NYS parks on Long Island
Damynye Bundick, 9, of Brooklyn scoops water at Valley Stream State Park July 2023. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
New York State is filled with parks great for biking, hiking and playing. Here are parks across Long Island where you can get some fresh air, explore the area and enjoy the scenery. All state parks are open year-round unless noted.
Bethpage State Park 99 Quaker Meeting House Rd., Farmingdale. This 1,475-acre park boasts one of the nation’s finest public golf complexes. Facilities: Five 18-hole courses (including the famed Black Course), restaurant and bar, softball fields, basketball courts, boccie ball, horseshoes, volleyball, handicapped-accessible playground, bridle paths (5 ½ miles), bike paths (2 ½ miles), 5-mile stretch of the Greenbelt Trail, hiking, picnic area, 10 tennis courts, golf shop, driving range. Fee: Picnic area only: $8 a car daily May 25-Sept. 2; weekends and holidays March 30-May 19 and Sept. 7-Nov. 3. More info: 516-249-0700, parks.ny.gov; golf reservations: 516-249-0707; pro shop: 516-249-4040; restaurant: 516-927-8380; stables: 516-531-8007; Greenbelt Trail tours: 631-360-0753; tennis: 516-777-1358
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New York State is filled with parks great for biking, hiking and playing. Here are parks across Long Island where you can get some fresh air, explore the area and enjoy the scenery. All state parks are open year-round unless noted.
Best bets for state parks on Long Island
FOR BIKING: Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale and Orient Beach State Park in Orient.
FOR HIKING: Wildwood State Park in Wading River, Shadmoor State Park in Montauk and Trail View State Park in Woodbury.
FOR PLAYING: Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh features a miniature golf course and the WildPlay Adventure Park
NASSAU
An aerial view of the clubhouse and part of the golf course at Bethpage State Park. Credit: Jeffrey Basinger
Bethpage State Park 99 Quaker Meeting House Rd., Farmingdale. This 1,475-acre park boasts one of the nation’s finest public golf complexes. Facilities: Five 18-hole courses (including the famed Black Course), restaurant and bar, softball fields, basketball courts, boccie ball, horseshoes, volleyball, handicapped-accessible playground, bridle paths (5 ½ miles), bike paths (2 ½ miles), 5-mile stretch of the Greenbelt Trail, hiking, picnic area, 10 tennis courts, golf shop, driving range. Fee: Picnic area only: $8 a car daily May 25-Sept. 2; weekends and holidays March 30-May 19 and Sept. 7-Nov. 3. More info: 516-249-0700, parks.ny.gov; golf reservations: 516-249-0707; pro shop: 516-249-4040; restaurant: 516-927-8380; stables: 516-531-8007; Greenbelt Trail tours: 631-360-0753; tennis: 516-777-1358
People play pickle ball at Hempstead Lake State Park June 2023. Credit: Jeff Bachner
Hempstead Lake State Park 1000 Lake Dr., West Hempstead. This 775-acre park offers a historic carousel and party room (available to rent April-Oct.). Facilities: Environmental Education & Resiliency Center, basketball courts, playgrounds, hiking trails, bridle paths (9 miles), nearby horse stables with rentals (516-486-9673), freshwater fishing (license required), picnic areas, tennis/pickleball courts (Sportime, 516-282-7222), observation deck overlooking Hempstead Lake, Hempstead Lake canoe and kayak launch ramp access, carousel rides ($2). Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Sept. 2; weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 7-Oct. 14. More info: 516-766-1029, parks.ny.gov
Crowds gather to watch Fourth of July Fireworks explode over Jones Beach State Park in 2022. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Jones Beach State Park 2400 Ocean Pkwy., Wantagh. Season: Parking lots 4, 6, 10 and West End 2 open all year. Facilities: 7 ocean beaches (6 ½ miles); part of a 2,413-acre park. Bandshell; basketball courts with 5 half courts and 1 full court plus hopscotch/Four Square area (lighted at night); 9 volleyball courts; 2-mile boardwalk; surf chairs for the disabled (Field 2, West Bathhouse, Field 6, East Bathhouse and Central Mall); mobility mats at Field 6, Central Mall, East Bathhouse, Field 2 and West Bathhouse. Bike path from Cedar Creek Park in Wantagh to Field 1 to the West End 2 parking lot (9.7 miles), and east to Captree State Park (13 miles); year-round bicycling on the boardwalk, day-use slips at the Boat Basin, picnic areas and the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater. Paddle tennis, pickleball, equipment rentals, miniature golf course, 4 finger piers, surf casting, 2 softball fields, WildPlay Adventure Park, shuffleboard courts, boccie courts and cornhole. The Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fee: $10 a car daily May 25-Sept. 15; $8 weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 21-Nov. 3. More info: 516-785-1600, parks.ny.gov
