Calverton Ponds Preserve 

Location: Calverton, NY

 

Size: 350 acres

 

Date of hike: Jan. 17, 2015

 

Calverton Ponds Preserve features a quick and quiet hike amongst some pretty ponds and pine trees.  Interestingly, I discovered the preserve purely by accident.  I intended to visit Robert Cushman Murphy County Park in Manorville, which I'd read was the first natural park in Suffolk County.  Unfortunately, my GPS led me to a dead end prompting me to try to find the preserve's entrance on my own.  My plans changed though when I spotted a small sign for Calverton Ponds Preserve.  In a weird way, I felt like I was meant to cross paths with it.

Before setting out, I briefly researched the history and habitats of Calverton Ponds Preserve, which is an oak-pine forest located within the Long Island Central Pine Barrens.  Apparently, the preserve is home to coastal plain ponds named Block, Fox and Sandy, according to the Nature Conservancy.  "Coastal plain ponds are located in depressions that intersect with a groundwater table and are directly connected to underground water found in porous sands," said a sign near the entrance.  "Therefore, water levels will rise and fall with seasonal and annual rainfall patterns."  These fluctuations form a unique community of adaptive plants – including 30 species that are rare in New York and three considered "globally threatened," the sign said.  In addition, the land was altered after the turn of the 20th century to create cranberry bogs that were in operation for over 50 years.  "There is a quiet grandeur about Calverton Ponds," the conservancy's website said.  "The preserve is a jewel to those who appreciate a quiet hike in one of the world's rarest and most unique natural communities."

The preserve's entrance is on the north side of Old River Road just east of the intersection with Wading River Manor Road.  The small parking area consists of a dirt patch that can fit two or three cars, so it's simple to miss if you don't notice the preserve's tiny sign.  Anyway, as I faded into the forest's depths, it didn't take long to encounter the aforementioned ponds and a sign stating they are characterized as having "nutrient-poor acidic water and a slightly sloping shore."  Among the plant species that thrive in those environments are bladderworts, threadleaf and sundews – all of which are carnivorous plants, according to the conservancy.  "Be sure to tread lightly and avoid walking on pond shores, because pond-shore plants are delicate and they can be easily destroyed by trampling," the conservancy's website stated.  "Trails lead to several observation points for close views of the unique natural communities." 

The hike's highlights for me were the rock-hard ponds formed by the 17-degree temperature.  Personally, I prefer cold-day hikes, because the trails are less trafficked and the greenery is gone allowing me to access areas that aren't reachable in summer months.  There are also less ticks, which the conservancy said are "abundant" here.  Halfway through I spotted two other lovers of the frigid digits who were using one pond as their own personal skating rink.  While I admired their bravery, I couldn't help but worry that if they fell through the ice there was no one around to help – except me, wearing my iPod.  For those wondering, I rocked Threshold's 2002 disc, Critical Mass, a progressive metal masterpiece with an epic closer. 

Regarding wildlife, the property boasts several rare amphibians and fish as well as a number of rare damselflies, butterflies and moths, according to the conservancy.  As for tree species, you'll find pitch pine and oak trees along with a shrubby layer of scrub oak, huckleberry and blueberry.  "Most of the rare plants in the preserve are found on the gently sloped shores of the ponds," said the conservancy's website.  "Periods of both low and high water levels are essential for the ultimate survival of the preserve's distinctive pond-shore plant community."

In closing, I'd definitely recommend Calverton Ponds Preserve to all hikers living on or near Long Island's East End.  If I lived out there, this picturesque preserve would surely become one of my go-to spots.  And, although I live over a half hour away, it still might become one.

(Updated: May 20, 2018)

Map: Calverton Ponds Preserve (Google Maps image)
Parking: 40°53'27.9"N 72°48'23.0"W
Video: Calverton Ponds Preserve (360-degree view)

Click here for more photos