 acres situated on the picturesque
Connetquot River, Bayard Cutting Arboretum fulfills Ms. James' wishes in
fine style. Visitors can learn about the value and appearance of planned,
but informal plantings on a country estate. Or they can merely enjoy the
serenity of a walk among the trees of the pinetum or among the
rhododendrons. Most trees are labeled so that visitors can learn how they
might appear in their landscape at home. The Bayard Cutting Horticultural
Club offers programs that add to the educational value of the place.”
-parks.ny.gov
More Info:
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/95/details.aspx
http://www.bcahortsociety.org/
https://bayardcuttingarboretum.com/
Planting Fields Arboretum - Oyster Bay
“Visit the former Gold Coast estate of the
W.R. Coe family. This National Register property has over 400 acres of
rolling lawns, gardens, woodlands, and nature walks. The Camellia
Greenhouse displays the largest collection of camellias in the northeast,
and the Main Greenhouse has extensive collections of hibiscus, orchids,
succulents, and seasonal displays.”
-parks.ny.gov
More Info:
https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/plantingfields/
https://plantingfields.org/
Avalon Nature Preserve - Stony Brook
Avalon Nature Preserve is free and open to the
public year round. Avalon offers nearly 5 miles of hiking trails to enjoy.
Dogs are welcome to enjoy the grounds, but be sure to leash and clean up
after your four legged friends. Avalon abides by a carry-in
carry-out policy - you will not find garbage cans or bathrooms within the
facility.
-avalonnaturepreserve.org
More Info:
https://avalonnaturepreserve.org/
Multuse Trails
Whether you bike it, hoof it, or *literally* hoof it (on a horse), these trials will take you all across Long Island!
Massapequa Preserve - Massapequa
“Located in the heart of Massapequa, the
preserve is one of the most beautiful parks in the area. Perfect for
biking, it rides along a stream surrounded by trees and gardens. The
preserve is officially named The Peter J. Schmitt Massapequa Preserve and
is made up of 432 acres. It contains a bike trail, hiking trail via the
Greenbelt, as well as fishing and nature walks.”
-massapequapreserve.com
North from the park you can take the Bethpage
Bikeway Trail up to Bethpage State Park.
More Info: http://massapequapreserve.com/
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve - Huntington
“Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve,
situated on a scenic peninsula extending into Long Island Sound, offers
miles of bridle paths, walking, jogging, hiking, biking, cross-country
skiing and nature trails over acres of woodland, meadows, rock shoreline
and salt marsh.”
-parks.ny.gov
More Info: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/23/details.aspx
Connetquot River State Park Preserve - Oakdale
“Connetquot River State Park Preserve
maintains 3,473 acres of land and water for the protection and propagation
of game birds, fish and animals.The preserve also has 50 miles of hiking,
horseback riding, cross-country ski and nature trails, as well as fishing
(by permit only) on the Connetquot River.”
-parks.ny.gov
More Info: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/8
Hecksher state park - East Islip
“The 1,600 acres of Heckscher State Park on
the south shore of Long Island are used by park visitors for a number of
outdoor activities; primarily, the park's shady picnic groves provide the
idyllic spots for family and group picnic outings. Large open fields are
used for soccer, cricket, lacrosse, and other field sports. Four miles of
paved, multi-use trails attract bicycle riders, walkers, and nature
lovers. In addition to stunning views of the Great South Bay with Fire
Island as the backdrop, visitors see whitetail deer, a variety of birds
and other wildlife.”
-parks.ny.gov
More Info: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/136/details.aspx
Meadowlark park - Northport
“Meadowlark Park, a small section of the
greater Veterans Park Complex. [Is] home to one of the most challenging
and fun to ride mountain bike trails on Long Island. The trail winds its
way through 5 miles of some of the most varied terrain of the Harbor Hill
Moraine. Since this trail requires advanced biking skills, you should be
prepared to get off and walk at a moment’s notice. The Meadowlark Bike
Trail welcomes hikers and runners, but is too tight for horses.
Equestrians may use the bridle trails.”