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay. Facilities: 409 acres; 6 miles of trails and 200 acres of landscaped plantings; synoptic garden; rose garden; main greenhouse with orchids, begonias, cactuses and other tropical plants; camellia house; gift shop in the visitors center at Coe Hall. Fee: $8 a car daily May through Labor Day; weekends and holidays April 6-April 28 and Sept. 7-Nov. 17. Coe Hall tours and exhibits available year-round Wednesdays through Sundays March through December and January and February on the weekends only, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $10 ages 18-61, $9 ages 62 and older, $5 ages 7-17, free ages 6 and younger. Tour availability may vary. More info: 516-922-8600, plantingfields.org
Trail View State Park Jericho Turnpike (Route 25), 1⁄4 mile west of Woodbury Road, Woodbury. Facilities: Hiking, biking and birding trails throughout its 400 acres; 7.4-mile stretch of the Greenbelt Trail (trail runs 22 miles, from Cold Spring Harbor State Park to the Massapequa Park Preserve). No pets. Fee: Free. More info: 631-423-1770
Valley Stream State Park Exit 15A, Southern State Parkway, Valley Stream. Its 97 acres feature ballfields, playgrounds and picnic areas. Facilities: Picnic pavilion (permit required), 2-mile biking and hiking trail, 5 horseshoe pits, 2 basketball courts, 2 softball fields, 2 playgrounds, volleyball courts, board games, 2 environmental trails. Games equipment rental at park office. Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Sept. 2; and weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 7-Oct. 14. More info: 516-825-4128, parks.ny.gov
SUFFOLK
A community profile on Belmont Lake State Park Aug. 2023. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Belmont Lake State Park Exit 38, Southern State Parkway, North Babylon. This 459-acre park surrounds a 28-acre lake (swimming not permitted). Facilities: Two softball fields; basketball courts; 3 miles of biking/walking trails with 14 exercise stations; seasonal rowboat, kayak, and pedal boat rentals; kayak launch permitted around lake; freshwater fishing from shore with license (year-round) or rowboat (seasonal; Mon.-Fri. only, excluding holidays); picnic area with grills and picnic tables; 4 pavilions (permit required); 2 playgrounds; birding; horseshoe pits; boccie ball; off-leash dog area. Dogs permitted on trails with leashes no more than 6 feet. Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Labor Day; weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 7-Oct. 14. Pedal boat/rowboat rentals/kayak $20 for two hours; must be 18 years or older to rent. More info: 631-667-5055; parks.ny.gov
Brentwood State Park 375 Crooked Hill Rd., Brentwood. Facilities: 60-acre complex with synthetic turf soccer and baseball fields, soccer-themed playground. Concessions available during league play. Fields for use by permit holders only. Fee: Free. More info: 631-667-5055, parks.ny.gov
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve 581 W. Jericho Tpke., Smithtown. Season: Open all year, closed Mon. Facilities: 543 acres; hiking trails; nature walks; bird watching; nature museum; fly-fishing April 1-Oct. 15, ($25 permit, reserve); junior angler’s fishing area (15 and younger), April 1-Oct. 31; environmental programs for children and adults ($4 per person, for reservations visit eventbrite.com). No pets, bikes or picnics. Commercial and posed photography requires a permit (631-321-3515). Fee: $8 a car Tues.-Sun. May 25-Labor Day and weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 7-Nov. 17. More info: 631-265-1054, parks.ny.gov
The bluffs in Montauk as seen from Camp Hero State Park Aug. 2021. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Camp Hero State Park 1898 Montauk Hwy. (Route 27), east to the end, Montauk. Facilities: 415 acres includes woods, beachfront and a historic military installation; maritime forests; freshwater wetlands; dramatic bluffs; ocean vistas; trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding; surf fishing locations open 24 hours a day to fishermen with permits; picnic areas; environment shelters. The former military base is a National Historic Site. Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Oct. 14 and weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Oct. 19-Nov. 17. More info: 631-668-5000, parks.ny.gov
