Hempstead Lake State Park

Location: West Hempstead, NY

Size: 737 acres

Date of hike: Jan. 8, 2022

Hempstead Lake State Park is a popular spot for dog walkers that features a three-mile hike around the largest lake in Nassau County.  I picked the park after stumbling across a list of pet-friendly hikes that mentioned Hempstead Lake.  Since my pooch likes the lakeside walks at Belmont Lake in West Babylon and Blydenburgh Lake (also known as Stump Pond) in Smithtown, I knew she'd enjoy a snowy stroll along this body of water.  And I was right on.

Before exploring, I briefly researched the history and habitats of Hempstead Lake State Park, which is a multiuse facility that features everything from 18 tennis courts to a historic wooden carousel.  The property also has four ponds: South and McDonald ponds, which are located south of the 167-acre lake, and Northeast and Northwest ponds, which are located north of the lake and across the Southern State Parkway.  Apparently, the lake was created when largest gristmill on Long Island, the Oliver's Eagle Flour Mill, was built in the early 1800s.  "The original mill pond was later enlarged to a lake in 1870 when a 22-foot-high dam was constructed to create a 400-million-gallon reservoir to supply water for Brooklyn residents," said a sign near the lake.  "Most of its water would seep into the ground due to the sandy, permeable soils here and the project was soon abandoned."  The park is also home to the Environmental Education and Resiliency Center, which is an 8,000-square-foot facility that offers hands-on learning on the topics of storm resiliency and environmental management.

The park's entrance is on Lake Drive, a stone's throw south of the Southern State Parkway.  For hikers, a trail map is posted in front of the center and is available on the state's website.  There are six paths – the longest being the Hempstead Lake Bridle Trail, which is three-mile loop that circles the lake.  The second longest is a 2.4-mile bike path that runs the length of the park's eastern edge.  There are also mile-long blue and green trails above Northeast and Northwest ponds, a 0.3-mile "Indian trail" that extends between those ponds, and a 0.5-mile purple trail that intersects McDonald and South ponds.  If I had to choose, I'd say the bridle and purple paths were probably my favorite trails.  For those who like to do more than hike, visitors are also permitted to use cartop and inflatable crafts on the lake as certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association.  Lastly, the park's vehicle entrance fee is $8.

The hike's highlight for me was the lake itself, which has difficulty retaining water even today, according to a sign.  "The amount of water in Hempstead Lake changes with the level of the water table," the sign said.  "During droughts the water table is frequently 2-3 feet below the lake bottom.  This causes the lake to dry up."  I also enjoyed a moment at McDonald Pond, which honors the life and legacy of NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, who passed in 2017.  McDonald, who resided in Malverne, survived a shooting that left him a quadriplegic in 1986. "Several months after Det. McDonald was shot, he would forgive his attacker," a sign said, adding that the detective had become "an incredible example of the power of forgiveness."

Regarding wildlife, Hempstead Lake was historically known as one of the top fisheries on Long Island, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's website.  Three of its bodies of water – Hempstead Lake, McDonald Pond and South Pond – are stocked with trout each fall.  You'll also find fish such as black crappie, bullhead catfish and largemouth bass.  "The lake completely dried up due to the extreme temperatures and low precipitation levels in 2002," the website said.  "The fisheries unit restocked it in 2003."

All in all, I encourage all local hikers to eventually check out Hempstead Lake State Park – even if you don't have a dog.  The park's five bodies of water give visitors an assortment of shorelines to explore, and the trails are short enough and manageable for every skill level.  Just make sure you save some time for a quick game of pickleball or a picnic in the park!

No comments:

Post a Comment