Hiking sites: Take a walk on the wild side

Take a hike. It's a great way to give your dog some exercise and mental stimulation. ("Look ... a squirrel!") Though Long Island can be profoundly dog-unfriendly when it comes to public places, there are pockets of nature where canines are permitted, most of them in Suffolk County.

Here are five local trails from Doug Gelbert's "Doggin' Long Island: The 30 Best Places to Hike With Your Dog in New York's Playground" (Cruden Bay Books, $12.95). If you do hit the trails with your four-leggers, be sure to bring water (and a bowl to drink it from). And remember to start slow: Weekend warriors might not be up to an hourlong hike.

1.  BELMONT LAKE STATE PARK (Babylon, exit 38 of the Southern State Parkway). August Belmont Jr., the original owner of this former estate, was best known for his thoroughbred horses, but he also was  an earnest dog man, heading the American Kennel Club for almost two decades in the late 1800s. While banned from picnic areas, dogs are welcome on the many miles of foot and bridle paths.

Swimming hole: The lake's south side is your best bet.

2. CALVERTON PONDS (Manorville, Old River Road). Gelbert votes this one of the "loveliest hikes you can take with your dog on Long Island," with wide trails that meander past coastal-plain ponds. Make like Little Red Riding Hood and don't stray from the path: To preserve the fragile ecosystem - dozens of its plant species are considered threatened - dogs cannot swim in the ponds or leave the trails.

Elbow room: Arrive early because parking is limited.

3. GARDINER COUNTY PARK (West Bay Shore, on Montauk Highway/Route 27 east of the Robert Moses Causeway). Gelbert dubs this 231-acre parcel, which has beach access to the Great South Bay , "the dog-friendliest park on Long Island." Fittingly, the park is named for Lion Gardiner, the 17th century military engineer who bought the island that would soon bear his name from the Montaukett Indians for a purchase price that included "a large black dog."

Nice touch: Poop bags are available at the trailhead.

4. WEST HILLS COUNTY PARK (Melville, off Sweet Hollow Road). Most dog folk know about this park's popular dog run, but few know about the four-mile loop trail that begins right behind the picnic area. Make sure your dog isn't a species-ist: Horses are common on the trails in this equine-centric part of the Island.

Time travel: Budget about an hour to complete the trail.

5. MONTAUK POINT STATE PARK (east until you hit water). The iconic lighthouse presides over the Island's easternmost point, and dogs are permitted west of the parking lot. Plenty of swimming ops here, in Block Island Sound on the north side of the point.

Offseason bonus: Migrating seals often stop at Montauk's False Point from November through May.