Captree State Park 3500 Ocean Pkwy., Bay Shore. Facilities: 298 acres focus on a boat basin off State Boat Channel. Marina with open and charter fishing; excursion and scuba diving boats (reservations required); 2 fishing piers (open 24 hours, night permit required); boat launch ramp; bait and tackle and marine fuel station; restaurant (seasonal); snack bar (seasonal); playground and picnic area. Ocean Parkway Bike Path access. Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Sept. 8 and weekends and holidays May 4-May 19 and Sept. 14-Oct. 14. More info: 631-669-0844, parks.ny.gov; Captree Fleet: 631-669-6464, captreefleet.com; Captree Fuel Bait and Tackle: 631-587-3430, captreetackle.com; Tiki Joe’s at Captree: 631-333-1063, tikijoesbeachclub.com
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve 25 Lloyd Harbor Rd., Huntington. Facilities: The 1,600-acre park sits at the head of a scenic peninsula overlooking Long Island Sound; 27 miles of trails. Bicycling (helmets required), scuba diving (permit required), fishing sunrise to sunset (permit required for overnight fishing), bridle trails (helmets required), nature walks, jogging, bird watching and nature photography (commercial photographers need a permit, 631-321-3515). No pets. Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Sept. 2 and weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 7-Oct. 14. More info: 631-423-1770, parks.ny.gov, caumsett@parks.ny.gov; Lloyd Harbor Equestrian Center (stable): 631-427-6105; Lloyd Harbor Historical Society: LHHistoricalSociety.membership@gmail.com; Nassau BOCES: 631-549-0071
Cold Spring Harbor State Park Route 25A, across from the harbor, Cold Spring Harbor. Facilities: Hiking trails and bird watching in 40 acres. Dogs permitted on leash. Restrooms accessible outside Cold Spring Harbor library during building hours. Fee: Free. More info: parks.ny.gov
Connetquot River State Park Preserve 4090 Sunrise Hwy., Oakdale. Season: All year, closed Mon. except summer holidays. Facilities: 3,473 acres, fly-fishing all year, ($25 fee, reservation recommended), 50 miles of hiking trails, bird watching, bridle paths ($50 annual permit required, $10 day-use permit, no horse rentals), museum, gift shop. Historic house and grist mill tours first and third Sundays Sept.-June. Environmental/youth programs (631-581-1072). Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Oct. 14 and weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Oct. 19-Nov. 17. More info: 631-581-1005, parks.ny.gov
Hallock State Park Preserve 6062 Sound Ave., Jamesport. Season: All year, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April-Sept., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct.-March. Features: 225 acres, visitor center, gift shop, hiking trails, bridle paths, cross-country skiing, nature walks, birding and saltwater fishing. Nearly 1 mile of pristine beachfront along Long Island Sound. Launch site for kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding. Weekly volunteer beach monitoring/clean-up program every Saturday at 10 a.m. No pets permitted. Fee: $8 a car 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily April-Oct., free 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov.-March. More info: 631-315-5475, parks.ny.gov
Heckscher State Park Southern State Parkway east to end of Heckscher Parkway, East Islip. This 1,657-acre park draws boaters and landlubbers alike. Facilities: Two swimming beaches, campgrounds with 69 sites, 15 rental cottages, 5 softball fields, biking and walking paths (4 ½ miles), boat ramp (no additional fee with vehicle-use fee), picnic areas and picnic pavilion rentals, Greenbelt Trail (1 ½ miles), basketball courts, playgrounds, 21-hole disc golf course, fishing (7 a.m.-sunset); nature programs (631-581-1072). Beach access for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, catamarans and windsurf equipment (Field 7). Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-June 21; $10 daily June 22-Labor Day; $8 a car weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 7-Oct. 14. More info: 631-581-2100, parks.ny.gov
Hither Hills State Park 164 Old Montauk Hwy. (Route 27), 4 miles west of Montauk. 1,755-acre park features camping along the Atlantic, nature trails and a freshwater fishing pond. Facilities: 2 ½-mile ocean beach, campsites (April 15-Nov. 19; 800-456-2267), softball field, hiking and nature trails, saltwater fishing, ocean surf casting, fishing on 40-acre freshwater pond (license required), 2 volleyball courts, 3 sand chairs, playground, 2 picnic areas, general store, horseshoe pits, movies. Sand castle contests (June 27-Aug. 29; 9:30 a.m. Thurs.). Fee: $10 a car daily, May 25-Sept. 15. More info: 631-668-2554, parks.ny.gov
