Avalon Nature PreserveLocation: Stony Brook, NY
Size: 216 acres
Avalon Nature Preserve is probably one of the most popular spots for nature lovers on Long Island's North Shore. And that's because it has something for everyone: a picturesque pond with a beautiful boardwalk, thought-provoking outdoor artwork, and (of course) good old-fashioned hiking trails. But that's just scratching the surface. It's also the kind of place where you'll find everyone from dog walkers to mountain bikers to astronomy lovers. Yes, this is one diverse preserve.
Before exploring, I did a little research on the history and habitats of Avalon Nature Preserve, which is a creation of the Stony Brook-based Paul Simon Foundation. Simon, who grew up on Long Island, spent a majority of his life living in the Three Village region, according to the preserve's website. He's described as having been an avid hiker, skier and bicyclist and the park was developed in an effort to reflect his love for the outdoors. "Avalon was established to celebrate the life of Simon, whose years among his friends and family were prematurely interrupted, yet whose spirit and creative energy remain vibrantly alive in a natural world he cherished," the website said. It also calls the park a "re-creation of the natural environment that greeted the first indigenous peoples to settle in New York." Regarding the parcel itself, the land was a residential site and abandoned in the early 1900s, according to the website. By 1997, when the foundation bought it, years of neglect had left it "virtually impenetrable." Landscape architecture firm Andropogon Associates suggested transforming the property into a series of woodland gardens and paths that celebrate the native flora of Long Island.
There are multiple entrances to Avalon Nature Preserve. The main one is on Harbor Road, just a stone's throw west of Main Street, with the preserve's visitors parked on the roadside. There are also several entrances along Shep Jones Lane, which is a dirt road that basically runs north to south down the middle of the preserve. I parked in a gravelly lot big enough to accommodate a dozen cars or so on the northern end of Shep Jones Lane, just south of the intersection with Harbor Road. Prior to hiking, it's important to know there are three parts to Avalon: a coastal corridor, hilltop meadow and forest sanctuary. The coastal corridor boasts a rhododendron overlook, the fowl-filled Mill Pond and the entrancing Labyrinth – the latter of which is a spiral-shaped stone path. The hilltop meadow features a cedar and a tulip grove, a skylab and the Sphere, which we'll get to in a little bit. There are also six different hiking trails that vary from 0.3 to 2.2 miles long. A trail map is posted on the preserve's website.
There are multiple entrances to Avalon Nature Preserve. The main one is on Harbor Road, just a stone's throw west of Main Street, with the preserve's visitors parked on the roadside. There are also several entrances along Shep Jones Lane, which is a dirt road that basically runs north to south down the middle of the preserve. I parked in a gravelly lot big enough to accommodate a dozen cars or so on the northern end of Shep Jones Lane, just south of the intersection with Harbor Road. Prior to hiking, it's important to know there are three parts to Avalon: a coastal corridor, hilltop meadow and forest sanctuary. The coastal corridor boasts a rhododendron overlook, the fowl-filled Mill Pond and the entrancing Labyrinth – the latter of which is a spiral-shaped stone path. The hilltop meadow features a cedar and a tulip grove, a skylab and the Sphere, which we'll get to in a little bit. There are also six different hiking trails that vary from 0.3 to 2.2 miles long. A trail map is posted on the preserve's website.
My hike began on the 0.3-mile red trail in the preserve's coastal corridor, which led me to a 0.35-mile white trail that passed frog and duck ponds along the way to the aforementioned Mill Pond. The white trail also passes the Labyrinth, which is one of the preserve's unique highlights, and is accompanied by a fantastic fragmented statue of a man climbing a rock. "As you traverse these woods over its undulating hills, you will catch sight of large glacial boulders and occasional glimpses of the Long Island Sound," the preserve's website said. Also, check out the historic Stony Brook Grist Mill, which is across from Mill Pond along Harbor Road. The mill, which a sign said was made by man named Adam Smith in 1699, now operates as a working mill museum owned by the Ward Melville Heritage Association.
Next, I hiked the hilltop meadow, which has a 1.1-mile orange trail that loops around a barn and a skylab that offers stellar and solar observation programs. "Formerly agricultural fields, the hilltop meadow was seeded with wildflowers and native grasses in 2001," the preserve's website said. "Be sure to visit in winter when its colors are more muted and the landscape opens itself up to longer views and shadows." The highlight for me though was the Sphere (aka Cartas al Cielo), which is described as a "postbox for those with no earthly address." Visitors can send messages beyond our realm by inserting them into this "poetic vessel."
Lastly, a forest sanctuary makes up the preserve's southern section and features three trails: a 0.8-mile blue loop, a one-mile green loop and a 2.2-mile yellow loop. Here, hikers will find tree species ranging from birches to dogwoods and wildlife ranging from rabbits to red foxes. As for tunes, I went with Caligula's Horse's In Contact album, which is a virtual masterpiece. In my opinion, this record cements the Australian band's status in progressive metal circles.
All in all, I'd say Avalon Nature Preserve is very deserving of a visit by all local nature lovers. Like I said earlier, this pretty park has something for everyone – and, in turn, it successfully gets people outdoors and engaging in nature. And that, my friends, is the magic of Avalon.
(Updated: March 3, 2021)
That large silver ball is pretty weird! But I like it! Seems like a fun thing to see!
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