Sans Souci County Park

Location: Sayville, NY 

Size: 316 acres 

Date of hike: Oct. 4, 2015

Sans Souci County Park has a sprawling forest with a string of lily pad-filled lakes and a maze of trails that are popular with dog walkers.  I found it by looking for a local patch of green I haven't visited on Google Maps.  With Hurricane Joaquin approaching and the Mets playing a meaningless game in preparation for the playoffs, it was an ideal day for a hike.  After all, a potential playoff run could occupy a lot of my time over the coming month.

Before exploring, I briefly researched the history and habitats of San Souci County Park.  Apparently, the park's many lakes were one continuous body of water until the mid 1800s when small dams were created to turn the property into a cranberry farm, according to the Suffolk County Parks Department's website.  "Today, you can enjoy these beautiful lakes undisturbed," the website said.  "You will be able to escape the stressors of daily life by walking through this serene park filled with plants and wildlife."  Speaking of plants and wildlife, San Souci is "teeming" with them, according to the county.  Its most prominent animals though are definitely dogs, as its paths are a popular spot for local dog walkers.  Lastly, for those wondering, "San Souci" is a French phrase that means "without worry," according to the county's website.  If you ask me, it's a perfect name since my worries melted away from the moment I stepped foot on the park's trails.  Good job, San Souci!

The park's entrance is on the east side of Broadway Avenue, just south of Sunrise Highway (NY Route 27).  The parking lot is big enough for about 10 cars with a trail map alongside it.  I suggest snapping a photo of the map so you can refer to it during the course of your hike, as it's easy to lose your sense of direction within the park's winding trails.  There are three marked trails: yellow, white and orange.  The yellow one is basically an access path that leads to the 1.4-mile white trail, which is a loop through the park's northernmost section.  The white loop also leads to the one-mile orange trail, which is a loop through the park's southern section just west of the string of lakes.  On the opposite side of the lakes sits Camp Edey, which is a 95-acre property operated by the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.  

The biggest highlight for me was the park's picturesque lakes, which have endless lily pads and narrow land bridges between each body of water.  The land bridges each have clearings in the center with terrific views of the lakes.  They also lead to the equally pretty property of Camp Edey, but that area is off-limits for San Souci's hikers, according to a security guard.  Another highlight was a half-submerged and super long concrete pipe sitting in the stream just north of the lakes.  I treated it like a nature balance beam and slowly walked along the top as far as I could until the hanging branches stopped me.  Wilderness gymnastics, baby!

My music of choice was Threshold's 2007 album Dead Reckoning, which I recently ordered as I continue to check out the UK-based band's back catalog.  I listened to it twice in a row.  Needless to say, the record totally spoke to me.  The tunes touch upon various aspects of life using extensive aviation and flight metaphors.  It might seem cheesy, but it's well done.  "Are you lost in the fog?" asks vocalist Andrew "Mac" McDermott on the disc's first track. 

In closing, I'd advise hikers to go to San Souci County Park if you love both lakes and dogs.  Remember, its name means "without worry," which is a feeling you want in the wilderness.  And Sans Souci helped me to feel that, if just for one afternoon before baseball's playoffs.

(Updated: Aug. 1, 2020)

Map: Sans Souci County Park (Google Maps image)
Parking: 40°45'49.2"N 73°03'58.2"W
Video: San Souci County Park (360-degree view)

 

 

Click here for more photos