-huntingtonny.gov
More Info:
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/136/details.aspx
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/meadowlark-trail-5adaacd
Canoe and Kayak Rentals
You don’t need to own a boat to enjoy a relaxing day on the water. These shops and websites offer rentals on Canoes, Kayaks and Stand-Up Paddleboards (SUP).
Peconic Paddler - Riverhead
https://www.thepeconicpaddler.com/
Long Island Canoe Kayak Rentals - Riverhead
https://www.longislandcanoekayakrentals.com/
Carman’s River Canoe & Kayak II - Brookhaven
https://www.carmansriverkayak.com/
Nissequogue River Canoe & Kayak Rentals - Smithtown, Kings Park
Kayak and canoe rentals are available from http://canoerentals.com/.
Paddlers travel between Paul T Given Park in Smithtown and Nissequogue
River State Park in Kings Park. Start and end points alternate with the
tide. Boaters will be bussed back to their starting location at the end of
their trip. Launch times change daily so check the calendar on their
website.
http://canoerentals.com//
Looking for more?
Try browsing these ebooks courtesy of Livebrary.com and Hoopladigital.com for more information on trails and paddling.
Rail-Trails New Jersey & New York
"All across the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted into public multiuse trails. Here, the experts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy present the best of these rail-trails-as well as other multiuse pathways-in New Jersey and New York. You'll appreciate the detailed maps for each trail, plus driving directions to trailheads. "
Rail-Trails Southern New England
"Explore more than 50 top rail-trails and multiuse pathways across three states-Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island-with this official guide. All across the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted to public multiuse trails. Here, the experts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy present more than 50 destination rail-trails, as well as other multiuse pathways, in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island."
Best Hikes of the Appalachian Trail: Mid-Atlantic
"Best Hikes of the Appalachian Trail: Mid-Atlantic by Matt Willen provides readers with detailed information on 43 of the best Appalachian Trail day hikes along the 450 miles stretch of trail that extends from Harper's Ferry, West Virginia to the New York/Connecticut state line. The guide includes a range of hikes, from those that are suitable for families with small children looking for a nice walk in the woods, to the seasoned hiker out for challenging weekend."
60 Hikes within 60 Miles: New York City
"From secluded woods and sun-struck seashores, to lowland swamps and rock-strewn mountain tops, these hikes showcase Paleolithic rock shelters, ruins from the Revolutionary and Civil War periods, a bat cave, ghostly ruins, and much, much more."
Five-Star Trails: Adirondacks
"The Adirondack Park is an immense wilderness encompassing more than 9,375 square miles. Within its boundaries are rugged mountains, countless pristine lakes and ponds, seemingly endless forests, and thousands of miles of wild rivers, providing an infinite number of outdoor adventures. The revised edition of Five-Star Trails: Adirondacks, by Tim Starmer, features six new popular trails and provides a detailed guide to some of the most stunning views found across the Adirondacks."
Canoeing and Kayaking New York
by Kevin Stiegelmaier
"Canoeing and Kayaking New York includes descriptions of 50 of the best trips on New York's dozens of rivers. Along with runs for both experienced paddlers and novices and profiles for both over-nighters and short, round-trip day paddles, this book contains all the information necessary for a safe, enjoyable trip. Kevin Stiegelmaier combines information about tides, river gauges, GPS waypoints, and maps with personal anecdotes, historical trivia, and descriptions of local plants and animals, sprinkled with a touch of humor."
Stand Up Paddling
by Rob Casey
"Longtime stand up paddler and instructor Rob Casey has authored the first and only comprehensive guide to the sport. From choosing the right gear to stroke techniques (j-stroke, Tahitian, sculling brace) and fitness advice, Rob will have you stand up paddling in no time."
The Art of Kayaking
by Rob Casey
"The Art of Kayaking is the distilled essence of a lifetime of kayak instruction at all skill levels around the world, with the added insights gained from years of designing kayaks, paddles, and kayaking equipment. This comprehensive kayaking manual by one of the biggest names in kayaking offers more essential detail about commonly used techniques than ever before published in a single volume."
Paddling Long Island And New York City
by Kevin Stiegelmaier
"Paddling Long Island is the only book on the market to depict routes and destinations across the whole of Long Island and the New York City area. And it showcases 50 of the very best. It is a diverse selection, too."