In the weeks to come, the leaves across Long Island will start to turn into beautiful autumn colors. Luckily for us Long Island has some terrific hiking trails. These trails are perfect spots for looking at the gorgeous fall foliage.
Breathe in the crisp fresh fall air and admire the splendid fall reds, oranges and yellows. Pack a bottle of water and a snack, grab a friend and head out to one of these beautiful destinations.
Suffolk
Avalon Park and Preserve
Harbor Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11790
This preserve features eight acres of hiking trails, including a boardwalk and crushed stone paths. There is also a paved hiking trail, as well as a labyrinth to explore. This preserve is open daily from dawn until dusk.
Bayard Cutting Arboretum
440 Montauk Highway, Great River, NY
Explore more than eight marked trails at Bayard Cutting Arboretum, winding through gardens along the Connetquot River and around the pine barrens. The arboretum is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesdays through Sundays; from November to March it closes at 4pm.
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
581 West Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
Caleb Smith features 543 acres of woodlands with marked trails. A nature museum is also housed on the premises. The park is open from 8am to 4 pm, Wednesdays through Sundays.
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington, NY 11743
The historic, 1,750-acre Caumsett State Park offers 13 marked trails, from less than a mile in length to six miles. The park is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.
East End
Laurel Lake Park and Preserve
5501 NY-25, Laurel, NY 11948
Just north of Route 25 in Laurel is the 480-acre Laurel Lake Preserve, which features 14 miles of well-groomed nature trails. There are also picnic tables and a playground. This preserve is open dawn to dusk daily.
Quogue Wildlife Refuge
3 Old Country Road, Quogue, NY
The Quogue Wildlife Refuge features 305 acres of marked trails that wind around ponds surrounded by fall colors. The site’s trails are all marked, and while there you can stop at the refuge and visit the resident animals, including its owls and eagles.
Sears Bellows County Park
63 Bellows Pond Road, Hampton Bays, NY 11946
Sears Bellows features a number of marked trails in the pine barrens. The easiest trail winds around Bellows Pond.
Nassau
Bethpage State Park
99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Farmingdale , NY
Bethpage State Park, which is known for its golf courses, also features hiking trails for your family to explore. In fact, there are five miles of trails that cut through the Long Island Greenbelt Trail. The park is open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset.
Long Island University Post Community Arboretum
720 Northern Blvd., Brookville, NY
This is one of Long Island’s most scenic college campuses, having over 4,000 trees on the campus grounds alone. Each tree in the 40-acre arboretum is labeled with interesting facts, so this also makes for a great learning experience. The self-guided walking trail leads you around campus to view the horticulture and historic buildings. The arboretum is open seven days a week.
Sands Point Preserve
127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY 11050
Sands Point Preserve offers six marked trails through 216 acres of diverse habitats of woods, fields, a pond, and even beachfront along the Long Island Sound. The preserve offers guided nature walks, or you can grab a trail map and find your own way. The preserve is opens daily at 8 am; closing times vary by season.
Do not miss out on the amazing local fall foliage. If you don’t have the time to go for a hike, we suggest getting in the car and taking a drive along Route 25A. In Nassau, Northern Boulevard (aka 25A) takes you through scenic spots such as Brookville and Oyster Bay. In Suffolk County, 25A offers colorful views through Kings Park, Stony Brook, and Rocky Point.
Happy Trails!
