Southaven County Park

Location: Yaphank, NY 

Size: 1,356 acres 

Date of hike: July 17, 2014

Southaven County Park, which contains a pine-oak forest and a portion of the 10-mile Carmans River, is perhaps best known as the alleged crash site of a UFO in 1992.  I first learned about it while watching some show a few years ago on the History Channel that featured interviews with witnesses and footage of a possible alien corpse.  Needless to say, as someone who enjoys both pine trees and a good paranormal story, I was definitely ready for Southaven.

Prior to hiking, I familiarized myself with the history and habitats of Southaven County Park, which is popular spot for everything from hiking to hunting and became one of the first parks opened to the public in Suffolk County in the 1960s.  For hikers, its most prominent features are the majestic pines and the Carmans River, which flows south towards the eastern end of the Great South Bay.  "As you venture deeper into the woods, there are a greater number of pine trees characteristic of the Long Island Pine Barrens," said the park's nature trail guide.  The park also has about three miles of bridle paths, more than 100 camping sites for tents and trailers, and big picnic areas that are capable of accommodating around 1,000 people.  In addition, the property is home to the Homan-Gerard House and Mills, which is a historic home and mill complex that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and the childhood house of Mary Louise Booth, who served as the first editor-in-chief of the women's fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar.  Lastly, an 8.5-acre parcel is dedicated to the Long Island Steamers, an organization that aims to preserve the history of railroading and operates an outdoor track for scale trains.  That's a park with a lot to offer, if you ask me.

The park's entrance is located on Victory Avenue just east of Gerard Road and just south of Sunrise Highway (NY Route 27).  The trails start a stone's throw north of a vast parking field.  Unfortunately, they are unmarked and random paths branch off in all directions, so I opted to follow a course that ran parallel to the river's western edge and then looped southbound on a different trail back toward the parking lot.  As for trail lengths, it really depends on how deep you decide to hike before turning around.  The website AllTrails.com, for example, shows a 2.8-mile loop route along the river.  However, I hiked passed some power lines to part of the Long Island Rail Road, which took at least an hour or so.  Whatever route you take though, you'll certainly notice the park's sandy trails.  "This type of soil accommodates pine trees successfully, where some other trees may not fare as well," the nature trail guide stated.  "Because the soil is so sandy, it allows water to percolate down to the aquifer and it is filtered by these sands.  In this manner, our drinking water is purified and replenished."

The highlights for me included Hards Lake, which is a picturesque 30-acre lake in the park's southeastern section just north of Victory Avenue, and a cement dam on the Carmans River.  "Visitors may see people fly fishing there for brook trout, rainbow trout and largemouth bass," the guide said of the dam, adding that the river's trout has "peaked the interest" of individuals like Senator Daniel Webster and U.S. President Martin Van Buren.  Hikers should also keep an ear out for certain animals in this area of the park, according to the guide.  "If you hear a ruckus created in the underbrush on your way, that might be a rufous-sided towhee," it said.  "The bird is known for its rust-orange flanks in contrast to its black back and white stomach, and they're so noisy because when in search of insects they scratch the leaf litter with both feet simultaneously."  Other wildlife found in the park range from deer to foxes to raccoons.

The park's trees consist of a pine-oak forest with red, white and scrub oaks near its outskirts and a huckleberry understory.  You'll also notice a number of pine trees have charred trunks, which is a good thing.  "Believe it or not, an occasional fire is necessary for pines to survive," the guide said.  "Fire releases minerals from the burned materials, making a natural fertilizer for the seedlings."  Apparently, deciduous trees like oaks will gradually replace the pines as a forest matures, but forest fires retard this natural succession.  Also, the fire‑resistant bark of pine trees allow them "to survive fires while other species are eliminated," the guide said.  As for the park's plant life, you'll find skunk cabbage, cinnamon fern and sweet pepperbush.

For those wondering, the county charges a $7 resident fee and a $15 non-resident fee daily from May 26 through Sept. 3.  If you're interested in canoeing, you can do so from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Sundays from Feb. 2 until March 5 or April 20 through Oct. 8.  The cost is $5 per canoe and a permit must be obtained in the park's office prior to launching, according to a sign.  Also, leashed dogs are allowed.  "The park is dog-friendly," according to a park profile on Newsday.com.  "Much of the terrain is flat and easy to walk."

When I returned to the parking lot, I noticed a crisp "missing person" sign for Sarah Goode, the local teen who vanished a month before and was recently found dead in nearby woods.  As I pulled away, I prayed that her young soul finds some peace within the charming park, like the peace I experienced there.  If anything can give a peaceful feeling, Southaven can.

(Updated: Aug. 15, 2020)

Map: Southaven County Park (Google Maps image)

Parking: 40°48'24.2"N 72°53'30.9"W
Video: Southaven County Park (360-degree view)

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