Millers Pond County Park

Location: Smithtown, NY

Size: 21 acres

Date of hike: Jan. 9, 2016

Millers Pond County Park, which features a pretty pond and short trail surrounded by houses, is one of the smallest spots I've hiked on Long Island.  I passed through the park when I hiked the 32-mile Long Island Greenbelt Trail in 2014, but I wanted to explore the property in its entirety.  Well, since it's only a few miles from my home, it seemed to be the perfect pick with just two hours of daylight left on a wintry Saturday.  And the perfect pick, it was. 

Before setting out, I briefly researched the history and habitats of Millers Pond County Park.  Millers Pond has about a mile of shoreline and is located a few blocks south of Main Street in Smithtown, according to the Suffolk County Parks Department's website.  It is described as a "neighborhood fishing hole" that features fish ranging from yellow perch to largemouth bass to brown bullhead.  "Experienced bass anglers have enjoyed some high catch rates, and the occasional lunker bass, over the last decade," the website said.  Regarding birds, the parcel has everything from common grackle to downy woodpeckers to song sparrows, according to FindingFeathersLI.com.  "This is a great spot to stop on a lunch break for a good chance of seeing some ducks and geese," the site said.  I should also note that a charred rooster and three decapitated birds, which were reportedly part of some satanic sacrifice, were found there in 2019.  Lastly, leashed dogs are allowed, but boats are not. 

The park's awkward entrance is located along the east side of Maple Avenue, just north of Darling Avenue.  I say "awkward," because the parking area is basically a narrow patch of sand squeezed in between the street and the water's edge.  There's not even a barrier that separates the pond from the parking lot.  "Parking for four to six cars is available along the west side of the pond off Maple Avenue, but it's often full due to the popularity of waterfowl feeding," the county's site said.  Call me crazy, but I can't help but envision inexperienced drivers stopping by on a snowy day and having their cars simply slide right into the water.  Unfortunately, there is little room between the pond and roads, which is why the parking situation is the way it is.  It's what I call a pond-undrum (a conundrum involving a pond).

After parking, I strolled a stone's throw north to a graffiti-filled bridge on the pond's west edge that directed a small stream beneath Maple Avenue.  The stream is called Northeast Branch and it continues all the way to nearby Blydenburgh County Park, according to Google Maps.  I sat with my legs dangling off the overpass and observed a bird tiptoe upon the frozen water.  Next, I decided to tackle the path that parallels the pond's south side.  For those wondering, the white markers represent the epic Long Island Greenbelt Trail, which stretches from East Islip to Kings Park.  I took it all the way to NY Route 111 before retreating to the parking lot.

With Maple Avenue being a two-lane road with double yellow lines, this was definitely not a quiet hike.  That meant my iPod was essential.  My music of choice was Darkwater's 2010 album, Where Stories End, which I'd stumbled across only a few weeks earlier on YouTube.  Sometimes I listen to random progressive metal music to see if anything grabs me and this fell into that category.  I'm looking forward to further sinking my teeth into its riffs and words.

           

While Millers Pond County Park is on the tiny side, it offers a quick escape into nature that is vital to hikers.  Let's face it.  We don't always have a full day to dedicate to the outdoors, and times like that are made for Millers Pond.  Even a small park can leave a large impact.

(Updated: Feb. 16, 2020) 

Map: Millers Pond County Park (Google Maps image)
Parking: 40°50'42.1"N 73°11'48.0"W

Video: Millers Pond County Park (360-degree view)

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