Otis G. Pike Preserve

Location: Calverton/Manorville, NY

Size: 5,400 acres

Date of hike: Aug. 4, 2017

The Otis G. Pike Preserve is a complex of properties that is popular for fishing and hunting and hosts a portion of the pretty Peconic River.  I stumbled across a sign for it last year while exploring the outskirts of Robert Cushman Murphy County Park, and I instantly added it to my list of places to hike.  So far, I've liked all the parks and preserves I've experienced in and around Manorville, and so I was excited to see what this one had to offer.  Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.

Before setting out, I did some research on the history and habitats of Otis G. Pike Preserve.  It is described as a "complex of properties" that contain more than 30 miles of paved roads, unpaved forest access roads, trails and rights-of-way that are used for hiking and exploring.  "Otis G. Pike Preserve contains acres made up of a number of smaller parcels that are in close proximity to one another," stated the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's website.  Basically, I'd describe it as an expanse of wilderness mixed with residential roads and homes and a handful of fishing access sites and canoe launch sites.  The land itself consists of mixed oak trees and pine barrens, as well as many small ponds and part of the 15-mile Peconic River, which is the longest river on Long Island.  It is named for a Democratic congressman who represented New York's 1st Congressional District from 1961-1979 and before that was a Riverhead Town Councilman.  He was also a columnist for Newhouse Newspapers, a U.S. Marine pilot during World War II, and a major proponent of pro-environmental legislations including the creation of the Fire Island National Seashore.

There's not a main entrance for the preserve, but rather a series of small parking areas listed on the DEC's website.  For hikers, it's probably best to park adjacent to the yellow gates on the north and south sides of Wading River Manor Road just east of Schultz Road, which on the website are called the Big Field South Parking Area and the Dog Ponds Parking Area, respectively.  The land on the north side has trails that lead to picturesque ponds named Linus and Preston, while the land on the south side has trails that ultimately merge with Robert Cushman Murphy County Park.  The paths are mostly unmarked though, so it's important to monitor your movements using GPS.  My hike started at Big Field South, continued for a mile or two north toward Grumman Boulevard, and then looped around Prestons Pond.  From Prestons, I used my geocaching app to make my way over to the ponds and paths beyond the yellow gates on the south side of Wading River Manor Road. 

Next, I checked out the fishing access and canoe launch sites listed on the DEC's website.  The preserve's fishing access sites are located on Mill, River and Old River roads, while the canoe launch sites are located on Connecticut and Edwards avenues.  They all have signs.  If I had to choose, I'd say the trails at the Mill Road fishing access site (also known as the Upper Peconic River fishing access site) and the Connecticut Avenue Canoe Launch are most worth a stop.  Speaking of the trails, visitors should know they are also open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, although none are maintained for those sports.  Horseback riding and bicycling are allowed on "established roads," according to the DEC, but are prohibited due to small game and deer shotgun seasons between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31.

With regard to wildlife, the preserve has an array of animals that "use the unique habitat of the pine barrens," the DEC's website said.  This ranges from red-tailed hawks to red foxes, and eastern box turtles to eastern hognose snakes.  Fish species include largemouth bass, chain pickerel and white perch.  I should also note all trails and roads within the complex of properties are closed during shotgun season, which spans from the year's first Sunday until Jan. 31.  "[Otis G. Pike Preserve] provides some of Long Island's best hunting opportunities," said iloveny.com.  "Popular game includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey and gray squirrels."

My music of choice was a progressive rock mix that ended with Peter Gabriel's "The Drop," the closing track from his 2002 album, Up.  I hadn't listened to that piano ballad in a while, so it really moved me on this day.  "One by one, you watch them fall, fall through clouds," Gabriel sings.  "One by one, you watch them fall, no idea where they're going but down."  Yes, it was a sunny day and this was a song about rain.  Even so, beautiful is beautiful.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend a visit to the Otis G. Pike Preserve.  You can either enjoy a splash of nature at its fishing access or canoe launch sites, or take a longer walk beyond the gates along Wading River Manor Road.  Either way, you'll like your hike at Otis G. Pike.

 (Updated: April 25, 2020)

Map: Otis G. Pike Preserve (Google Maps image)
Parking: 40°53'40.4"N 72°49'25.7"W


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