Montauk Downs State Park 50 S. Fairview Ave., Montauk. This 160-acre park is built around an 18-hole golf course. Season: Golf all year; tennis mid-May to mid-Sept.; pools open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. June 23-Sept. 2; 6 tennis courts mid-May to mid-Sept. Pro shop, grill room, driving range. No entrance fee. More info: 631-668-5000, parks.ny.gov; restaurant: 631-483-5024
Montauk Point State Park 2000 Montauk Hwy., Route 27 east to end, Montauk. 724 acres with breezes and vistas. Facilities: Surf casting (overnight requires a permit), hiking trails (5 miles), picnic area, refreshment stand, gift shop. Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Oct. 14 and weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Oct. 19-Nov. 17. More info: 631-668-5000, parks.ny.gov
Nissequogue River State Park 799 St. Johnland Rd., Kings Park. Facilities: Natural habitats, wildlife, hiking trails, canoe/kayak rentals, tours by reservation (631-219-4887). Hiking, birding, canoe/kayak launch (rentals available, 631-979-8244), stand-up paddleboarding with permit (from park office), boat launch at marina, environmental programs (631-581-1072). Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-Sept. 2; weekends and holidays Sept. 7-Oct. 14. More info: 631-269-4927, parks.ny.gov
Orient Beach State Park 40000 Main Rd. (Route 25), Orient. 357-acre park, 8 miles of shoreline ideal for shell collecting, plant study and birding. Facilities: 300-foot swimming beach on Gardiners Bay, playground, picnic areas with barbecues, 2 sand wheelchairs, pavilion (reservations required), gazebo, hiking, birding, bike path, gift shop, bathhouse, showers, snack bar, concession, surf fishing, windsurfing, boccie, horseshoe pits, volleyball, shuffleboard. Kayaks and paddleboards for rent. Launch site for windsurfing, kayaks and paddleboards. Swimming permitted June 22-Labor Day. Fee: $8 a car daily May 25-June 21; $10 a car daily June 22-Labor Day; $8 a car weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 7-Oct. 14. More info: 631-323-2440, parks.ny.gov
People relaxing and cooling off at Robert Moses State Park Beach July 2023. Credit: John Roca
Robert Moses State Park 600 Robert Moses State Park Dr., Babylon; Sagtikos Parkway south to Robert Moses Causeway to Fire Island. Facilities: 875 acres with 5-mile beach, 4 bathhouses. Overnight marina (fee). Field 5 open all year, beach shop, bathhouses, fishing (night fishing by permit), sand wheelchairs, accessible playground (Field 5), bodyboarding and surfing areas, first-aid stations, 18-hole par-3 golf course April-Nov., picnic areas at Fields 2, 3 and 4. Fee: $10 a car daily May 25-Sept. 15; $8 a car weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 21-Nov. 10. More info: 631-669-0449, parks.ny.gov
Shadmoor State Park 900 Montauk Hwy., Montauk. Facilities: 99-acre park with ocean beach, wetlands, hiking and biking trails, and two bunkers (designed to look like cottages from the water) built for surveillance during World War II. Dogs on leash allowed. Fee: Free. More info: 631-668-5000, parks.ny.gov
Diana Gutierrez, left, swims with her grandchildren Javid Rezanejad and Leila, right, at Sunken Meadow State Park beach July 2023. Credit: Johnny Milano
Sunken Meadow State Park North end of Sunken Meadow State Parkway, Kings Park. The 1,288-acre beachfront park on Long Island Sound has a ¾-mile boardwalk, 9-hole and 18-hole golf courses. Facilities: 3-mile beach on Smithtown Bay and Long Island Sound. Swimming in season (call for lifeguard hours); beach ramp, mobility mats and wheelchair available; picnic area; golf driving range; practice putting green; golf clubhouse with cafe and bar; pro shop (631-544-0036); biking and running trails; refreshment stands; beachfront catering hall (631-269-6850); 6 playgrounds; outdoor showers; 4 softball fields; multiuse playing field; 8 basketball courts; Field 4 picnic shelter available for rent; 4-mile nature trail; fishing (permit required for overnight fishing); 2 miles of Greenbelt Trail; first aid station open during swimming season. Fee: $10 a car daily May 25-Sept. 15; $8 weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 21-Nov. 3. More info: 631-269-4333, parks.ny.gov
Wildwood State Park 790 Hulse Landing Rd., Wading River. Facilities: 769-acre park on Long Island Sound with 242 campsites, 80 full hookup trailer sites and 10 cottages. No pets. The park also has 1.5 miles of beach with a protected bathing area, 1 sand wheelchair, showers, 2 picnic areas, playground, softball field, 2 basketball courts, volleyball court, 5 hiking trails (14 miles total), saltwater fishing, 2 snack bars, store, horseshoe pits. Fee: $8 per vehicle daily May 25-June 21; $10 per vehicle daily June 22-Labor Day and weekends Sept. 7-15; $8 per vehicle weekends and holidays April 6-May 19 and Sept. 21-Oct. 14. More info: 631-929-4314, parks.ny.gov; camp reservations: 800-456-CAMP