Where to find biking trails on LI

TRAILS

1. BETHPAGE BIKEWAY. Park in the picnic area lot in Bethpage State Park. The multiuse path runs the length of Bethpage Parkway, crosses the Southern State Parkway and continues through Massapequa Preserve to Merrick Road, or head north on the newly completed extension through Trail View State Park and Plainview Industrial Park to Woodbury Road. Anticipated opening of northern extension of Bethpage Bikeway between Bethpage State Park and Woodbury Road is June 1, 2014. Mileage: 12.4.

2. BELMONT LAKE STATE PARK. A 3-mile dirt path following a stream connecting Belmont Lake State Park to Southards Pond in Babylon.

3. CAUMSETT STATE PARK SHARED-USE PATH. 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. Mileage: 3.0.

4. CONNETQUOT SHARED USE PATH. A shared path that parallels the Sunrise Highway between Connetquot Avenue and Oakdale-Bohemia Road with a connection to Connetquot River Park. Mileage: 2.5.

5. EISENHOWER COUNTY PARK. A network of shared-use paths providing access to picnic areas, ballfields, golf courses, aquatic center and the Veterans Memorial. Mileage: 3.0

6. EPCAL PATH. A shared-use bike path in the pine barrens of eastern Suffolk County that connects to athletic fields. Mileage: 2.5.

7. GLEN COVE ESPLANADE. A scenic 0.4-mile pedestrian path along Glen Cove Creek with scenic views of Hempstead Harbor. Adjacent to the Garvies Point Preserve.

8. HECKSCHER STATE PARK SHARED-USE PATH. Four miles of paved, multiuse trails attract bicycle riders, walkers and nature lovers. In addition to stunning views of Great South Bay with Fire Island as the backdrop, visitors see whitetail deer, a variety of birds and other wildlife. Mileage: 4.0.

9. HEMPSTEAD LAKE STATE PARK. Three miles of paved walking paths that connect shaded picnic areas, children's playgrounds, tennis courts and basketball courts.

10. HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE SHARED-USE PATH. A Nassau County-owned trail on the north side of Hempstead Turnpike runs between Hofstra University and Eisenhower Park (Merrick and Oak Street, Uniondale). Mileage: 1.5.

11. HOLTSVILLE ECOLOGY PARK. A one-mile circular path provides access to a children's zoo and Safety Town.

12. JONES BEACH STATE PARK BOARDWALK. Stroll the famous 2-mile boardwalk with access to ocean swimming, swimming pool, miniature golf, shuffleboard and basketball. Bicycling permitted on the boardwalk between Oct. 1 and March 31 only.

13. KINGS PARK HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. Hilly trail connects downtown Kings Park with Nissequogue River State Park. Follows the old railroad spur from Old Dock Road, just east of Church Street, to St. Johnland Road. Trail runs through the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center and into state park. Good for a short, scenic ride or hike. Mileage: 1.4.

14. LONG BEACH BOARDWALK. Stroll the 2-mile Long Beach Boardwalk between New York Avenue and Neptune Boulevard with views of the beach oceanfront. Bicycling permitted in designated bike lane.

15. MITCHEL FIELD SHARED-USE PATH. Connects to the Hempstead Turnpike Shared-Use Path as well as the Nassau Coliseum, Nassau Community College, Long Island Children's Museum, Eisenhower Park and new multiuse path along Merrick Avenue. Mileage: 6.3.

16. NASSAU EXPRESSWAY SHARED-USE PATH. A shared-use path along the shoulder of Nassau Expressway between Broadway and the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Mileage: 0.9

17. NY 347 PARKS TO PORTS GREENWAY. A shared-use path paralleling Route 347 between Town Line Road and Route 111 in Hauppauge. The shared-use path has extensive landscaping, rain gardens and solar-powered bus shelters with LED street lighting. Route 347 is being constructed in stages and when fully built by 2030 will extend 15 miles between Hauppauge and Port Jefferson Station, connecting residential and commercial areas. Mileage: 0.7 miles.

18. OCEAN PARKWAY COASTAL GREENWAY. Long Island's newest bike path connects the Ellen Farrant Memorial Bikeway at Jones Beach and extends east to Tobay Beach. Enjoy vistas of South Oyster Bay and surrounding wetlands. Anticipated opening in late May. Mileage: 3.6.

19. RIVERFRONT TRAIL, RIVERHEAD. A scenic 0.5-mile pedestrian path and bike lanes adjacent to the Peconic River and Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center in downtown Riverhead.

20. SETAUKET-PORT JEFFERSON GREENWAY. A hilly trail that gives you a good aerobic workout goes from Route 25 at Limroy Lane in Setauket to Route 25A at Hallock Avenue in Port Jefferson Station. Maintained by Friends of the Setauket-Port Jefferson Greenway. Mileage: 3.3.

21. STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY (PAUL SIMONS MEMORIAL PATH). Stony Brook's campus is set among 1,100 wooded acres, complete with a nature preserve. The Paul Simons Memorial Bike Path, 6 miles of pavement for biking, running and in-line skating, encircles the campus. The path is dedicated to the memory of Paul Simons, a former Stony Brook student and avid cyclist. Mileage: 4.6.

22. SUNKEN MEADOW STATE PARK BOARDWALK. A 33/4-mile boardwalk offers one of the most stunning views of the Long Island Sound with Connecticut in the distance.

23. VALLEY STREAM STATE PARK/HENDRICKSON PARK SHARED-USE PATH. A scenic 3 miles of pathway through wooded Valley Stream State Park connecting picnic grounds and athletic fields and continuers as a loop around Valley Stream Pond in Hendrickson Park. Mileage: 3.0.

24. WANTAGH COUNTY PARK. A 2-mile shared-use path with scenic maritime views connects picnic areas and a swimming pool.

25. WANTAGH PARKWAY SHARED-USE PATH. (ELLEN FARRANT MEMORIAL BIKEWAY). From Cedar Creek Park, south of Merrick Road, a multipurpose path parallels Wantagh State Parkway to Jones Beach State Park. Mileage: 5.2.

26. WEST MEADOW BEACH SHARED-USE PATH. The former Trustees Road has been closed to car traffic, creating a mile-long shared-use path with views of Smithtown Bay and Connecticut.